Residents of Walsall’s Hospital Street and Croft Street, long plagued by traffic chaos, pavement parking, and road rage, face continued disappointment as the proposed one-way system remains without funding or a delivery date. These streets serve as a busy shortcut between Green Lane and Bloxwich Road, two major routes out of the town centre, leading to constant congestion and safety concerns.
In 2024, Walsall Council conducted a consultation on introducing one-way systems on both roads, receiving strong support from the community. However, during the full council meeting on June 22, Councillor Basharat Hussain from St Matthew’s ward sought an update on progress.
Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, Councillor Nicky Barker, confirmed that while the proposal has been considered alongside other road safety initiatives over the past three years, funding has yet to be secured. She explained that although Hospital Street ranked relatively high in the council’s prioritisation process, it was placed tenth within the community health and safety programme, and only the top two schemes received funding.
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Councillor Barker stressed that no delivery date can be provided at this time, but Hospital Street remains in the programme and will be reviewed again during the next annual road safety assessment. The council’s cabinet is expected to evaluate the 2027 Transport Capital Programme in March to determine funding availability and possible progress routes for the scheme.
While acknowledging residents’ frustration, Councillor Barker emphasized the importance of distributing road safety funds fairly and consistently across Walsall to maximize safety benefits in locations with the greatest need.