Bypass put back to 2007
Work on the multi-million pound congestion-busting bypass for Brierley Hill will not start until next year after a hold up over funding, it was revealed today. The £24 million Parallel Route to merge the town's High Street with the Merry Hill shopping centre was due to get under way this month.
But it has emerged today that a delay in securing government funding has put the scheme back until February. Frustration is now mounting as the route holds the key to the £1 billion revamp of Brierley Hill, which is set to create thousands of much-needed jobs.
John Anderson, from Dudley Council's engineering department, said the bypass now hinged on the secretary of state putting his signature on a deal for funding.
He said: "The funding is not secured until the secretary of state gives his approval and that is the stage we are at now.
"Obviously, the sooner we can get on with the bypass the better, as it will cut congestion and pollution and drive forward the revamp of Brierley Hill."
Council leader David Caunt said he was disappointed the scheme was still sitting on ministers' desks and said he was doing all he could to get the project moving.
The scheme has already been slowed down after it took eight months for the government to give its approval for the compulsory purchase of between 20 and 30 parcels of land needed for the route.
This delay was despite no objections being made following a public inquiry in January.
"Any delay has arisen because we have had to wait for confirmation of the CPO orders which we should have had in April," added Mr Anderson.
"Once we got that we wrote to government to say what the cost of the scheme was and that's where we are now."
The bypass will form part of a wider package aimed at improving the area by generating jobs in 70 to 80 acres of land close to the town centre which will be accessed via the road.
By Heather Loat