Compensation demand for those hit by Walsall roadworks 'disaster'

Authority leader Mike Bird said businesses had either folded or suffered huge revenue losses as a result of work being carried out in the town centre and along Birmingham Road.

He said there had been poor communication with residents and motorists while some of the ongoing works were even causing a highways danger.

At a Scrutiny Overview Committee meeting on Thursday, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) officers said Phase One of the project will be completed by early June with many sections finished before then.

They also admitted there had been “issues” with their contractors which they were working on and assured members lessons would be learned.

Sprint will run along the A34 from Birmingham, through Great Barr and onto Walsall and include routes to Solihull and the airport.

The tram-like vehicles have been promised to be more reliable, frequent and a greener mode of transport, also helping to ease congestion.

Works are being carried out at locations such as The Bridge, Bridge Street, Ablewell Street, Town Hill and along the A34 Birmingham Road. Projects include creating enforceable bus lanes and changes to traffic flow.

But Walsall Labour group leader Aftab Nawaz said he, along with others, had received a deluge of complaints about the works, mostly from businesses.

He put forward a motion calling on TfWM to look at ways those affected could be compensation without using Walsall taxpayer funds.

He said: “I’ve had residents and businesses complain to me. The impact has been huge on them.

“The traffic situation has become so difficult that at virtually every busy time, it comes to a standstill.

“It’s unacceptable you didn’t get your act together and see these problems happening. We saw it and were telling you it would be difficult but no one was listening.

“You’ve given us a deadline saying it will all be completed in June. We expect that to be true because the people have had enough and want to see this go away.

“This isn’t going to enhance people’s view of public transport. They are going to see it as an inconvenience.”

Councillor Bird said: “This has been an unmitigated disaster and continues to be so.

“I spoke to our highways engineers today because the works are creating a highways danger because people drive up Ablewell Street and are doing (illegal) u-turns by Lidl.

“(The works) have caused businesses to close down. I have one who had been in this town for 35 years who said, ‘Mike I can’t stay anymore’ because of what’s being done in Ablewell Street.

“There is a poor lad who has got an independent car wash and when the one way was in there, he lost £7,000. Does anybody care? Your liaison officer went down and met and consoled him but that doesn’t put the money back into his till.

“I’m not a bus lover, we all know that, and I’m not sure the A34 bus is going to do what it says.

“Where these illegal u-turns are being done, that’s where we need a camera. Never mind the bus lane. Those people are breaking the law and putting people’s lives at risk.

“If you drive in a bus lane, OK we all know you’ll get a ticket. But we need to address this and get the people who are doing the illegal u-turns.”

Angela Hosford, head of Sprint Development at TfWM, said: “We have been having a few issues with the contractor. It’s fair to say those issues have been systemic throughout the works.

“But we’re working really hard to manage the contract which is set up to help us work through any issues as works evolve with a real view to protect public finances.

“In December I said the works would complete in spring and we’re looking at completion in early June.

“We thank officers and the public for their patience as things have gone on for longer than we would have wanted them to.

“We’re looking to rectify any defects as we go and will continue to minimise the impact on traffic and movement. We know in reality though we still need to do night closures to do the work and sections of resurfacing.

“We are committed to making sure we engage with the businesses and properties affected.”