New Black Country 'bus gate' goes live - drivers face £70 fee if they drive through
Warning to motorists as ‘bus gate’ goes live today.
A ‘bus gate’ has gone live in Blackheath today (Tuesday), with drivers warned they face a £70 fee if they drive through it.
The bus gate is a section of road reserved for buses (as well as pedal bikes and the emergency services) between Birmingham Road and Long Lane.
The bus gate going live is the final piece of the new Blackheath Bus Interchange, which opened last year.
Any unauthorised vehicle seen on CCTV driving through the bus gate will receive a £70 penalty charge notice (PCN). This is reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.
The bus gate will be operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Sandwell Council said it is well signed and has a different colour surface, to warn motorists of the restricted area.
Councillor Bob Jones, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for environment and enforcement, said: “This is about bus passengers and other pedestrians feeling safer when they come to shop in the town centre.
“People can still drive through Blackheath town centre along Market Place via the new road layout that was installed last year.
“Whether you are travelling in a car or van, by bus, by bike or on foot, now is the perfect time to find out what Blackheath has to offer – come along and support local businesses and market traders.”
You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live by visiting publicnoticeportal.uk/express-and-star
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