An initiative
introduced to increase the efficiency of Coventry’s bus services has been extended
for six months despite a catalogue of objections.
The Bus Showcase scheme operates from the city centre along the Foleshill Road,
Longford Road, and Bedworth Road and aims to give customers "a faster and more
reliable service."
However local business owners and residents affected by the scheme, which includes a
dedicated bus lane, bus priority at traffic signals and improved boarding facilities, have
showered the council with angry complaints.
The initiative has been running as a pilot scheme for the past six months in which time
the council have received over 40 complaints, many of them from businesses who claim the
scheme is badly affecting their trade.
In a letter of complaint to the council about the scheme, the owner of the Moonlight
Balti restaurant on the Foleshill Road said he would have "no option except to close
the business" if the scheme was continued.
This and other complaints were voiced at a meeting yesterday in which the council
decided to continue the scheme until the middle of the year when it will be assessed
again.
Roger Panter, Coventry City Council’s team leader of traffic design believes all
the objections were taken into account.
He said:
"The city council seriously considered any complaints, after all the reason why
the scheme was introduced for six months rather than permanently was because we received
some objections to the initial proposal.
"There were two complaints from food outlets who do most of their business in the
evening time because their customers could not find parking so it was decided that the
hours of the scheme should be relaxed.
"Rather than 24 hours the lane will operate for just 12 hours which will mean from
7pm until 7am these outlets can use the parking spaces that were available before the
scheme."
