More parking spots set for area near Halesowen
Plans for parking bays to be introduced in a congested residential area are moving one step closer.
A total of 12 bays are proposed in Shell Corner, near Halesowen, in a bid to boost footfall in the area.
The bays would be placed near shops in Malt Mill Lane and outside shops in Long Lane.
It would see a mixture of on-road and on-pavement parking bays, allowing people to quickly pop into shops.
Councillor Stuart Henley, who represents the Halesowen North ward, said he had received confirmation from council bosses that the proposals had now made the 2017/18 Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) programme.
Councillor Henley said: "Because of the width of the pavement, we could take some of the cars off the road and mount them onto pavement, giving enough room for traffic and pedestrians to still pass.
"There will be a mixture of 10-15 minute spaces so that shoppers can pull up and go in and out of a shop.
"Hopefully it will move people on who pull up illegally and if we get more people coming to the shops, we get more shops and then we get more rates and its win-win for everyone.
"I think it'll be a great improvement on Long Lane."
Council bosses say the order will be progressed within the next few weeks and will hopefully go out to consultation with ward members and the public before Christmas.
It is hoped that the spaces would increase shoppers, after shop frontages have been spruced up in a bid to revamp the area in recent months.
They would help customers who want to pop into shops and takeaways such as Balti Towers, Costcutter and Decrease Ironing.
It comes as ward councillors have also called for action on boy racers causing a nuisance tearing up and down the Long Lane area.
Groups of cars are believed to be driving up and down the road at speed late at night and during quiet periods.
Residents have flagged the issue up to police and taken to Facebook to express their concern.
Dudley Council also issued orders over two shops in Long Lane to clean windows, remove waste and take down old out-of-date signs at the end of last year.
The area has been blighted by drug crime and vandalism in recent years.
