Motorists and businesses in Stoke-on-Trent have called for clarity over the launch of a new traffic measure banning most private cars using part of a busy road.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is introducing a bus gate on College Road next to Staffordshire University’s Cadman building entrance.
It will restrict through traffic to bicycles, taxis, buses and authorised vehicles between Station Road and Queen Anne Street.
The aim is to promote active travel and improve public transport connectivity between Stoke-on-Trent Station and the city centre.
Local residents, traders and organisations say they had been told to prepare for a March 1 opening and witnessed official blue traffic signs being unveiled last week stating which vehicles could use the route.
However, smaller temporary yellow signs are also in place displaying the message ‘bus gate not in use’.
People using the route have said they are seeking clarification from the council.
Local resident and businessman Surjit Bihal said: “I am not sure what is happening right now – it was supposed to be up and running at the start of March, that’s what I’d heard.
“It is not clear if I can drive my car down the road or not and I normally go that way to get to the A500. The yellow signs saying the bus gate are not in use are small and set back so they are hard to see.
“Also, they have fallen over in the wind a few times so it adds to the uncertainty.”
Other traders have said the bus gate could be bad for business.
University Stores Off Licence owner Bakhtiyar Abdulraham said: “It’s going to be difficult for us to unload when we have been to the wholesalers unless we park quite a way from the store.
“I am not sure now when it is opening but I am concerned about passing trade – motorists won’t be able to simply stop and come in.”
A spokesperson for Staffordshire University said: “We are in contact with Stoke-on-Trent City Council over the bus gate on College Road and while we’ve not yet been given a revised date for implementation, we have requested to be notified in advance so that we can communicate these important changes to our staff, students, visitors and contractors.
“The bus gate will affect existing vehicular access to our car park and buildings on College Road, although we hope the new scheme will improve the pedestrian and cycling experience and make it easier for people using public transport.”
The bus gate is part of a wider scheme to improve cycling and pedestrian access, which will extend to Cleveland Road, Regent Road and Lower Bethesda Street, Hanley. Some one-way street directions have also been reversed in the run up to the changes.
The project has been made possible with a multi-million-pound grant through the Transforming Cities Fund, awarded to deliver economic growth through investment in sustainable public transport.
As well as making it more pedestrian friendly, the aim is to improve safety at junctions, boost connectivity to the train station, reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.
Daily Focus has approached the council and is waiting for an update on the bus gate launch date.
A spokesperson added that they had carried out extensive consultation with residents and businesses as far back as last summer, with signage about the bus gate posted in College Road since the end of 2022.
