Trees that faced threat of being chopped down as part of Sprint Bus …
Protestors gather on The Green on Birmingham Road, Walsall, as part of a ‘Save Our Trees’ campaign. PIC: Nick Dodds
Worried residents held a number of protests on ‘The Green’ on the A34 Birmingham Road as they battled to stop a proposed bus lane which would have seen some mature trees lost.
But Transport for West Midlands bosses today announced fresh proposals for Phase Two of the scheme which will see the planned lane reduced in length to retain the trees next to the junction with Springvale Avenue.
They added Phase One – completed last summer – has resulted in average bus journey times between Walsall and Birmingham have been cut by six minutes as priority measures allow for them to bypass traffic jams on the busy route.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Our Sprint bus route is designed to improve public transport connections in the West Midlands, and so I am really pleased the evidence shows that bus passengers are already benefiting from more reliable services and quicker journey times following the completion of Phase One.
“It is why I am so keen on putting our foot down on the accelerator and getting on with delivering Phase Two.
“But as well as improving public transport, we also have a cast-iron commitment to tackling the climate emergency as part of our #WM2041 plan.
“A cornerstone of that is our commitment to both zero-emission vehicles and the environment, which is why it was important on this project that we worked to ensure these mature trees on The Green could be retained.
“That means, alongside our ongoing commitment to plant 1,000 trees along or near the Sprint route, this project will leave the West Midlands not only better connected but greener too.
“This is just one part of our wider investment in public transport, which includes reopening rail stations and lines, expanding our metro tram network, developing cycle routes, and delivering better bus services – all to offer people better connections and provide more convenient alternatives to the car.”
Councillor Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio lead for transport and leader of Walsall Council said: “The residents on Birmingham Road wanted us to look again at the proposals and we listened.
“Now they can rest assured that these trees on the Green will stay. Now we can get on with the work of delivering Sprint and look forward to offering the people of Walsall direct, affordable and reliable bus services to key destinations like Birmingham Airport, the NEC and Solihull.”
The Sprint scheme will link Walsall and Solihull town centres, via Birmingham city centre on the A34 and A45 with bus lanes and priority measures at junctions to improve journey times and reliability.
The second phase will see further bus priority infrastructure installed along the Sprint route in Walsall, Sandwell, Birmingham and Solihull and is being funded through a £56 million investment from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement awarded by Government to Transport for West Midlands last year.
Measures in Walsall will include three new improved bus shelters, a 400 metre bus lane on the A34 into Walsall town centre, and further improvements to bus routes in the town centre.
Walsall residents can find out more about the proposals at public drop in events at Handsworth Rugby Club on July 4, The Crossing at St Pauls on July 6 and Broadway Bar & Grill on 12 July 12, between 4pm and 7pm on all days.