Just what is it with the Highways Agency? A couple of weeks ago, at a meeting with local councillors and council officers, it was agreed to set up communication links with residents who will be directly affected by work on the M6 between J10 and J10a connected with allowing the use of the hard shoulder at peak times.

In reality, the Highways Agency have just gone on in their merry way as if nothing had happened reports Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Shires.

Residents in one area of Short Heath arrived home from work yesterday to find a letter on the mat from the “Agency” informing them that excavation work would be starting that day. “That was not what was agreed” said Ian. “The Highways Agency were supposed to hold further talks with these particular residents to outline what was going to happen and set up communication lines to ensure that they were kept fully informed. It’s obvious that that has not happened”  he continued.

To add insult to injury there have been further developments which will mean the numbers of people in the the Short Heath and New Invention areas of Willenhall who will be directly affected will be greatly increased.

The Highways Agency are planning to remove a stretch of close board fencing which currently acts as a noise barrier to enable them to carry out work on strengthening the hard shoulder. Apparently this only came to light last week when “Agency” engineers moved onto site to begin preparation work.

“I can not believe that it’s taken till now to identify that there would be insufficient room to carry out the work on the hard shoulder without removing the fencing” said Ian angrily. “This raises a whole set of new questions which need to be answered as a matter of urgency” he continued.

“How much fencing is to be removed? How long will residents have to put up with inconvenience of not having a fence which affords both visual as well as noise protection? and are the “Agency” planning to hack out a whole swathe of trees to make room for them to carry out their work on the hard shoulder?  None of this has been discussed with residents or local councillors. I assume that Walsall Council is also unaware of these plans” he concluded.

Upon hearing of this latest round of fiascos surrounding the work on the M6 Ian contacted Walsall Council and the Agency’s liaison officer demanding urgent talks to get some answers to these questions.