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Route 404 Bus showcase

Phase 2 - Weston Street and West Bromwich Road

October 2008

What is Bus Showcase?

The Route 404 Bus Showcase scheme is a partnership between Walsall Council, Centro, National Express (Travel West Midlands) Bus and Diamond Buses.

Bus Showcase schemes have been designed to provide improvements for all traffic, with specific measures to enhance the quality and reliability of key bus services. Route 404 has already seen the introduction of low floor buses, renewed passenger shelters and stops, and electronic passenger timetable information.

What is the aim of the scheme?

The aim of the scheme is to improve journey times for bus passengers using Route 404. Some of the proposals will also improve journey times of other road users.

Where are the proposals going to effect?

The proposals are specific to Weston Street from the junction with Tame Street and continue onto West Bromwich Road until the junction with Bell Lane.

What are the proposals?

Currently our draft proposals for the route are to:

  • Introduce a bus lane along West Bromwich Road from Fullbrook Road on the approach to Walstead Road/West Bromwich Road junction. This will be operational 8am until 9.30am and 4pm until 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.  
  • Introduce bus stop clear way markings on the highway at all stops south of the Broadway. These are aimed at deterring motorists parking at the bus stops.
  • As part of the West Midlands Local Transport Plan the whole of the Broadway (A4148) will become a Red Route. As the Route 404 crosses over the Broadway we are proposing to utilise the Red Route lines to protect the junction of Broadway/West Bromwich Road/Weston Street.

Therefore we are proposing to replace the existing yellow lines with new Red Route lines.

The use of the red lines at this location to keep the approach to the junction clear would improve traffic flow and reduce delays for all road users.

Public Consultation

To view the proposals and provide your comments we would encourage you to attend one of the public consultation events that have been organised. There is no need to confirm your attendance, please just turn up at a time and date most convenient for you.

Questionnaire

We would be grateful if you have a spare 5 minutes to complete a questionnaire about the proposed improvements along the Route 404.

Where is the public consultation?

South Walsall Library, West Bromwich Road, Walsall, WS5 4NW

When is the public consultation?

  • Monday 3 November from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
  • Thursday 6 November from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm
  • Saturday 8 November from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm

Contact us

Rachel Telfer
Transport Planner
Transportation - Regeneration Directorate
2nd Floor
Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1DG

Telephone 01922 652437
Email telferr@walsall.gov.uk

August 2008

Outcome of public consultation

Following the public consultation for the Route 404 held in January/February 2008 Walsall Council would like to take the opportunity to thank you for sharing your views and thoughts concerning the current issues. We apologise for the delay in updating the latest news regarding Route 404.

During the consultation 66 members of the public visited us at our three consultation events held in January/February 2008 in The Green Centre, West Bromwich Road, Caldmore. All those who attended were asked to complete a questionnaire enabling them to express their views on the proposals.

79.5% were in favour of the proposals to make Caldmore Road and the surrounding area a safer place.

Of those who were in favour of the proposals - 0% preferred Option 1, 16.7 % preferred Option 2 and 83.3% preferred Option 3. The three options are described towards the bottom of the page.

The largest issue is that of illegal parking and vehicles mounting the pavements posing great risk to pedestrians and other road users. 90.7% people who answered the questionnaire agreed it was very important to maintain and improve pedestrian safety along Caldmore Road and West Bromwich Street. It was brought up by many of those who attended the consultation that enforcement needed to occur along the route to help tackle this issue. Civil parking enforcement powers are in the process of being handed over from the Police to Walsall Council. It is anticipated that when the process of reviewing the Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) is completed throughout the Borough, enforcement can commence in full.

Traffic congestion is major problem along Caldmore Road and West Bromwich Street. 75% of people who filled in the questionnaire felt it is very important to reduce congestion along the length of the route and following on from this, 67.4% felt it was very important to reduce the traffic delays and queuing at the Caldmore Road/Corporation Street junction.

The options devised by Walsall Council include the removal of some or all on street parking along Caldmore Road and West Bromwich Street. During the consultation period some traders who owned properties along the route had concerns that the withdrawal of on street parking would result in loss of trade. Although on street parking may be removed  this would be replaced by additional parking spaces on St Michael’s Street car park, a new car park at Spout Lane and improved access to White Street car park.

We also asked those who attend the consultation how important it was to improve bus journeys, 70% of those who completed the questionnaire stated that it was either important or very important and 70.8% agreed that it is either important or very important to improve the reliability of bus services along Caldmore Road and West Bromwich Street.

