128 drivers ticketed with new parking rules near West Bromwich stadium
Almost 130 drivers have been stung with parking tickets since controversial red route restrictions came into force near The Hawthorns, it can be revealed today.
The no-stopping regulations were introduced last year are on key roads including Kenrick Way and Telford Way, where Baggies fans used to cram onto central verges on match days. Sandwell Council has now revealed 128 parking tickets have been given out and £3,955 has been received in fines since the changes were brought about.
But bosses say match day traffic woes have been eased since the introduction of the new rules.
Sandwell Council's neighbourhood boss councillor Ian Jones said: "I think the success of the scheme can be judged by the travelling public on match days.
"Before the red route restrictions were introduced there used to be a free-for-all.
"We would have cars parking anywhere they could; on kerbs, roundabouts, across junctions.
"We feel we have now alleviated that."
The scheme came into force on August 16 as part of an £8.6 million borough-wide plan to ease traffic congestion, improve traffic flow and make better provision for legal parking.
As well as Kenrick Way and Telford Way, the red route restrictions were also introduced in Trinity Way, Kelvin Way, Bromford Road, Oldbury Ringway and Churchbridge.
Councillor Jones said there were no plans to expand the scheme.
"It's doing what it's supposed to now," he said.
"The scheme was not introduced to achieve maximum fines.
"It was put there to make sure traffic was able to move around the ground as freely as possible."
