Dudley Council could pay high price for tram trouble

The authority has approved spending of up to £100,000 as a possible contribution to pay for changing the level of the service road at the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre (VLRNIC) on Zoological Drive in Dudley.

Tracks for metro trams cross the road near the new Dudley Castle tram stop but once a temporary surface is removed they will be at the wrong level for the road surface and unable to be used.

Mystery surrounds how the mix-up occurred after it was discovered last year by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).

A council document authorising spending £100,000 said: “Since notification of the issue, work has been undertaken to review the information shared between TfWM, the council and the VLRNIC construction teams to understand how the issue has arisen, the agreements in place, why the issue has only recently been identified and what would be required to rectify it.

“The findings are largely inconclusive with no one party able to identify a single set of drawings with sufficient detail and approvals of the drawings and works delivered by all parties.”

The worst-case estimate to get the road to the correct level is £350,000 and if external funding cannot be found the council and TfWM will have to pick up the bill.

Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader of Dudley Council, said: “We are working with Transport for West Midlands on the best solution which will meet the requirements of the highway, allow the trams to operate and also enable the continued operation of the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre while any works are undertaken.

“Part of this work has been exploring routes to secure funding for any required changes.

“We are looking at the possibility of using grant funding to cover the work required or utilising project efficiencies to make a contribution towards the works from existing budgets.

“We are also reviewing the construction drawings to understand how the issue has arisen.”