Angry senior councillors say they will not accept the ‘second-class’ proposal put forward by the new Birmingham-based West Midlands Combined Authority.

The design, described as showing a lack of ‘respect’ for the town would see the number of stops halved and bus drivers forced to reverse out of spaces.

Councillor David Stanley, a Dudley Council cabinet member who also sits on the transport committee at the West Midlands Combined Authority, said he was ‘not in favour’ while Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, a former regeneration chief in Dudley, said the plan would make the bus station smaller when the original desire was for it to be extended.

The Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership indicated it is ready to put £400,000 towards the scheme likely to cost more than £1 million.

Under the design, buses would park next to each other while passengers wait in an departure lounge. Drivers would then reverse from the stand before continuing on their journey.

An upgrade for the town’s bus station was first mooted three years ago but a lack of funds and a desire to link bus services with the extended Midland Metro has held the project up.

Councillor Stanley, cabinet member for transformation and performance at Dudley Council, said the design must be suitable and suggested more discussions were needed with planners. He said:

“I am not in favour of reversing in and out. There are more than 20 stands for buses now. What they are trying to introduce will reduce it to 11.

“I would rather see a first-class bus station than a second-class one that reduces stands by half. It is too small. There are first-class bus stations in Stourbridge and Wolverhampton and I am fighting for the same in Dudley.”

Labour’s Councillor Ahmed said he would be calling for an urgent meeting over the future of the bus station. He said: “Dudley has one of the biggest bus stations in the Black Country and therefore needs to be given the respect it deserves.”