Walsall drives forward roads project after Government green light
WORK preparing the way for a £26m programme of road improvements in Walsall has been ramped up after the Government finally gave the green light to the project.
The improvements to a series of roads and junctions are intended to make disused and derelict sites in the Darlaston and Pleck areas more attractive to developers.
Cllr Tom Ansell, Walsall Council cabinet member for transport, said securing government funding for the work had been a crucial step forward.
The local authority has estimated regeneration schemes – which include proposals for the Black Country Enterprise Zone at the Phoenix 10 site – could create around 2,000 new jobs over the next decade.
“We’re now in the behind-the-scenes stage where complex legal work takes place,” he said.
“We’re starting to talk to the numerous landowners who own pockets of land – over 50 in total – on which the road improvements will be built with a view to acquiring them. That’s a very detailed job.”
Birse Civils have been appointed as scheme contractor with work scheduled to start in spring 2013 and be completed by winter 2015.
Walsall Council’s scheme in partnership with Centro, the region’s transport authority, was only one of a handful across the West Midlands to be asked by Government to submit detailed plans.
The government go ahead means the £26m project will be funded through a £14.316m government grant, a £5.664m Walsall Council contribution, £5.665m from Centro and £1m pledge from local businesses.
Cllr Adrian Andrew, Walsall Council deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said partnership working between the council, the LEP and the private sector had been vital in securing approval for the work.
“All in all, this is a powerful example of how business and local government can work together with national government too,” he said.
The roads scheme will improve connections between the potential developments on the north east side of Darlaston to the A454 and M6 J9 and J10.
Upgrades to roads are planned in Bentley Road South, Bentley Mill Way, the junction of A4038 Darlaston Road and A4148 Old Pleck Road and the junction of A461 Bescot Road and A4148 Wallows Lane.