Travel West Midlands temporary one-way service

From Sunday 31 August 2008 Travel West Midlands will operate a  temporary one-way service. Route 404 buses will continue to travel from Bradford Place Bus Station along Caldmore Road and onto West Bromwich Street. However, on inbound journeys towards Bradford Place Bus Station, Travel West Midlands buses will not turn right into Caldmore Road but carry straight on along Corporation Street and then turn right onto Wednesbury Road continuing to Bradford Place Bus Station.  

If you require anymore information on the change of route please contact Travel West Midlands on 0121 254 7272.

Phase 2 - Weston Street to Sandwell border

Phase 2 of the Route 404 Bus Showcase scheme covers the section of the route from Weston Street to the border with Sandwell at the junction with Greenside Way. We will be holding public consultation events to present our preliminary plans in Autumn 2008.

January 2008

Caldmore Road / West Bromwich Street

Walsall Council are proposing plans to implement changes along the bus showcase route 404 which includes the area surrounding, and including Caldmore Road and West Bromwich Street.  The proposals have been developed in response to local needs within the area and the council are holding a public consultation event in order to involve the local community and seek the views of those who the changes are likely to affect, and benefit.

The purpose of the public consultation is to obtain your views on the proposals so that we can finalise our plans ready to carry out the works.  

Aim of the scheme

The aim of the scheme is to create a series of area improvements which will benefit all users of the area.  The past and present situation in the area is such that the problems with illegal parking and vehicles mounting the pavements pose a great risk to pedestrians and other road users.  It is anticipated that the options available for the area will make Caldmore Road and the surrounding environment safer for everyone.  

Proposals

There are three draft options which are under consideration for the area.  The common elements which will be included on all three options are as follows:

Common elements

  • Improvements to the footway linking Caldmore Road and Bath Street and refreshing bus stop markings
  • Additional parking spaces on St Michael’s Street car park, new car park at Spout Lane and improved access to White Street car park
  • Introduction of loading bays along Caldmore Road and White Street and at the rear of shops on West Bromwich Street (Post Office, Jamal brothers etc.)

The following options will include all of the above “common elements” along with additional changes as detailed below:

Option 1

Option 2

  • View the Public consultation option2 (PDF 4MB)
  • Localised road widening between Hope and St Michael’s Streets to allow for parking to be relocated
  • Formalised parking bays along Hope Street and the removal of the existing parking arrangement along Caldmore Road
  • Extending double yellow lines on West Bromwich Street and introducing new parking bays

Option 3

  • View the Public consultation option3 (PDF 4MB)
  • Double Yellow Lines throughout the length of Caldmore Road
  • Formalised parking bays along Hope Street
  • Along West Bromwich Street the centre lane markings will be realigned to provide a wider southbound lane
  • Double yellow lines throughout the length of West Bromwich Street

What are the perceived benefits?

  • Traffic flow will be improved along Caldmore Road and West Bromwich Street
  • Reduce level of congestion through improving the efficiency of the available road space
  • Improved journey times and reliability for buses travelling in the area
  • The environment will benefit – as traffic is allowed to move more freely, vehicle emmissions will be reduced
  • General traffic flow will be improved as changes are made to the existing loading/waiting arrangements

Roads affected

This scheme is specific to Caldmore Road from the junction of Dudley Street/Vicarage Place and continue to the junction of Caldmore Green/Corporation Street.  The proposals will also include West Bromwich Street to the junction with Weston Street.

The plan shown below shows the area that will be affected by the proposals.  

How to have your say

To view the proposals and provide your comments we would encourage you to attend one of the public consultation events that have been organised, details of which are below:

Dates for the public consultations

  • Wednesday 30 January from 10am to 5pm
  • Thursday 31 January from 12pm to 8pm
  • Saturday 2 February from 10am to 4pm

Venue

The Green Centre, West Bromwich Street, Caldmore Green, Walsall.

There is no need to confirm your attendance, please just turn up at a time and date most convenient for you.  If you have any further questions relating to the scheme please contact Mark Corbin or Rachel Telfer on 01922 652 437 or email them at corbinm@walsall.gov.uk or telferr@walsall.gov.uk.

The consultation period will end on 29 February 2008.  

Caldmore residence letter

Adobe PDF

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Contact us

Mark Corbin
Transportation
Regeneration Directorate
2nd Floor
Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1DG

Telephone 01922 652437
Email corbinm@walsall.gov.uk