Drivers facing fines if caught using extended Walsall Road bus lane

Motorists are currently only barred from entering the bus lane on the A4031 Walsall Road, between Wednesbury and West Bromwich, during morning rush-hour – from 7.30am to 9.30am Monday to Friday.

However, changes will mean the bus lane will operate from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday from Sandy Lane in Wednesbury to Simon Close, Stone Cross.

Motorists will be fined £60, reduced to £30 if paid in 14 days, if they use the bus lane during those times.

Council bosses said they had made the move to try to encourage more people to use public transport, but a report revealed the authority is expecting to bring in thousands of pounds extra from fines.

Two objections were lodged over the plan, which included concerns around congestion being caused by vehicles in a single lane, but Sandwell Council looks set to press ahead with the changes.

It said bringing the bus lane times into line with others in the borough would also “provide clarity” for drivers.

A council report said: “To encourage the use of sustainable transport options, bus lanes provide priority for public transport that would otherwise be held up by traffic congestion. This increases bus service reliability, improves bus passenger journey times which in turn encourages the use of public transport. The bus lanes can also be used by cyclists and by passengers using hackney carriages. The proposed change to the bus lane hours of operation will benefit bus passengers throughout the day.”

The report said the £8,000 cost of extending the bus lane times would likely be met by fines from drivers.

A bus lane on New Street, West Bromwich, has brought in more than £2 million since 2016.