Traders' fears over road closure

A busy Black Country road used by parents and schoolchildren will be closed for five months when work to replace a bridge takes place.

The Hydes Road river bridge over a small branch of the Tame in Wednesbury is being replaced from September so it can carry modern, heavier vehicles. Fears have been raised for the livelihoods of traders but councillors have said the work was vital. The bridge is close to Wodensborough Technology College and work will start as children return from the summer holidays.

It will follow six weeks of work from July 17 when Severn Trent Water carries out sewer maintenance under a canal bridge further down the road.

Work on the river bridge, costing £450,000, is set to start on September 8.

Wednesbury South councillor Michael Middleton said: "This work is necessary but it is going to have an impact on traders.

"There are newsagents, a fish and chip shop and other businesses who will all suffer, especially during the economic downturn. However, the bridge is inadequate."

Gary Cheema, aged 36, who runs The Pizza Place takeaway, said: "I have delivery drivers who will have to make a mile detour. It is going to cause us a lot of problems but I don't see what else can be done."

Onkar Gill, aged 29, who runs Gill's News and Booze, said: "I get a lot of trade from the schoolchildren buying crisps, sweets and magazines. If they have to take a different route to school that is going to have a bad effect." Sandwell Council was given £3 million to repair and maintain roads by the Government.

Work costing £225,000 to repair Swan Bridge in Great Bridge Street, West Bromwich will start in August and will take 14 weeks. Sandwell Council's neighbourhoods chief Councillor Mahboob Hussain said traffic management would be needed.

The government grant includes £410,000 for safety, £255,000 for safer routes to schools and £100,000 for major route signing. A further £25,000 will be spent on a two-year maintenance programme for Park Hill bridge in Wednesbury.

A highway maintenance programme is expected to be agreed for 2009/2010 with £850,000 for principal roads, £850,000 for non-principal roads and £180,000 for a street lighting programme.