WORK on demolishing the town's reviled bus station and knocking down Kingfisher Hall and the Kingfisher House office block will begin on Monday, November 20, it has been revealed.

The news comes after the release of a timetable for the first stage of the £60 million Kingfisher Centre facelift.

It has also been revealed that Redditch residents and businesses are to play a crucial role in the redevelopment, which starts with the refurbishment of Car Park 4 on Monday.

National firm Ballast Wiltshier has been contracted to carry out the demolition work at a cost of more than £1 million.

And the first phase is expected to create more than 500 jobs, including construction jobs.

The company will be using local resources for the scheme, including employing people from the town to carry out the work.

A spokesman for Ballast Wiltshier said: "This development will lead to greatly improved facilities for Redditch and the contracts will offer potential for providing local job opportunities by promoting work through the Considerate Constructors Scheme."

The firm has also emphasised its commitment to keep residents informed of proposals and progress and will listen to any issues or concerns raised.

Work on the temporary bus station in Church Green will begin on Monday, October 2, which will see Car Park 7 opened up for disabled parking and visitors to the doctors' surgeries.

Bus re-routing will start on Saturday, November 18, and Sunday, November 19.

Car Park 1 and access from the existing bus station into Kingfisher Walk will both close on Thursday, November 19.

Kingfisher Centre owners Thornfield plan to complete the work by 2002, with the intention of making the centre one of the top 10 shopping destinations in the country.

Thornfield chairman Tony Marcus said: "We are delighted to be able to announce the preliminary programme for the start of the first phase of the redevelopment.

"We hope to start public communication during October to inform everybody of the bus re-routing."