Car-free plan to make Wolverhampton city centre more appealing
[gallery] A new vision for the future of Wolverhampton city centre was today unveiled – complete with car-free zones and new one-way systems to improve its appeal to shoppers and visitors.
A series of images showing what the city would look like after a £5 million revamp have been released as a consultation into the plans gets under way.
The work would see one-way systems created, pavements widened and streets pedestrianised as part of the two-year project which is set to begin next summer. Wolverhampton City Council hopes the moves will attract new shops and lead to the creation of offices and homes. Bosses say they hope the changes will create a "vibrant, welcoming and accessible" city centre.
One of the biggest changes would take place in Princess Street, which would become pedestrianised from 9.30am to 4pm on Mondays to Saturdays. Outside of these times, traffic would be restricted to one way.
The proposals are also set to cut traffic in Lichfield Street and Market Street, offer free parking for blue badge holders at council-run car parks in the city centre as well as an extended taxi rank in Victoria Street.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet member for economic regeneration and prosperity, said: "We've put together some solid proposals to transform the centre's look and feel."
