Work to improve Tipton high street is finally over after almost £1m spent

Work to improve public spaces in Tipton town centre under a revamp programme costing almost £1 million has finally finished.

As part of the project the main thoroughfare Owen Street was closed for six weeks to allow for gas works and landscaping to smarten up the town to make it brighter, safer and easier for residents and shoppers to move around. All the roadworks have gone and the road has fully opened.

New brighter low energy streetlights have been installed, bus stops have been relocated with new shelters, and more pedestrian crossings installed in the right places.

There is now a 20mph speed limit in operation.

The works included reconstructing and resurfacing roads, installing new kerbing and relaying footpaths to a high standard, helping to reduce the need for future maintenance work and disruption. This involved carefully managing traffic and pedestrians, including temporary one-way traffic.

Now that the programme has ended Sandwell Council was urging everyone to support the businesses by popping in and speaking to traders.

Sandwell Council leader and regeneration chief Councillor Ray Nock said: “We are committed to supporting jobs and boosting our high streets and town centres. Now these works have been completed we encourage people to come along and see what businesses in Tipton have to offer.

“We thank everyone for their patience and understanding during these works. We also thank our contractor McPhillips for working closely with the community in Tipton throughout the project, supporting local jobs and providing valuable apprenticeship opportunities to give real-life industry experience.”

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McPhillips director Paul Inions said: “The Owen Street project is a scheme that’s created real opportunity, with three apprentices gaining hands-on experience and a site team drawn entirely from the local area. That local benefit alongside the finished scheme itself, is something we're very proud to have delivered for the people of Tipton and Sandwell Council.”

The public space improvements were funded as part of the wider regeneration project in Tipton town centre backed by £20m of government funding and will also include 70 new and much-needed council homes.

Over the next few months, the council will work in partnership with the owner of Tipton Shopping Centre, Unity Walk, to improve lighting in the precinct.

There are also plans to remove overgrown trees and bushes along the canal walkway off Union Street to make the route more attractive and discourage anti-social behaviour.