Island basks in £450,000 improvements

This is the view that greets drivers following improvements to a major Black Country traffic island.

Oldbury's Birchley Island at Junction 2 of the M5 has benefited from a £450,000 investment to instal new lighting, trees and shrubbery.

The former eyesore, which is passed by 92,000 drivers every day, has now been transformed into an urban oasis and is on track to be finished by March 31, according to councillor Mahboob Hussain.

"There are 92,000 people who pass through there everyday and it has seen a lot of investment. It is important we create the right image for the people coming into Sandwell."

More than 2,000 flowers and shrubs have been planted in the scheme as well as more than 1,000 tons of soil, 300 tons of gravel and more than 400 tons of glacial boulders used.

A new sign will read 'Welcome to Oldbury – Proud to be part of Sandwell' and a Union Jack which will be visible from the motorway will also fly in the centre of the island.

Most of the cash to spruce up the island has come from council funds.

The authority is also spending a further £50,000 on new signage for all gateways into the borough.

The Oldbury traffic island work was due to finish by the end of February. However, transport bosses in the borough said the winter weather delayed the scheme.

More than 100 trees planted as part of the project died following the snowfall and sub-zero temperatures and had to be replanted by contractors.

Two businesses based on the busy island have expressed an interest in sponsoring it. The notorious traffic island could become the Richardson's Island or the AA Island.

The two companies are considering stumping up cash to fund ongoing upkeep.

The sponsorship money would be reinvested back into Oldbury.