Living Streets in Sandwell
Sandwell
Contact
Tony Fowler
Tel: 0121 358 1938
Sandwell is a major Metropolitan council in the West Midlands that includes a number of historic towns, many of which were at the heart of the Industrial Revolution. The towns of West Bromwich, Oldbury, Smethwick, Cradley Heath and others are to be found here.
Living Streets Sandwell manages to have hundreds of paving problems and lighting defects attended to each year as well as striving to have hedges, bushes and trees which grow over footways cut back. In an estate in West Bromwich, which appears suitable to becoming a home zone, campaigning with others, a 20 mph speed limit now seems likely to be achieved. Gradually the subways of the borough have been filled in. Some will remain; Living Streets monitors these to ensure that they are clean, well lit and safe. Obviously, with more members we could involve ourselves fully in all the towns and neighbourhoods in the borough.
Latest News from Sandwell
The group punches well above its weight in this Black Country metropolitan borough which is undergoing dramatic changes. In each of the six towns: - Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich there are major redevelopment schemes; pedestrian needs - the Living Streets agenda - have to be considered as a high priority.
West Bromwich is the largest town, where the redevelopment of its central area is underway. A town square is near to completion. This new public space gives some of the streets back to the people. The tight collar of the Ringway is being eased but there are still important pedestrian links which either need to be improved or established.
Living Streets is represented on the Walking Forum and recently the local contact has become a member of the Access Forum. The draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan has just gone out to consultation. One issue which pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users have fought for is provision for footways etc int he area of the Black Country New Road, which was built by the Black Country Development Corporation. Some progress is being made. The involvement of the Chair of Living Streets Birmingham iin Sandwell's Walking Forum is of immense value.
Local contact:
A T Fowler
0121 358 1938