£10m traffic-busting scheme announced

Congestion headaches in Walsall will ease if a £10 million cash injection to improve problem road junctions is approved. Council bosses are also planning to boost the rail network as cabinet members met to approve the funding.

A sum of £100,000 has been set aside to look at the feasibility of works although highways officers say work will not begin until at least 2015. Among the routes earmarked for improvement is the busy the A461 Lichfield Road, the main link between Walsall town centre and Brownhills.

Also highlighted are the Mellish Road roundabout and traffic lights junctions in Rushall, Walsall Wood and Shire Oak. Car parking, pedestrian crossing points and bus stops and shelters are also set to be transformed under the project.

Transport leader Councillor Tom Ansell told last night's cabinet meeting that the council needed to be quick off the mark in bidding for major projects.

The current scheme will involve the council and Centro, and require Government funding.

Councillor Mohammed Arif, cabinet member for business support services, said: "Some of these schemes are desperately needed especially at places like the Bradford Place interchange.

"But what we really need to put Walsall on the map is a new rail station. When multi-millions of pounds are being spent on Birmingham New Street Station, we should be aiming to do the same."

Councillor Ian Shires agreed. "I've been talking about a train station at Willenhall for a long time. If we are really trying to get people out of their cars, we have got to improve the public transport system.

" I look forward to HS2 because it will free up space on the existing network to run more trains."