Work on tunnel hits pub hard

The Cottage Spring, which dates back to 1840, was saved from the bulldozers last year.

But new landlord Mick Bargota says it is now on the verge of closing, with passing trade virtually halted by the closure of Alexandra Road while the congestion-busting £22.4 million underpass is created.

The road is closed to through traffic and is blocked off about 70 yards away from the pub, with drivers having to take a diversion to get to the car park.

The road will be closed for a longer stretch from June with a new footpath being put in. But 46-year-old Mr Bargota fears the pub will not survive long enough to see the road re-open in November.

The pub, owned by developers Spring Homes Ltd, had faced demolition to make way for homes last year but Sandwell Council's planning committee rejected an application to flatten the 19th century drinking hole.

The Cottage Spring closed its doors last summer, but reopened in October after being taken over by father-of-three Mr Bargota, who used to run The Boscobel Tavern in Park Lane West.

"It is just dead a lot of the time and it is only weekends when we get anyone in," he said. "Once the road opens again there will be a good passing trade but I don't know if we will last that long. I'm just about scraping by and struggling to pay the rent.

"The owners are aware of the situation and are quite understanding and want to help but it is causing a lot of problems just paying the bills."

Work on the Tipton tunnel will continue over Easter, with a huge concrete structure set to be lifted into place.

Sandwell Cabinet transport chief Councillor Bob Badham said: " If anyone feels they have been affected by the work then we sympathise with them. But this is a major £22 million scheme that has been designed to end years of traffic congestion that has blighted the area for years.

"Once the work is completed then it is hoped that it will revitalise the area and bring business back."