Work starting within weeks on new vision for Wolverhampton city streets
The first phase of major plans to pedestrianise much of the city centre is ready to swing into action.
The proposed “Westside Link” will see the removal of existing roads and the creation of “uncluttered” events areas and street cafes – with a new public plaza in Victoria Street.
Richard Lawrence, Wolverhampton Council’s director of regeneration, told members of the Stronger City Economy Scrutiny Panel, workers are scheduled to start on site in November.
Main building work will begin in January lasting until March 2021.
'Essential'
“This development is essential to halting the decline of our city centre and doing nothing is not an option,” he said.
“We need to create a city centre environment where we can hold more live events and generate a vibrancy that will have a knock-on effect and attract more people to visit and invest in the city.
"We are also in advanced negotiations with a well-known cinema company to build a new multi-screen complex.”
A consultation on phase one of the development – which takes in Victoria Street, Salop Street, Skinner Street and School Street – was held between October and November last year, with many people in favour of it.
External funding is being sought for the first stage of the development.
However Councillor Paul Birch said: “I have a number of reservations about how the development will affect both St Peter’s Church and also the Catholic SS Peter and Paul’s Church.
“I know that both are deeply concerned about the development.”
And Councillor Phil Bateman added: “We are talking about pedestrianising major parts of the city centre without knowing how well our shops are doing first. I want to see some real figures.”
