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£125k of road safety improvements under consideration for Brownhills High Street

More than £125,000 of safety improvements could be carried out along Brownhills High Street, under new plans.

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A 20mph zone, table top junctions, new markings and high friction surfacing are being considered by Walsall Council.

An 84-year-old died after being hit by a lorry while buying Christmas and birthday cards on the High Street last December and in the three years from October 2011-14, there were seven accidents on the road.

Brownhills councillor Barbara Cassidy said she would welcome action to improve safety.

She said: "I have been concerned about safety in the High Street for as long as I can remember. It is quite a narrow road and is main route. Anything to improve safety I would welcome."

Grandfather Peter Pelari suffered serious injuries when he was hit by the lorry in Brownhills High Street, near the junction with Church Road, on December 19 last year, an inquest heard.

The 84-year-old, who lived in Barncroft, Chasetown, was airlifted to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital after the accident at around 11.30am.

The former mobile crane driver suffered multiple fractures and died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The majority of witnesses also said the driver was not at fault and the inquest was told a police investigation found there was no evidence to bring the driver to court.

Black Country coroner Zafar Siddique concluded that Mr Pelari died as a result of a road traffic accident.

Proposals for the new road improvements - which the council is still needs to secure funding for - come as some other main routes in Walsall are being lined up for more than £800,000 of improvements following a series of accidents.

The main ring road, Broadway, Sutton Road and the town centre are among those being looked at for safety measures.

Junction improvements, better crossings and road markings are being considered by council highways chiefs subject to securing funding and firm designs being drawn up.

Pedestrian facilities and junction improvements are being looked at on the ring road along the Littleton Street stretch as part of a £270,000 scheme. Highways chiefs are also putting together proposals for 20mph zones in the town centre and upgrading pedestrian links under a £396,000 scheme.

The council is also considering warning signs and new pedestrian refuge at Broadway West, near West Bromwich Street and crossing build outs on Sutton Road under designs worth more than £150,000.

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