'Sad and sorry state': Calls to tidy up Wolverhampton estate’s ‘top shops’
Calls have been made to tidy up a row of shops on a large Wolverhampton housing estate.
The small parade of local stores in Ashmore Park, Wednesfield – known locally as the ‘top shops’ – have been described as being in a “sad and sorry” state by ward councillors.
Wednesfield North councillors Phil Bateman, Mary Bateman and Rita Potter recently met officers from Wolverhampton Homes, which owns the buildings, and carried out a site visit to the parade on Higgs Road at the junction with Griffiths Drive.
The shops are located in close proximity to the circular 59 bus terminus, and safety concerns have also been raised over the number of cars parking around the main stop and pulling out in front of buses, which stop there every six to seven minutes.
Councillor Bateman said: “We requested a meeting because we are perturbed with the sad and sorry state of this important public facility. The shops, which have flats above, have been there for a long time but have had little work done on them over the years.
“The brickwork isn’t good and they have become a blot on the landscape. Cars have been parking on the small grass area at the side of the shops and worn away all the grass. There are also four abandoned garages there that we have asked to be pulled down, as they haven’t been used for decades. It’s generally very scruffy.
“Another of our concerns is that twice last year lorries making deliveries at the rear of the buildings collided with the gates, and one of those has now been removed. There are some serious safety issues with vehicles in general.
“Some plans need to be pulled together. Obviously, the work won’t happen quickly but we feel some resources definitely need to be spent. We raised our concerns strongly with the officers who have taken them on board and will obviously keep everyone informed on progress as it’s made,” he added.
The shops are known as the ‘top shops’ due to their geographical location on the estate, and also to differentiate them from the larger ‘bottom shops’ at the lower end of Griffiths Drive.
Ashmore Park was originally built as an overspill estate and has been part of Wolverhampton since 1966 when the majority of Wednesfield was incorporated into it. The estate mainly consists of council houses, flats and bungalows dating back to the 1950s.
