Tram extension from Wolverhampton to New Cross Hospital blasted by E&S readers

Plans for the three-mile extension are being revived after 10 years on the shelf.

Proposals for the line – previously dubbed the Five Ws because it would have eventually connected Wolverhampton, Wednesfield, Willenhall, Walsall, and Wednesbury – have previously been a pipe dream and failed to ever get off the planning stage.

After the Express & Star revealed the possible extension is included in Wolverhampton City Council's city centre action plan 2015-2026, readers were quick to give their opinion.

Writing on Facebook, Cheryl Sylvia Lucy Jones said: "Where? the roads along there are congested enough as it is?"

Karen Whittingham said: "Wednesfield road through Heath town is bad enough already with the bus lane!"

And Steven Shelley added: "Not good for commuting through Heath Town months of delays."

Joanna Dearnaley said: "Yes, would be nice to finish the city centre route first! There are buses every five minutes and the road is congested enough most days. What is the point?!"

The proposal is going to be reviewed by the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority to see whether it is doable in light of scarce public funding for major projects.

The authority is made up of the leaders of Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley, Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull councils, who agree to back each other on bids to the government for funding, rather than competing.

Centro, which oversees public transport in the West Midlands, admitted there was currently no money earmarked for the project or any detailed plans.

Councillor Phil Bateman, who represents Wednesfield, said: "The proposal makes sense as it would help to provide modern transport links to New Cross Hospital and the thousands of people visiting and working on the site. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing more of the proposals."

An extension to the city's tram line from St George's to the bus station and railway station is already planned.

The plug was pulled on the extension to Wednesfield 10 years ago after fierce opposition from residents but the route was still being looked at by bosses at Centro. At the time it had a price tag of £90 million.

The city's public transport network has been transformed in recent years with a £22.5million bus station and work set to start on a new 520 space multi-storey car park, and 18 place taxi rank.

The plans pave the way for a £14 million revamp to the railway station in the New Year.

The tram line in Wolverhampton is in the middle of a £4.5 million upgrade. but work has been hit by disruptions caused by abandoned mine workings found under the track.