Just a few seconds more!

Travel West Midlands today met with the Leader of Sandwell Council Councillor Bill Thomas, to urge him to use his influence to get additional time built in to traffic signals that control the Birchley Island .Phil Bateman Corporate Affairs Director said " We have met today with the Leader and have explained to him that we require help in trying to get a few more seconds phased into the traffic lights that control traffic on the Birchley Island .We have explained that just a few seconds more on the traffic light phasing for traffic approaching the Island from Churchbridge would make all the difference to punctuality and reliability of buses serving Blackheath, and that part of Sandwell. Currently our services heavily laden with passengers struggle to access the Island during peak periods, and that ultimately makes bus services late and delays thousands of bus passengers.We were pleased that Councillor Thomas agreed to see what can be done to help these local services. We also explained that having a few seconds more on the traffic lights would make it a safer manoeuvre for buses, than the current arrangements allow." It is estimated that some 30 buses an hour use the Birchley Island during the course of a day.

Published 7th May 2004