D-day for red route on A449

The red route along Wolverhampton’s A449 Stafford Road is set to be axed tonight by council chiefs.

The ruling Tory-Liberal Democrat alliance insisted it would not back down on its pledge to scrap the controversial route, despite mounting pressure from the Labour group and passenger transport authority Centro.

Councillor Paddy Bradley, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We will come to a decision tonight that might upset the Labour group, but one that we believe is in the best interests of Wolverhampton.”

Abandoning the £2.4 million route will cost the city’s taxpayers around £150,000.

A report tonight will give the council the option of either making the red route permanent, or letting it expire on September 11.