Next stop: Newbury bus station art gallery

The posters are the winning entries in the town’s Connect Art competition, which asked residents to submit original artwork inspired by local scenes.
About 150 entries were received and the winning posters were unveiled on Tuesday.
The idea for the competition came at the end of last year, when the Volunteer Centre West Berkshire was approached by West Berkshire Council’s transport services about tidying up the bus station and surrounding area.
The centre decided to take it one step further and hold an art competition.
The director of the volunteer centre, Garry Poulson, said that the entries were varied and mostly of local scenes.
“The purpose for me was to allow amateur and professional artists an opportunity to display their art in a very busy place and to enhance the bus station, which is looking tired. We were thrilled with the turn-out.
“While I was standing there waiting for the opening, three people walked past and said it was a big improvement.
“I think we have added value to a very ’80s structure – it is just a very nice way to be able to look at art.”
Mr Poulson thanked all those involved, including the Newbury Weekly News, Apple Print, the transport services team and the artists themselves, and added that judging by the enthusiasm for the competition this year, it could be held again next year.