Bus station is blamed for shop's closure

A travel agent in Wolverhampton has shut just weeks after traders warned they were facing financial ruin due to the rebuilding of the city's bus station.

Sunshine Direct boss Peter Southall today described the closure of the bus terminus as the "final straw" for his business.

The 47-year-old, from Dudley, ran the Queen Street firm with his sister Wendy.

He said: "It was bad enough with the poor exchange rates, then the volcanic ash cloud cost me a fortune and the closure of the bus station was just the final straw.

"The details of all those who have outstanding holidays booked through us have been passed on to the tour operators who will deal with everything," he added.

"Letters are going out to everybody concerned and nobody will lose out except for my family and I."

Mr Southall was among traders in Queen Street who complained business had dropped by up to 60 per cent since the bus station in Pipers Row closed for redevelopment on April 3.

Following a crisis meeting on April 26, he told the Express & Star: "We are losing £1,000-a-week. We will have to close if things do not change soon."

Councillor Paddy Bradley, Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said he was "saddened" to hear of the closure. He said the council, National Express and Centro had worked closely with traders.