Appeal to bring back free city bus

A free city centre bus around Wolverhampton could be reinstated for up to 18 months in a bid to remedy chaotic temporary services.

Council bosses are considering their options during work to create the city's new £22.5million bus station at Pipers Row. It follows complaints about services terminating half a mile away across the other side of the city centre.

The number 500 was a free bus around the city centre and was funded by Wolverhampton City Council. The running costs for the service were £113,000 a year and it carried 370,000 passengers.

It was axed by the Conservatives in 2009 as part of £27million worth of savings and market traders have since been calling for its return.

Tory regeneration chief Councillor Paddy Bradley believes its temporary return may be the answer to problems.

She said: "We have asked National Express West Midlands to sort out these problems with services. If they cannot do this then we will look at temporarily bringing back the free bus.

"It was not being well used before and it was costing a lot to run, but if no other way can be found then it may be something we can do on a temporary basis."

The rival Labour group today said the bus would be the answer to the problems.

Councillor Judith Rowley, who also sits on the panel of transport authority Centro, has appealed for the free bus' return.

She said: "It is now more desperately needed than ever, as pensioners face long walks with heavy shopping between bus stops."

Councillor Manohar Minhas collected 200 signatures in a single weekend on a petition from bus users inconvenienced by the position of the temporary stops for the 501 and 510 at the far end of Darlington Street.

Neil Spiers, who runs a haberdashery stall on the outdoor market, said: "There's not a retailer in Wolverhampton who would think it a bad idea to bring back the city centre bus.

"It is just a shame that it is only being considered rather than a certainty and that it is only on a temporary basis."

Wolverhampton's indoor and outdoor markets are staying put for at least a year after proposals to move them to a more central location, like Dudley Street, were shelved.

The free city centre bus had been operating for 22 years It. was terminated on April 5 last year. It used to operate six days a week and picked up passengers all around the city centre before dropping them off in several spots, including Market Square.

Transport authority Centro had offered to fund half of it.