Walsall residents call on council to reverse busy one-way street decision

Residents in Caldmore are calling on Walsall Council to re-analyse controversial £150,000 work to turn a busy street into a one-way system - with the council leader admitting the scheme may have to be reversed.

Council bosses introduced a one-way system for motorists on Caldmore Road, between the junctions of Bradford Street and Corporation Street, in the new year, despite objections in the form of a 1,500 signature petition.

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Residents and business owners say that since the system was introduced, life has been 'torture' and asked the council to undo their work at a scrutiny meeting.

Akhlaq Hussain, chairman of the Caldmore Traders Association, said one business has already closed on Caldmore Road since the change, with two more set to follow in the coming months, while others are laying off staff to survive.

Speaking at the meeting, he said: "This is what we told you would happen.

"This isn't going to work.

"The problems were there before and since the change, they have only got worse.

"Business are losing money, roads are grid-locked and we don't see any benefit to this."

Another resident, Mohammed Bashir, who lives on the nearby Sandwell Street, said traffic queues were especially bad in the morning and evening rush hours.

He also claimed he has had to physically stop motorists 'fist-fighting' in the street as they argue about congestion and road courtesy.

He said: "We have a number of schools nearby and the roads were busy anyway.

"In the mornings, Caldmore Road and the surrounding streets including mine are grid-locked.

"People are shouting at each other from their cars and on a couple of occasions I have had to stop fist fights from breaking out in the street.

"I have young children and I don't think they should be seeing this.

"The roads in this area aren't big anyway and we have problems with people driving up the kerb just to continue their journey.

"It is torture for us as residents and this is the worst I have known it."

Another resident who spoke at the meeting, Jamil Rabba, said that his school have been 20 minutes late for school for around 6 weeks due to traffic problems.

Work which started in the new year is set to finish by the end of May and bosses have said they will look at the success of the scheme then.

During a heated discussion where Caldmore residents asked for the decision to be completely reversed as soon as possible, Councillor Mike Bird, leader of Walsall Council, said the authority may have to look at 'every option'.

He said: "I will be asking that a report be put together in time for our next cabinet meeting so this can be looked into sooner.

"A lot of money has been spent here and we do believe that once the work is fully complete, Caldmore will be better for it.

"However, we have to listen to the people and I will ask that every option is looked at in order to get the best result.

"As far as I can remember, traffic in Caldmore has been a major issue.

"I am not making any promises but it may be that we have to reverse this."

When the plans were first announced, the authority declared the work would ease traffic congestion, road safety and parking concerns.