DoT decision: The road to prosperity for Walsall

A £30m scheme to improve key roads through Walsall will help to deliver jobs and generate wealth for the area, the borough council has said.

The go-ahead for the work in Darlaston and Pleck has moved nearer after the Department of Transport moved the Darlaston Strategic Development Area Access Scheme into the next stage of its funding process.

The scheme will see roads upgraded and resurfaced and improvements made to junctions and bridges to help improve the commercial viability of a number of regeneration sites in the area.

The roads and junctions to be improved are:
*    Bentley Road South, including the junction with Heath Road
*    Bentley Mill Way, including the junction with Darlaston Road
*    Junction of A4038 Darlaston Road and A4148 Bescot Road
*    Junction of A4148 Bescot Road and Wallows Lane

Advance works costing £1.2m to replace the canal bridge on Bentley Road South have already been completed with a major contribution from the council’s funds. Previously the size of vehicles using the road was restricted, limiting its potential.

Cllr Adrian Andrew, Walsall Council deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “These areas are no longer forgotten and this is excellent news. Improving the road network in this area is critical to our goal to attract investment into the area and create and safeguard jobs for Walsall’s residents.”

The DfT announcement is a further boost following the news that developer Parkhill, supported by Walsall Council and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, has tabled a £5.88m bid to the Government’s Regional Growth Fund to help with an £18m plan to regenerate the former IMI Copper Works.

Cllr Tom Ansell, cabinet member for transport, said: “Regenerating employment sites and protecting existing jobs and businesses goes hand in hand with improving the road network. This is all about making Darlaston and Pleck more accessible from the A454 Black Country Route and M6 motorway.”

The final bid for the road improvements has to be submitted by September 2011 with a decision expected by the end of the year.