Ten controversial new red routes costing around £100,000 could be introduced on roads in a Black Country borough to help meet strict pollution targets.
The new routes stretch across much of the Sandwell area including Oldbury, West Bromwich, Blackheath and Tipton.
Dubbed pollution hotspots, they have fallen short of government guidelines due to the high levels of dangerous nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere, and red routes, which restrict parking and the knock-on effect of tailbacks, are seen as a way of cutting emissions.
Sandwell Council leader Bill Thomas said today that the bulk of the money would come from the Government as part of the local transport plan.
He said: “Red routes are favourable with the Government as they are seen as a way of reducing emissions as it cuts down on the stop start as traffic tends to flow better.
“We would have to go through an extensive consultation period first and we are talking about this happening over the next few years.”
Double red lines enforce strict no stopping and no loading restrictions along roads and were first used in a bid to ease congestion on some of London’s busiest commuter routes.
But business owners say that they devastate trade.
Sarj Singh, manager of D&B Supermarkets Ltd on Dudley Road, which has been suggested for the scheme, said: “It would cause us major problems. We have to load up from the front and it can take a while. What would they have us do? We couldn’t work if we couldn’t reload.”
5 Comments
“Red routes are favourable with the Government as they are seen as a way of reducing emissions as it cuts down on the stop start as traffic tends to flow better.”
Err how does shuffling along, stop starting between first and second gear (where the emmissions are highest) and consequently making journeys last much longer reduce emissions?
Why can’t they stop meddling, IMPROVE the road surface and help switch to electric and biofules? The technology exists, the patent holding major corporations are just holding back to flog their oil and make a killing, then they’ll sell the tech at a premium. Goverment should be making the switch happen now.
So let me get this straight. They want to cut down on the stop/start scenario so traffic flows better and there is less pollution? Wouldn’t a better/increased flow mean more traffic and therefore more pollution….as well as devastate local trade?
Well done once again.
another reason not to vote labour
ha i think they have given up trying to win the next election! start finding new jobs councillers 
I agree Dave - surely making traffic flow more easily will make it easier to drive, which will just create more traffic which is causing the pollution.
Better to snarl up the roads so people get fed up with sitting in queues and either stay at home, go by bike, walk, take the train, take the bus or get a job closer to where they work.
I meant a job closer to where they live, of course…