RED ROUTE PROTEST DUE TODAY

30-11-2006

Traders from Birmingham's Stratford Roadwere promising to cause traffic chaos this morning, as they stepped up their protests against a controversial Red Route designed to ease congestion. A go-slow protest, originally planned for yesterday, was due to start at 7.30 a.m.

Abdul Vanat from the Stratford Road Business Association said that as many as 90 cars were expected to make their way into the city centre from Sparkbrook at speeds asslow as 10 miles per hour. He also revealed that shopkeepers from other parts of the city including Tyburn Road would be joining in.

“They know that if it affects us now, something similar will affect them in future,” he said.

The traders grievances are well-documented (see our earlier article here) but are essentially focussed on the lack of off-street parking now that stopping on the Stratford Road will be banned (in common with the rest of the A34 in Brum). According to Mr Abdul, officers from Birmingham City Council who met with local businesses yesterday had a “take it or leave it” attititude.

He said: “We do apologise to anybody caught up in this. It's not our intention to cause aggravation to normal members of the public but we need to put our message across.”

Are the traders justified? Is this the best way to get their message across? Leave a comment on our messageboard.