Road safety budget increases by 43 per cent in Walsall
Funding to pay for safety measures on dangerous roads in Walsall is to increase by more than 40 per cent.
More money will be available to fund improvements that will make roads safer and encourage investment into the borough as well as promote active travel such as cycling and walking.
Walsall Council’s cabinet agreed the measures, which are part of the West Midlands Local Transport Plan Settlement and Transport Capital Programme.
The authority’s road safety budget has been increased by 43 per cent and is now £800,000 for the coming year.
The overall capital budget for the Local Network Improvement Plan has also increased from £1.3 million to £1.6m.
Council leader Mike Bird said an improved road network would help bring investment and jobs to the borough.
In the past, highways chiefs have been presented with petitions and pleas for safety measures on roads which have seen fatalities or a number of fatalities.
Bosses said all potential safety schemes are reviewed annually but limited funding means they have to prioritise which could leave some roads – even ones which have seen deaths – further down the pecking order for works.
Walsall Council deputy leader Adrian Andrew said: “I think this is very positive news for the borough and it will allow us to deliver more road safety and transport schemes across the borough.
“The M6 Junction 10 scheme implementation is supplemented by the local growth fund and prudential borrowing and have to say that is moving on incredibly well.
“(This is) investment into the town and improving our transport system in order to improve our economy and improve job creation and better air quality for local residents.”
Councillor Bird added: “This is very positive. Transport links are important wherever you live but it’s seeing investment into the borough which is something we’ve been lacking for a long time.”
