'Railway and cycle lane roadworks are costing us trade' say struggling Willenhall businesses

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But Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said the two different sets of roadworks, which have seen several hundred yards of safety barriers installed along the two main roads and some side streets, will be short-term inconveniences with long-term benefits for the town's economy.

Labour's Willenhall South ward representative Councillor Simran Cheema described the situation as "bad planning" on the part of the council's Tory leadership, while several businesses told the Express & Star the situation was the worst they had experienced in the formerly thriving industrial town, long known for its lockmaking heritage.

Proprietor of Willenhall Hardware Keith Mason said: "We cannot get potholes fixed, but the council is putting in lanes for push bikes. Very few people cycle lanes round here.

"A really wide cycle lane was put in Wolverhampton Road West in Bentley and nobody seems to be using it. It would have been better to create a dual carriageway running towards the M6, or spend the money on increasing police presence to tackle crime.

"I've been here 24 years and trade is just getting worse. In my experience June, July and August are the profitable months for the business, but summer trade this year has been the worst so far in that time. We can't make a living like this.

"I usually offer customers a free delivery service, but due to the roadworks there is a one-way system operating in the town centre which means it's taking me longer to drive round. I have now introduced a £10 delivery charge due to the changed circumstances.

"The authorities have absolutely messed up. They don't care what's happening here. It's a rubbish situation."

Proprietor of clothes shop Golden Girl Jiwan Gaind, aged 66, said: "People are complaining and my trade has gone down by half since the roadworks started. It's really affecting us, the traders, the drivers and the people coming in on the buses due to the diversions. 

"The bus is stopping further down on the main road, but shoppers can't be bothered to walk down into the market area. They're finding it hard to get the 529 which runs between Walsall and Wolverhampton and also they want to go to Walsall Road and they can't get there. They're complaining about the traffic problems for the railway station work on Rosehill because they have to go all the way around because it's all one way.

"I've been here since 1980 and the roadworks and the lack of public toilets has made things worse especially for the older people. Everybody works hard. It used to be a lovely market at one time with double rows running. Wednesdays are not too bad, but on Fridays it's actually worse here.

"There used to be loads of taxis coming to drop and pick up shoppers, but now there's no taxis. We are really struggling.

"They need to put the rates down because they're putting the rates up but we're not doing enough trade to pay it."

The traders said also said the situation was undermining recent successful efforts to attract more market stall holders which resulted in eight new vendors renting pitches on Wednesdays and that due to the roadworks up to six vendors had not returned.

Shopper Thomas Collet, aged 81, of Tubruk Walk, Portobello, said: "We want to know whose idea it was to run the roadworks projects all at the same time. Who did they ask about building more cycle lanes?

"A cycle lane was put in along Prouds Lane in Bilston and I have never seen anyone using it. They need to talk to the community before coming up with these projects.

Willenhall South ward representative Councillor Simran Cheema said: "I have serious concerns about the impact the roadworks is having on businesses in Willenhall town. Many businesses have reported a loss in footfall, turnover, and some are concerned this may result in potential job losses and subsequent closures. I have been calling on Walsall Council to implement a compensation scheme for affected businesses as well as any additional support. 

"This has been the consequence of bad planning and bad management by the council. The current roadworks are being undertaken to deliver a cycle lane scheme in line with a new railway station. The railway station has been in the works since 2018 and it seems as though the council are now in panic mode to deliver a cycle scheme up to a year before the railway station opening. This scheme should have been delivered in phases to minimise disruption and impact on local businesses and residents."

Councillor Bird said: "We apologise for the upheaval. I am not a fan of cycle lanes myself, but I'm pretty confident that it's come about from Government funding with a time-sensitive spending envelope. In terms of the traders, this will be short-term upheaval for long-term gain.

"These are major infrastructure projects along with the other new railway station being built in Darlaston. We should be grateful for the funding. I don't agree with Councillor Cheema. I know that Councillor Adrian Andrew has worked very hard over many years for these projects which will benefit the community long after we're gone."