£19m Wolverhampton street works 'making paths dangerous and confusing pedestrians' - claims

Struggling business owners are calling for work to transform a city street to be sped up due to falling trade and safety fears over uneven pavements caused by ongoing digging activity.

The project is phase two of a major £19 million regeneration scheme to transform Darlington Street between the Waterloo Road and North Street junctions, Lichfield Street and Queen Square.

Wolverhampton Council leader Stephen Simkins said the effort will attract thousands of people to live in the city centre and will help to “stimulate investment”. He also revealed the project was being fast-tracked after being beset by “unforeseen” delays.

But Darlington Street traders including sub-postmaster Pram Aulakh claim the pavements were in a dangerous state and pedestrians were being at risk of falls and injury as a result of the long-running effort. He said trade takings were about 70-80 per cent down on figures prior to 2025.

Mr Aulakh said: “It's very difficult, especially for our pensioners. One of them is going to hurt themselves on the uneven ground sooner or later.

“The workmen did have this part of the barriers open last week along with ramp, but they closed it on Friday, saying it's a working site. I've got photos myself that show it’s no different than it was last week. I can't understand why last week it was okay and now it’s not.

“We can’t see that any work is regularly going on. It could take four months to complete the paving between my building and Blooms menswear.

“All our deliveries including cash deliveries, post bag, have to get to us. None of the drivers can park anywhere nearby. Because normally they'd be able to pull up.

“The contractors did say if we needed any help, they'll help them, but they're never here to help anyone.

“They've had a problem with a cellar along here and apparently that had delayed the work. But once you know there's a problem with the cellar and they've had the same problem at the lower part of the street, why not do a proper survey again? Why carry on with it?

“Why leave the whole street like this? If you know there was a problem, sort it. In January 2025 they started at lower Darlington Street. That’s a year and a half plus, and they've only got this far.”

He explained that two shoppers had taken tumbles in the street. A male scooter rider fell off his machine when it struck the kerb in April and in a second incident an elderly man was recently helped up by workmen.

“They’re going to pave all this and make it a nicer place for people to walk. The buses only go one way past here since about 2022 when they were taken away.

“The customers used to get off at the bus stop here. You’d see the free bus that goes around Wolverhampton city centre pull up here. All the pensioners used to get it. We've lost all the pensioners. Instead a bike lane has been put in that no one uses. Pensioners definitely ain't going to use it.

“The food delivery people use it, and anyone who wants a getaway route after doing some criminal activity. Victoria Street has totally died since they pedestrianised it. There's trip hazards there as well. You’d think once the council saw what happened in Victoria Street they’d say ‘hang on, this isn’t working for us’.

“They are continuing with it. Now the Smithgate development is also under way and is supposedly going to turn it all around for the city. We'll wait and see. By time that’s completed another business will have gone down.”

He said the traders were regularly hearing from staff representing contractor Taylor Woodrow, but they wanted answers about the unsafe paths and an update about the cause of the delays.

Councillor Simkins said: “These works are part of a £19m improvement scheme aiming to transform the area and complement the £83m investment in nearby Smithgate, which will bring thousands of people to live in the city centre – all helping to stimulate much-needed wider investment.

“We know that major highways works can cause disruption in the short term, which is why we continue to talk to affected businesses, provide updates on the progress of the works and signpost businesses to relevant schemes and support routes where appropriate. Unfortunately progress on upper Darlington Street has been delayed because unforeseen issues were discovered in old cellar spaces beneath the road.

“ We are fast-tracking this work and will be able to provide much clearer timescales once the full engineering assessment has been completed. Businesses remain open as normal and pedestrian access is being maintained throughout the works. Any safety concerns should be reported immediately so they can be investigated and addressed as a priority by our contractor, Taylor Woodrow.

“We firmly believe these improvements are necessary to secure the long-term future of the city centre. High streets across the country are facing significant challenges from changing shopping habits, online retail, rising business costs and inflation. Creating attractive public spaces that encourage people to spend time and money in the city centre is an important part of responding to those challenges. We are already seeing positive signs from completed public realm improvements elsewhere in the city centre.

“The investment around Victoria Street and The Halls has helped attract major events, increase footfall and support new business investment, including Superbowl UK's decision to locate in the city centre. We also recognise that vacant buildings in private ownership can have a significant impact on the vitality of the city centre. The long-term closure of Beatties has left a major gap, and the council is continuing to take action to address this, including progressing the compulsory purchase process.

“In the meantime, we will be contacting Mr Aulakh directly to better understand his concerns and discuss how we can support him. We would like to thank businesses, residents and visitors for their continued patience while these important improvements are carried out.”

Phase one in lower Darlington Street was completed in November 2025 by the contractor which has also been dealing with issues with exposed cellars belonging to buildings that once stood next to Fold Street car park which require remedial work to avoid future subsidence.

The roadworks will complement other facelift schemes already underway or in the pipeline including the £150m interchange and commercial district, and thousands of new homes due to be built at Smithgate and Canalside, aimed to create new jobs and further investment.