WOLVO TRAFFIC CHAOS AS RED ROUTE CONFIRMED

01-07-2008

Plans by Wolverhampton’s ruling Conservative/Lib Dem alliance to scrap the city’s Red Route were thrown into confusion last night when councillors recommended that the congestion-busting scheme should be kept.

Tory leader Neville “Granpa” Patten told The Stirrer on taking office last month that the controversial “no parking, no stopping” regulations on the A449 Stafford Road would be removed (see link here).

That decision was quickly called into question when the local Passenger Transport Authority Centro suggested that if that happened, Wolverhampton Council might have to refund grants to the Department for Transport (see link here).

It then emerged that Council officers were advising that the Red Route should be retained, because it had improved bus speeds and enticed more passengers onto public transport.

Last night’s emergency meeting of the Sustainable Communities Panel voted 6-5 in favour of keeping the scheme – leaving the city’s 10-strong Tory cabinet with a major dilemma when they meet later this month.

If they decide to go ahead and scrap it anyway, taxpayers will have to fork out an additional £150,000 to repaint the old double yellow lines; and if the Route remains it will be a major personal embarrassment for Patten given his determination to get rid of it.

Labour councillor Bob Jones said, “It’s all a mess, but if people are logical they will confirm it.

"Obviously they made a statement at the start that they would get rid of it, but now we've got the evidence it worked.  It would cost £150,00 to go against that.

"It would also mean that we would have to forgo future funding.  The government wouldn't look kindly on any future bids because if we've had a pilot that's been successful, but then threw it out, why should they give us any more money?"

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