Wolverhampton’s new state-of-the-art £22.5 million bus station opens today.

The modern passenger facility has 19 bus stands laid out in a saw tooth arrangement. This makes it much easier for buses to access stops when adjacent stands are occupied, which should mean less dleays for passengers.

There is improved access for passengers who will be able to get safely to all of the bus stands without having to cross any of the bus lanes. Passengers will now access their bus stand via covered pedestrian walkways equipped with glass doors that automatically open when buses arrives, as well as providing shelter in bad weather.

The bus station has three large, glass enclosed passenger waiting areas, with a light and spacious concourse at the entrance.

It also includes a Travel Information Centre, public toilets, and offices. The complex will also include a newsagent and WH Smiths store

As part of the Network Review undertaken by operator Centro a number of service changes have taken place affecting buses that pass through Wednesfield.

Some routes now have new numbers and others will call at different stops – read our previous article to find out about route changes and visit the National Express website for new timetables.

A derelict factory has been set on fire by Arsonists causing a main road to be closed for several hours.

The former ‘Larry’s Industrial  Tyres’ building on Wolverhampton Road, Wednesfield (opposite New Cross Hospital) was set on fire around 8pm on Tuesday 31st May, resulting in the road being closed and a diversion being put in place for several hours on Wednesday morning.

An elderly man who is thought to have been squatting in the building was taken to New Cross Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
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Police suspect arson

Police forensics experts have been investigating the scene and suspect arson as the cause of the fire.

Parts of the listed building will now be demolished in order to make it safe again, leaving another heritage building in Wednesfield facing an uncertain future.

The building which had been used as factory and barn was originally part of the New Cross Farm site, where the home of renowned calligrapher Daisy Alcock stood until it was demolished in March 2010 to make way for Hospital parking.

Photo: Express & Star

Emergency services were today called to Cambridge Street near Wednesfield shortly after 4am where they found a man in his early 30s who had been badly burnt. The man was taken to New Cross Hospital and his condition has been described as “critical”. Police officers are currently investigating the incident. Source: Express & Star

As reported in the Express and Star today, a new bus route is set to begin running next week that links two of the regions main hospitals.

The 549 bus service will take passengers between Walsall Manor Hospital and New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

The half-hourly service which begins on Monday will start from St Paul’s Street in Walsall, calling at both hospitals and travel via Bentley and Wednesfield, then on to Wolverhampton city centre.

The service will be run by commercial operator Midland and extra buses will be introduced to cover the route, which will operate Mondays to Saturdays between 8am and 6pm.

West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, Centro chairman Councillor Gary Clarke, said: “This new service is excellent news for local people by providing affordable and easy transport to two of the region’s main hospitals from major residential areas.

“This will be a major benefit to all people living along the route, but especially elderly people and those with limited mobility by making it easier than ever to access the hospital, attend appointments or visit family and friends.”

A single journey bus ticket will cost £1.70 and the free National Concessionary Travel Pass for passengers over 60, eligible blind and disabled people will be accepted.

Midland managing director David Reeves said: “We realised that there was no easy way of travelling from Wednesfield into Walsall, from Pool Hayes into Wolverhampton or between the two hospitals without having to change buses.

“We’re delighted to provide the new 549 service which will fill those gaps in the network and provide a fast link between Walsall and Wolverhampton too.”

For next week only, fares will cost of £1 for adults and 50p for children.

Visitors have today been banned from entering New Cross Hospital after the outbreak of a vomiting bug. Over 20 members of staff have been taken ill with highly infectious norovirus bug, which causes sickness and diarrhoea.

Patients in Ward D20 (respiratory and neurology) were first affected last week and a hospital spokesman said last night: “The trust is taking every precaution possible to contain this virus.”

Limited visiting is being allowed in cases of critically ill patients and births, but decisions are being made on a per-patient basis by ward managers. Relatives of patients can contact the hospital on 01902 307999.

A total of 24 hospital wards across Birmingham and The Black Country have been shut due to the outbreak.

Read more at the Express & Star or Birmingham Mail.

The lines are set to be painted opposite the main entrance to the hospital on Wolverhampton Road and stretch for around a quarter of a mile towards Wednesfield and the junction with Graiseley Lane.

Buses now run every 6 mins instead of every 5 mins on weekdays & Saturdays and whilst the result is only 1 less bus per hour, it has meant that buses during peak times are considerably busier than they were before the timetable change.

A review of the Hospital for 2008/2009 deemed the quality of services at New Cross “excellent” and the quality of financial management as “good”. The review also shows that Hospital standards have improved in all areas year-on-year since 2006.

Read the full review here.

A storm is brewing as Wolverhampton City Council plan to increase the double yellow lines on roads near New Cross Hospital in an attempt to stop visitors from parking on the roadside.

Council bosses are about to begin a consultation on extending the double yellow lines in order to ‘fill in the gaps’ along Wolverhampton Road.

Tim Clark, spokesman for Wolverhampton City Council, said: “There is a proposal to put double yellow lines along Wolverhampton Road between its junctions with New Cross Avenue and Graiseley Lane.”

“There are already some lines there, but this would fill in the gaps. This would alleviate the problems with vehicles parking on both sides of the road which causes congestion and accidents on what is a busy stretch.”

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, who represents Heath Town, said: “This must be welcomed – when the consultation starts it is important people have their say. When cars park up in Wolverhampton not only is it not fair on those who pay to park on site, it narrows the road and causes congestion.”

But judging by the comments left on the Express & Star’s website, both local residents who live in streets nearby and fear cars will be parked outside their homes and visitors to the hospital, who are unhappy at having to pay parking charges ranging from £2 to £5 are against the plans.

Have your say in the comments below…

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