Traffic fears as busy Black Country street to close for 18 months
A street in Wordsley will close to traffic for up to 18 months for repair work to a wall - sparking worries it will lead to traffic congestion on nearby roads.
Mill Street has been closed for several weeks, with signs and fencing surrounding a damaged wall of a derelict factory.
But now Dudley Council has revealed the road will be closed for a period of 18 months or until the repair work is completed - whichever date is sooner.
They say alternative access will be provided via nearby Plant Street - which is notorious locally for its many potholes.
Plant Street and nearby Bridge Street and John Street have already seen a significant increase in daily traffic.
Alan Bradley, licensee of the Bird In Hand pub on John Street, said: "With the road already being closed for some time, we've definitely seen traffic congestion increasing, with cars getting blocked in from either way.
"Nearby streets are narrow enough as it is, so it's been a problem with delivery lorries driving down Bridge Street to drop off goods but not able to carry on through to the Mill Street exit.
"Instead they have to drive up to the top road and awkwardly attempt to manoeuvre and reverse back down, which is not only time consuming but increasingly difficult."
Derrick Hemingsley, councillor for Wordsley, said: "If it's necessary for the work to be done to make it a safer road, then I'm all for it.
"However I don't agree with making Plant Street an alternative route to go down.
"You only have to drive down it to see the number of huge pot holes all over the street, so this really is an issue in itself.
"The question needs to be posed to the council as to why this isn't being resurfaced before any other work takes place."
However there were opposing views, with one resident, who did not want to be named, claiming it will stop locals driving through the road the wrong way as a short cut onto the Brierley Hill Road.
He said: "Of course nobody wants to hear nearby roads will be closing for such a long period of time, but I think it will be a lesson to people who drive through the road the wrong way each day, which is a danger in itself. It has two big no entry signs but people ignore them.
"Mill Street is a service road for people driving through at peak times, particularly rush hour. They dart down the street to get onto the Brierley Hill Road and cut out traffic."
