Buses face Queen Square diversion

Civic leaders want to divert the bus lane cutting through the heart of Queen Square as part of ambitious plans to bring the city's main shopping quarter into a new era.

Wolverhampton City Council leader Neville Patten is preparing to launch talks with Centro in the new year to find new routes for buses and pedestrianising the city centre.

Former council leaders said in the past that creating a no-go zone for traffic in the square would be "impossible" to achieve.

But Councillor Patten said he was "determined" to make it happen after taking inspiration from Bristol City Council, which re-routed a dual carriageway cutting through its own Queen Square.

The news comes as workers prepare to move forward with the creation of a £300,000 showpiece water fountain in the square, which will feature dozens of jets spraying arches of water and LED lights.

The water feature will be made up of two separate water plazas on different levels ,with a walkway running between them.

Councillor Patten said the city could never truly realise its regeneration dream if buses were still "trundling" right through the heart of it.

"I am still very much determined to re-route the bus lanes so we can create a real café culture in the square," he said.

"I wouldn't feel too comfortable sitting outside with a nice cup of cappuccino – and then a bus comes trundling past.

"It has been said in the past that it can't be done, but I am sure it can, and I will be sitting down with bus operators in the new year and looking at what can be done."

Councillor Patten conceded it would not be an easy task, but was adamant that there was a way to make it happen.

"A few years ago, I brought in a traffic regulation order so that delivery lorries couldn't go into the town after a certain time," he recalled.

"Although there was some dispute at first, we got around the problems and introduced it, and it has worked fine.

"This will be a big job, but one I really think needs to be done."

The transformation of Queen Square has been hampered by technical problems that has delayed the installation of the fountains until the New Year.

The new-look square has kept the bus lane to one side, effectively blocking pedestrians from the attractive area around the university and the Civic Hall. It also creates noise and fumes.

Bristol's Queen Square was transformed when the road that ran across it was removed. The square is now a tranquil open space, used for concerts and events.