Work starts on “vital” pedestrian linkway in Brierley Hill
Work has started on the creation of a “vital” pedestrian link off Brierley Hill High Street, the latest investment in the town.
When complete, the walkway will create a link between the High Street and Little Cottage Street, the site of the planned Midland Metro terminus.
The linkway will be called Lions Way.
It will not only connect the High Street to Little Cottage Street and to the planned Metro extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, but it will also bring what is currently an unsightly vacant gap site back into positive use.
More than £5million has already been invested in Brierley Hill through the Future High Street Fund and Brierley Hill High Street Heritage Action Zone. There have been major improvements to the Civic Hall Green, Brierley Hill War Memorial and significant refurbishment work to Brierley Hill Library and the recently re-opened public toilets in Little Cottage Street.
This latest investment will see Lions Way open in the summer.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said:
“This is the latest in a list of investments we have made in Brierley Hill and we are starting to see the positive benefits of that.
“Lions Way is a vital connection between two important areas of the high street which will be opened up for the first time in years. When it is complete the linkway will provide a huge boost to local businesses, students, residents and shoppers accessing vital transport links in the future.”
The site, between shops, is currently overgrown after demolition around 24 years ago, and has since become a target for fly-tipping.
West Midlands Combined Authority provided £145,000 to fund the acquisition of the land and demolition on site. Dudley Council, through the Future High Street Fund, is providing the remaining £350,000 to lay out new permeable paving, erection of new boundary treatment, installation of planters and lighting.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said:
“The future is looking bright for Brierley Hill High Street with funding now secured to bring Metro trams to its doorstep as well as the council’s ongoing £5m regeneration scheme.
“I’m pleased we have also been able to make money available for this convenient and quick walking route between the forthcoming Metro stop and the High Street. It’s great news for visitors and traders alike.
“It’s no secret that our high streets have been through some challenging times over the last few years but by backing projects like this one we can breathe new life into these important locations, helping them maintain their traditional role as the beating heart of our local communities.”
The name Lions Way is nod to the Brierley Hill Alliance football club ground which used to be in Little Cottage Street which has a lion as it’s club emblem. The club played on the site from 1888 to 1977, which is now the Asda car park.
Work on the High Street investments are nearing completion with new bus shelters, planters, paving, bins, benches and street trees added in recent weeks and proposed road resurfacing, signing, lining and signal loop replacement to be take place early April at night.
There has also been work on neighbouring streets to improve access to the town centre.
Work has now also started on giving two important heritage assets in the town a major overhaul, the Brierley Hill Institute (located in Moor Street) and Brierley Hill indoor market The market is open throughout the three-month project (LINK)
For more information on the regeneration projects in Brierley Hill go to https://www.regeneratingdudley.org.uk/brierley-hill-projects and https://www.dudley.gov.uk/brierley-hill-haz
Notes for Editors
About Future High Street Funding
Future High Street Funding is a Government initiative led by the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that aims to rejuvenate the UK's high streets.
About High Streets Heritage Action Zones
Historic England is working with local people and partners through grant funding and sharing skills to help breathe new life into high streets that are rich in heritage and full of promise - unlocking their potential and making them more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors. The High Streets Heritage Action Zones https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/heritage-action-zones/regenerating-historic-high-streets/ scheme, backed by government funding, aims to help with the recovery of local high streets from regenerating historic buildings to helping to engage local communities through art and cultural projects .
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