Page 7 - RNT-C05

The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

The Redditch Transport System
Redditch grew from the
1700s, mainly due to the
Industrial Revolution, and
the road network
The Town centre - 1960s
developed and grew on
an ad-hoc basis. By the
1960s, traffic volumes
had increased such that
both local and through
traffic had to pass
through the town centre
and congestion was a
major problem. In the
late 1960’s a one-way
system was introduced
but this did not solve the
underlying problems.
Drastic action was
required irrespective of
the New Town
designation.

Birmingham Road was
the only road in and out
to the north, Bromsgrove
Road to the west and
Evesham Road and Studly
Road to the south. These

were also commercial and
residential roads with many
properties built with no
provision for off-road
parking.

Many of the side-streets in
the town centre were
narrow and most deliveries
to shops, pubs etc. were
made via the front door.
The bus station was in the
centre of town between
Evesham Street and Red
Lion Street so most buses
had to negotiate the town
centre as well.
Church Green East on a typical day in the late 1960s

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