BUS LANE BULLETIN


WALSALL PHV’S DRIVEN OUT OF BUSY BUS LANES


Private hire vehicles will be banned from using bus lanes in Wal- sall in a bid to stop them being clogged up by cars, under plans which have been unveiled.


According to the Express and Star, the borough is set to come in line with other authorities across the West Midlands and stop PHVs using the designated lanes. They are currently active in Birmingham Road, Bloxwich Road, Caldmore Road, Hath- erton Road, Bloxwich High Street and Lich- field Street.


Bus lanes also operate in Fleck Road, Somer- field Place, Stafford Street, Wolverhamp- ton Road and Wolver- hampton Road West. Currently restrictions vary from buses, coaches, hackney car- riage and PHVs and cyclists being able to use them.


A report from group leader for traffic man- agement, Paul Leigh- ton, to Walsall Coun- cil’s Cabinet says: “A review of neighbouring authorities has been undertaken to deter- mine the policy in relation to PHVs. This has shown that in


addition to Birming- ham, Dudley,


Sand-


well, Solihull and Wolverhampton all exclude PHVs from bus lanes.”


Mmmm… Here we go again… it may well be that the councils listed herein don’t allow PHVs in the bus lanes, but there are 59 other councils that allow both sides of the trade in. What about the dis- abled PHV passengers who will be disadvan- taged now in Walsall, and have to pay higher fares due to blocked access? Anti-competi- tive, anti-Equality Act.- Ed.


CABBIES CONTINUE FIGHT TO USE WATFORD BUS LANES


Taxi drivers in Watford have accused Hert- fordshire County Council of not listening to them in an ongoing dispute over the use of the town’s bus lanes. Members of the Wat- ford Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association are seeking permis- sion to use bus lanes at peak junctions in the town, arguing the grid- locked traffic is driving customers away. In October 2010, with the backing of Watford Borough Council, the drivers submitted a request to the county authority, which con- trols the road network. However, five months on, many drivers are angry nothing has changed.


Association chairman Shafiq Ahmed told the Watford Observer: “Five months ago they said they would come


back to us but there has been no progress. Ironically, if we drive into London, we can use the bus lanes there, but not in our own town.


“It is damaging our business - people do not want to pay to sit in traffic. We provide a service just like the buses, yet the council doesn’t listen to us. What are they playing at?”


The drivers requested permission to use bus lanes located in Lower High Street and out- side Watford Junction train station, in Station Road.


Hertfordshire County Council claims it responded to the taxi drivers’ association when it received the request last year. A spokesperson said: “We invited them to notify us of their ideas


through our consulta- tion on our Local Transport Plan 3. This consultation closed in December 2010 and we did not receive any feedback requesting a change to our bus lane policy in relation to taxis.”


Mr Ahmed claims that congestion results in fares regularly topping £6 from Watford Junc- tion, before drivers have fought their way out of the station fore- court.


Meanwhile, a lack of access to The Harle- quin from Lower High Street means taxis are forced to circumnavi- gate the ring road, adding to the passen- gers’ fares.


He added: “I heard nothing about a con- sultation - I am ready to speak any time, but they have not contact- ed me.”


PHTM MARCH 2011


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