Brierley Hill traffic misery as works start

Shops are losing hundreds of pounds a day and motorists are facing traffic hold-ups after four weeks of roadworks began on a busy main route to Merry Hill shopping centre.

The work in Brockmoor High Street and Leys Road, Brierley Hill, will see the highway dug out for resurfacing.

It means motorists travelling from Wordsley are banned from going into Leys Road for a half-mile stretch up to Brockmoor High Street, while traffic in the other direction is one way only.

The uphill diversion leads vehicles up Moor Street from the junction with Leys Road, for traffic to link back across to Brockmoor High Street via Fenton Street or to join the busy Brierley Hill High Street between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Traders and motorists will face more upheaval when the resurfacing of the road begins on July 2.

Kulwant Rai, owner of Select and Save newsagents and convenience store in High Street, said: "Sales have already dropped and I'm very worried about it.

"The road needs doing but in the meantime we're losing £200 to £300 a day."

Karen Nettleford, catering assistant at Brockmoor Cafe, estimated around 40 to 50 fewer customers a day were going there – a drop of 60 to 80 per cent and £100 a day.

Dudley Council cabinet member for transportation, Councillor Judy Foster, said it was a very important project for the area and the diversion was aimed at making sure disruption was kept to a minimum.

"We apologise for any inconvenience."

By Louise Jew