A red route will be created on a Walsall road despite businesses saying it could devastate their trade.
The final go-ahead for the no-stopping rules along the A454 Wolverhampton Road was given last night.
Under the scheme, lorries will be allowed to use bus lanes for the first time in the region to ease congestion.
Double red lines will run between Pleck Road and junction 10 of the M6.
Walsall’s transport chief Councillor Anthony Harris said it was paramount to improve links in and around Walsall town centre.
But today traders along Wolverhampton Road said they feared their businesses would die out if customers could not stop outside.
Jenny Mann, managing director of Manns Carpets, which has been based in Wolverhampton Road for more than 30 years, said it could spell the end of her business.
“We pay rates, we employ people and bring revenue into the town,” she said.
“The least the council can do is listen to us, and we do not want this red route.
“I cannot believe this has been given the go-ahead; we have all put in objections. I don’t know what else we can do. Things are tough enough as it is, and this could even force me out of business, meaning redundancies.”
Surinder Panesar, 60, of Wolverhampton Road post office and newsagents, said: “We rely on passers by being able to stop and come into the shop, and they will not be able to do that once this is introduced. It is going to have a bad effect on business and we would urge them to think about putting in lay-bys at least so people can stop for five or ten minutes.”
Despite the fears Councillor Harris said almost 90 per cent of people consulted backed the proposals.
He said: “This measure is set to get traffic moving smoothly and will also cut down on traffic congestion.”
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