Red route plan on bid to boost safety

A controversial red route could be introduced to help improve safety on a busy Black Country road, despite calls for a pedestrian crossing instead.

The idea for the red route on the A4100 Reddal Hill Road in Cradley Heath was sparked by a petition to install a crossing, signed by 219 local people and submitted to Rowley Regis Town Committee in April. Although the accident level – four within five years – is considered too low to merit a crossing, there are moves for it to be included in broader plans.

Councillor Mahboob Hussain, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, has said he could include it in broader plans for a red route scheme in the area.

Controversial red routes, which aim to restrict parking and the knock-on effect of tailbacks, are also seen as a way of cutting emissions.

The double red lines, enforcing strict no stopping and no loading restrictions, were first used to tackle congestion on some of London’s busiest roads.

However, many roadside businesses have opposed other red route plans in the borough, claiming they drive customers away by stopping them from parking.

In Cradley Heath, the nearby Corngreaves Primary School in Plant Road could also experience problems if parents are banned from stopping to drop off youngsters.

Council figures show that on average 17,247 vehicles a day use the half-mile stretch of road, with 1,209 on the road during the peak hour between 8 and 9am.

Councillor Hussain said: “Although officers recommended that we refuse the crossing plans, I want to defer a decision for a year.

“This is because we want to look at the possibility of introducing a red route in the area. We will be spending the next 12 months looking at the plans and it could be that a new crossing could become part of these.”

Last week it was announced that a new £2 million bus showcase and red route is set to be introduced on Birmingham Road.