Some 70 miles of Walsall’s 528 miles roads are in need of resurfacing Willenhall and Short Heath Area Partnership heard last night. You could be forgiven for thinking that much of that 70 miles of sub standard road lies within the Willenhall area.

To make matters worse it is estimated that resurfacing that 70 miles of road would cost in the region of £16.5 million. Due to Central Government cuts Walsall’s Highway Maintenance Budget is just £4 million some £12.5 million short of what is needed.

In order to prioritise the limited resources available Walsall Council has developed a points system. Each Area Partnership can allocate up to 50 points per Ward to reflect local need. This amounts to 150 points across Willenhall’s three Wards, Willenhall North, Willenhall South and Short Heath.

The new points system will not apply to this year’s maintenance programme but will be used to determine priorities for 2016/17 and beyond.

Your Liberal Democrat Focus Team has already identified a number of roads across Willenhall North and Short Heath in need of repair based on complaints from local residents and our own observations and knowledge of the area.

Decisions on how the extra 150 points will be allocated across Willenhall have to be made before February of next year 2016. Your Lib Dem Focus Team would welcome your input. Work on putting together next year’s Highway Maintenance bid will begin in November so that we are ready for the February 2016 deadline. You can give us your views via the Contact button on this website or email Councillor Ian Shires via shiresi2012@gmail.com oor drop us a line via Willenhall Liberal Democrats, 23 Lynwood Close, Willenhall WV12 5BW.