So just when the residents of Lucknow Road thought that their lives might get back to normal in steps Severn Trent with the following announcement – Work is expected to start on Monday 18 April 2016 on a major water main renewal scheme on Lucknow Road in Willenhall. It is expected to take approximately eight weeks to complete!

I suppose it could have been worse, Walsall Council may have just finished resurfacing the road; we wish!

We are told that it’s not a simple operation as there is a water main to be replaced on either side of the road it will be necessary to do the works with a road closure in operation. Severn Trent tell us that access to properties will be maintained wherever it is safe and possible to do so and clearly signed diversion routes will be in operation for affected traffic.

These works are starting shortly after the completion of gas main replacement works and it is appreciated that residents and drivers using the road as a through route have experienced ongoing works for a number of months now. We are being assured that joint discussions were held with, National Grid Gas and Severn Trent Water with a view to sharing the temporary traffic management. Unfortunately the methodology of work that ensures properties can be kept on supply meant that this wasn’t possible as operations would be taking place in identical locations.

There are no other plans we are told for further gas main works in the area and, apart from work on Sandbeds Road (currently scheduled for the school summer holiday period), Severn Trent Water’s Willenhall wide mains replacement programme is complete.

Perhaps once all this has been done Walsall Council will resurface both roads along with Essington Road, Coppice Lane, roads on the Broadway Estate, Beacon Estate and many more. Of course the £140,000 extra that the Government gave Walsall to deal with potholes will help a great deal to achieve this – NOT!!