Calls for compensation over roadworks disruption

Calls have been made for compensation to be paid to businesses over roadworks that have been ongoing since March.

Willenhall councillor Simran Cheema said footfall in the town centre had been decimated by work along Bilston Street, New Road and Portobello.

"We worked hard to try and bring footfall and activity into the town centre, now it's decimated," Cheema said.

A council spokesperson said businesses may be able to apply for rate relief if they were found to be financially impacted by "severe disruption from roadworks".

Tarik Rashid, a solicitor on New Road, said he felt there was not enough information about the scheme.

"We operate by an appointment system and when you're directing them [clients], it's anyone's guess how you direct them. It's really frustrating," he said.

The roadworks are part of the construction of a new railway station, being delivered by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).

Further work is taking place in the area for the Noose Lane, Pinson Road and Rose Hill cycle scheme.

Cheema said the rail project had been in the pipeline since 2018, and that doing all the roadworks at once was "bad planning and bad management from the council".

She called for business rates relief and a compensation scheme for affected businesses.

"It should have been done in phases, rather than all in one go," she said.

A spokesperson for Walsall Council said small businesses could apply for a temporary reduction in business rates if they were found to have been financially affected by severe disruption from roadworks.

"The funding grant conditions imposed on the council mean that on this occasion nearby projects must be delivered concurrently, and the traffic management has been designed to safely deliver all the works in the shortest possible time," they said.

"Inevitably with such a large programme of much-needed regeneration activity in the town there will be some unavoidable short-term disruption."

They said residents, businesses and other stakeholders had been informed by consultation events, letter drops and on-line resources.

A TfWM spokesperson said construction work was due to finish in August, and that it had worked with partners including Walsall Council to co-ordinate the work with that on the new cycleway to help keep disruption to a minimum.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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