Bus lanes to be axed in bid to cut down town centre congestion

It follows calls from ward councillors and residents to scrap the lanes in Bromsgrove Road and westbound on Queensway.

However, the Queensway eastbound lane will remain in place for buses as bosses said it has helped to cut journey times.

They said a 12-month trial had shown that there were no benefits of having the other lanes for buses.

Concerns have been raised about the lanes causing traffic queues to build up around the town centre.

It will cost Dudley Council £2,500 to remove them and open them up to all traffic.

Residents have long called for the bus lanes to be scrapped, saying they caused traffic queues to build up around the town centre, particularly at peak times of the day such as the morning and evening rush hours.

Halesowen north councillor Karen Shakespeare said she supported the decision to axe the lanes saying it would benefit drivers.

"We've been calling for this for a long time. I don't think these bus lanes have worked in Halesowen. "At times they have caused more congestion rather than helping the situation.

"There is also an issue with the one in Queensway because people have had to pull out in front of buses to turn into Pool Road.

"I think this a good move and will be good for Halesowen," she added.

Cabinet member for transport Councillor Khurshid Ahmed said: "The experimental suspension has proved that the Queensway westbound and Bromsgrove Road bus lanes provide little or no discernible benefits to buses.

"Both Centro and National Express have continued to express concern about the loss of the bus lanes and are very concerned about the impact of the potential loss of the Queensway eastbound bus lane which is still sought by public demand. However, the case for maintaining this bus lane remains strong and still represents a significant benefit to buses.

"It is therefore recommended that the Queensway westbound and Bromsgrove Road bus lanes be revoked and that the Queensway eastbound lane remains."

The lanes were first installed ahead of work starting on the town's new bus station.

They were only supposed to be used until it opened in 2008 but they have remained in place ever since, prompting calls for them to be removed.