Walsall town centre plans to be reviewed

The Labour party will bid to form a minority administration at a meeting on June 16 after securing more seats at the local elections.

The move would see the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition lose control of the council.

And Labour chiefs today revealed they are looking to 'make changes' to the proposed revamp of the town centre.

A priority will be pumping money into the rundown Ablewell and Bridge Street areas to improve parking and attract shoppers.

But Labour deputy leader Councillor Sean Coughlan said the town centre had become 'stretched and disjointed' with too many separate developments.

And though he said existing projects such as the Old Square shopping centre would continue, he claimed the council was currently 'failing' the town centre. He said: "We have pledged that we will look at the whole town centre strategy because we believe it is failing at the moment.

"We understand there is an economic downturn but we don't believe Walsall is being put in a position to take advantage of an upturn."

Parking charges in parts of the town centre – including Ablewell Street – were cut last year after businesses and shoppers signed an 800 name petition which was handed into Parliament. And Councillor Coughlan said 'much more' needed to be done to improve parking in the town. But he added: "Without looking in detail at the financial viability of any ideas we don't want to commit to any statements yet, but we can assure people that we would work to help trade in Walsall."

A new Co-op and Primark are planned for the multi-million pound transformation of the Old Square Shopping Centre.

Around 140 new jobs are being created with the new Old Square development.

And Walsall Market, which is almost 800 years old, is to be given a £1.75 million revamp and a long-term home.