Email to Jayne Pilkington, Dudley Council

Good morning, Jayne and Vicky

My previous emails have already put in writing my suggestions but repeated here to avoid any misunderstanding.

Thanks so much for your brilliant help and interest yesterday.  It was great to see the public realm improvements in Brierley Hill, too.  It was so worthwhile.  This is my understanding as to what I think you said you would do.

1. You would speak to colleagues to make progress on the multi-named but, what I call, the 25 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walkway from Stourbridge Ring Road to NW Wolverhampton.  Particularly, in the very worst 3 Kms section from the border with S Staffs DC to Pensnett Nature Reserve/Fens Pool Avenue, Brierley Hill.  In the folder below, is a photo of something I came across this year after it had decades of burial in undergrowth.  Pensnett Railway Walk and Kingswinford Railway Walk were probably created in the 70s or 80s.  Dudley Council soon lost interest - from the state of the walkways ever since.  Now, a shameful, slum-like disgrace when the route is a delight in the  other two council sections where it is well used.
2. Should there be an NCN or NCR number for, at least, the better section north of our border with S Staffs up to NW Wolverhampton and the Staffordshire Canal?
3. You would speak to colleagues about the urgent Climate Emergency measure of using open spaces on the Dudley section of the A 456, Manor Way/Halesowen Bypass, to reinstate long awaited landscaping on the wide central reservation, to extend the remnant of thick woodland opposite the Shell filling station.  In addition, the other remnant needs extending eastwards where the cherry trees are from the Manor Way/Manor Lane junction to the eastern side of the Manor Way/Lapal Lane South junction.
4. The dozen or so cherry trees were my reward for years of writing for 100% reinstatement, earlier this century.  I achieved perhaps 25%!  But I think, those cherry trees prove how right I was about the thick woodland cover, admittedly for only a short time, before carriageway resurfacing destroyed so much.
5. My £1,000 will go directly to the Woodland Trust, to offset council costs, IF the following is done:
6. Woodland Trust trees and shrubs are used for the reinstatement for these three vital areas:-
7. Extending the two remnants of woodland cover, as indicated above.  There is still plenty of space for suitable trees and shrubs, purchased from the Woodland Trust.
8. Grange roundabout is finally landscaped, not with sculptures as once intended but by Nature.  At least grass with an annual mowing to maintain visibility, of course.
9. The area of land alongside Lapal Lane South, on its western side, is smartened up with additional suitable planting.  Purchased from the Woodland Trust.  Including the triangle area in front of the 5G mast and adjoining footpath.
10. Future lawn mowing of grass alongside Manor Way on the carriageway edges only, instead of the whole central reservation width.

FUTURE PLANS I'm suggesting:

The unfortunate looking Halesowen Asda car park roundabout needs to look as wonderful as the Halesowen in Bloom plantings in the town.  Photos, here:

 Asda roundabout folder

Are you able to view them?

Our very well used Laurel subway to be left intact, please when the Pool Road car park is demolished.  It is wonderful to walk under busy roads separated from all the traffic and therefore, not adding to the air pollution from vehicles braking and accelerating for walkers to cross.

The Summer Hill Pelican crossing to also be left in its present position.  Please!

I would love to meet with Luane to hear more about her work on Geo-trails - on site, preferably.

With best wishes

Tim   (Weller 0791 380 4363)