Residents and visitors to Bilston will be able to see how a scheme to help improve the town centre is taking shape with the installation of a series of panels featuring information and images.

Type=image;ImageID=3086;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=The site of the new Bilston High Street Link;TitleClass=strong;

The latest phase of the Bilston High Street Link project has seen hoardings erected to secure properties that have been acquired by Wolverhampton City Council to make way for the new route.

These hoardings will now be covered with eye catching images and information on how the development is progressing.

The Bilston High Street Link will provide a direct, safe and convenient pedestrian route from the heart of the town centre to major new developments across the Black Country Route.

This includes the Bert Williams Leisure Centre, the South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy and the proposed new commercial development on the site next to the leisure centre.

It will also enable visitors to access these major new sites more easily from the town centre and for the town to improve its image from the Black Country Route.

The hoardings are protecting and securing 7 properties acquired by the city council using its powers of compulsory purchase.

It is anticipated the site will be cleared by the middle of 2014 in order to set out the town centre end of the link.

Early next year the setting out of the link across Pinfold Street car park will be undertaken. This involves the creation of a new entrance and exit point, the provision of new parking bays near the indoor market and the pedestrian route itself, together with changes to the circulation within the car park.

The pedestrian route has been designed with new lighting, trees and seating and is aligned with the existing crossing of the Black Country Route - linking the pedestrian route to the main entrance of the leisure centre.

Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, said: "It is pleasing to see this development is taking shape and these panels will become a talking point for people in the run up to Christmas and into the New Year.

"The High Street Link is part of the Council's commitment to provide new investment within the town centre as well as providing resources to accelerate progress on the main Urban Village developments."

  • released: Friday 13 December , 2013