Express & Star

'Shops site needs better road system'

I am sure that most Wolverhampton people would applaud the revitalisation of the Peel Street development which includes two very reputable retail and wholesale outlets. It would however appear to me that certain aspects of commuting in and out of the site should be addressed.

Published
Work had been going on over the months to transform The Peel Centre

Two issues seem most apparent – namely entrance to the site south through Wolverhampton and exit from the site north away from Wolverhampton.

With the first issue, entrance from the south requires negotiation of a traffic light system and a run of some 700 yards down the dual carriageway to the very congested Five Ways Island where you are required to filter a right-hand loop and traverse the 700 yards back, which includes the obstacle of a bus lane and single-line traffic to arrive at the entrance to the Peel Street site.

The second issue, exiting for the north is probably more demanding requiring a left turn on to the dual carriageway followed by a left filter to the Cannock Road, a run under the railway bridges to a sharp left turn into Cross Street North. From here one has to contend with bad road surfaces, double parking and heavy industrial vehicles from the environmental site.

This continues down to Foxes Lane where we now double back under two very dubious railway bridges and arrive again on the Five Ways Island. With the exception of those exiting south, all others must negotiate the Five Ways Island which puts extra traffic and congestion onto the island.

While sitting in the car on one of the large car parks in an off-peak period I timed in one minute 30 cars entering or exiting.

Would it be possible by land acquisition to install an exit and entrance road parallel to the dual carriageway via Bone Mill Lane utilising the bridge there and giving access south or north via Cannock Road and also north regretfully via Five Ways Island? It may then be feasible to install a right-hand filter from the dual carriageway for south-entering traffic so they at least could avoid the Five Ways Island.

Roger M Bennion

Wolverhampton