Overhaul called on ‘draconian’ Sprint bus network plans
ABIRMINGHAM councillor whose ward is set to be directly affected by the proposed Sprint bus network believes that the plans being put forward are ‘draconian’.
And he is hoping that the whole process is started again from scratch, with residents involved in any proposals from the off.
Earlier this year plans were unveiled to construct a £110 million rapid bus network ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The first route will run from Walsall to Birmingham city centre, passing the Athletes Village and the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.
However, for the route to be constructed a side road separating homes and businesses along the Walsall Road from the A34 is set to be removed, something which has attracted criticism from residents in the area.
Perry Barr councillor Jon Hunt, who has called for a complete overhaul of the proposals, believes that the current plans are ‘draconian’ in the way they are treating residents. “I think one of the big problems is that the combined authority put together a very detailed plan as part of the consultation over the summer, but it wasn’t really clear what they were consulting on,” he said.
“Was it whether or should do some sort not they of Sprint bus service, or should they do the detailed plan, which was up there on the internet? And the details of the plan are horrendous as far as Perry Barr as a ward and the Walsall Road is concerned.
“Because it does take out most of the hard shoulder and the parking bays in front of the prop- erties on the Walsall Road. That would mean that residents are backing off their drives into a constant procession of buses and taxis using the bus lane, at 40mph. So there are very real problems that it is causing at the moment.
“Not everyone has had a chance to look at these documents, and they are quite draconian, particularly because there’s already a dedicated bus lane on the A34.
“What was proposed in the summer was very, very draconian, with 24-hour bus services on large stretches of the Walsall Road. Which means, effectively, the buses have to run close to the houses all through the nights. There’s not even any overnight parking for residents which is ridiculous.
“They’re due to publish their response to the consultation and the meetings in the next couple of weeks.
“And I’m hoping they start again from scratch. We’ve got a group of residents currently working on a very interesting, exciting alternative to what’s been put forward, based on the knowledge people have got of the Walsall Road.”