New parking bays to stop cars clogging up Walsall streets
A total of 50 new parking spaces will be created in a move to alleviate the problem of cars clogging up streets in a Walsall neighbourhood.
It is hoped the creation of new spaces will help tackle long-running parking problems on some streets in The Butts.
Walsall Housing Group has been given permission to create new parking at Austin House, a 16-storey block of flats in Upper Forster Street.
Ground surrounding the WHG-owned tower block will be resurfaced to create 33 parking spaces.
A further 17 new car parking spaces on Upper Forster Street and Butts Street, which are both close to Walsall town centre, will also be created.
The move has today been welcomed. Councillor Mohammed Arif, representative for St Matthew’s ward, said the flats had only nine parking spaces for more than 60 residents.
“These spaces are absolutely essential for people living in the area and will be welcomed with more than open arms,” he said.
“Hopefully this will alleviate the long running problems of town centre parking, people leaving their cars in those streets and walking into the town centre.”
Councillor Arif said people had been campaigning for better parking facilities in The Butts for several years and had held numerous public meetings.
He added: “There is still a lot more to be done to try and tackle parking issues in the area.”
Currently it is believed a lack of parking is forcing residents of the tower block to park in the roads nearby, in what is already a built-up area.
Planning officers who approved the scheme under delegated powers said it would enhance the area.
David Elsworthy, head of planning at Walsall Council, said: “The provision of further off street car parking for local residents outside Austin House is welcomed and will improve highway safety by removing vehicles from the main highway and alleviate existing parking issues on the adjacent streets around Austin House, namely Butts Street and Upper Forster Street.”
The new parking on Butts Street and Upper Forster Street will not be restricted.
The streets also surround Walsall Housing Group’s new £6.5 million headquarters.
The building, known as 100 Hatherton, backs on to The Butts and is home to hundreds of housing group staff.
Austin House has recently been undergoing a £3 million multi-coloured revamp.
The well-known tower block now boasts chameleon boards on its sides, meaning they light up and change colour depending on the time of the day.
Comments for: "New parking bays to stop cars clogging up Walsall streets"
Arjun Chand
Why have Walsall Council not addressed the ongoing problem for vehicles clogging up the side street around Manor Hospital which we are still getting on Scarborough Rd, Ida Rd, Manor Rd, Flaxhall St Forrester St in Alumwell.
Hospital staff are still pakring on these side street 7 days a week , streets are not been cleaned , road drains have been fully blocked for years, We get traffic congestion, queues on these roads becase hospital staff and visitors to Manor Hospital clog up the street with there vehciles on both side of the streets reducing the street to one lane traffic flow .
The same problems we have on Caldmore over 15 years we get traffic congestions and vehciles driving on pavements inchs pass pedestrains in the Caldmore shopping area on Caldmore Rd amd Westbromiwch St, well over 30 accidents on Caldmore rd and Westbromwich Stm Victor St junction, 10 different vehicles have driven into 10 different shops on Caldmore Rd, We have vehciles driving in the wrong lane and speeding on Caldmroe Rd, Westbrowmich St in Caldmore.
Years of Pictures of these problems in Alumwell and Caldmore in Walsall have been provided to Walsall Council Lcoal Councillors, Walsall South Area Partnership Community meeting, Even Cllr Arif has been aware of all these Road Safety issues in Caldmore for over 7 years yet he has done nothing to improve rhe safety of pedestrains in the Caldmore,
Cllrs in Alumwell ,Pleck , one who is Mayor of Walsall has seen years of pictures evidence of Hospital Staff and vistors to the Mnaor hospital causing parking problem in the sirrounds street , All we have had for the Caldmore and Alumwell area is years of meetings about these Road Safety issues, parking issues, traffic congestions from the St Mathhews LNP meeting to now trhe South Area Partnership Community meetings which residents have attended and complained about these issues in the Caldmore and Alumwell area, Cllrs and Area manager have not resolved these problems in Caldmore or Alumwell .These meeting residents and business say they are just Talking shop , lot of talk , words yet No action.
May be Cllr Arif and other Cllrs need to start resolving these other more serious road and pedestrains safety issues in Caldmore and Alumwell , they have had enough time to do this , let see these problems resolved as residents and business are Fed up with this contimnued problems for over 15 years in Caldmore and over 10 years in Alumwell..
Chuckleberry
What rubbish!! The reason the roads in and around The Butts are clogged with parked cars is down to the fact that the majority of them belong to Walsall Council workers, WHG employees and college students who don't want to pay car parking charges. The same people park in the same place, at the same time Monday-Friday. The Butts is deserted after 6PM, weekends and Bank Holidays. What will this small number of new car parking spaces will achieve? Words fail me
rockinberry
Chuckleberry i totaly agree with you, the problem as been caused ever since the council offices where built, its the council employee`s who are the problem, and if the council know there is a major problem with residents parking how come they are so quick to dish parking tickets out.
Stirling Moss
If the new parking is not restricted does this mean the council employee`s and pupils from QM school can park there all day.