Council boss seeks assurances on Birchley Island funding
A council leader is seeking assurances that cash for a long-awaited £27 million revamp of the notorious Birchley Island roundabout will be available.
Funding to overhaul Birchley Island in Oldbury has been promised by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
But Sandwell Council leader Yvonne Davies has asked for clarification on when it will be ready.
Plans to turn the frequently congested roundabout into a 'hamburger island', allowing traffic to pass through the middle, have been in the pipeline for years but the money has never been there to make it a reality.
Cash has already been awarded by the West Midlands Combined Authority and there is a commitment from the LEP.
Site investigation works have already started near the island and it is hoped the full project will get under way before the end of the year.
Birchley Island is one of the most heavily congested spots in the Black Country at peak times, with traffic from Wolverhampton Road, the M5, Churchbridge and Birchfield Lane all converging onto it.
The WMCA has already signed off on £7.4m towards the scheme, while a new LEP report suggests £8m will be made available from 2020/21. More cash is likely to come from the Government.
Councillor Davies asked for an update on the scheme at a recent LEP meeting.
She told the Express & Star she wanted to be sure the project remained a priority for the funding authority and that there would be no nasty surprises further down the line which could delay it yet again.
She said: "There is a finite amount of money and I don't know how many different projects are in line.
"Birchley Island funding has been secured, I was just checking that the funding is available. These things are like disappearing chairs.
"We've got the commitment to sort the island out. It's a massive problem in the Black Country, it causes air pollution and we want to be sure we can get it sorted.
"We are constantly saying to all parties 'are we sure that the budget is there?'. It's taking longer than hoped and as things shift the budget can shift."
Councillor Davies reiterated the importance of easing congestion around the island.
She added: "It's a massive project for us. It's crucial for our through traffic.
"Travelling that way every morning it's a constant bottleneck. It will be a massive benefit for everyone. We cannot not do it."
