Willenhall liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that the West Midlands Combined Authority is set to start a number of extensions to Midland Metro.

The plans announced this week by Transport for West Midlands will see the network triple in size over the next decade, with passenger numbers forecast to increase from around 6.5 million at present to more than 30 million.

It’s important that this is seen as one element in a wider strategic West Midlands transport strategy linking the needs of the people of the West Midlands for a seamless public transport system linking buses to trams and tram/trains into the commuter rail network and beyond to the West Coast main line and HS2.

We need to make sure that the people of Willenhall see the benefits of improved social mobility which will come from this investment and as it stands at the moment we stand very much on the edge of things. We have no Metro link. We have no train station. We aren’t at the centre of the bus network.

“That needs to change” said Liberal Democrat Councillor for Willenhall North Ian Shires who took the opportunity to make Liberal Democrat Metro Mayor Candidate Beverley Nielsen aware of local needs during a recent visit she made to the area.

“I am aware of plans for a Midland Metro extension linking Willenhall to Wolverhampton via New Cross Hospital” said Beverley. “I am also aware of future plans for a train station in Willenhall. But to date I have seen nothing concrete in the West Midlands Combined Authority Transport for West Midlands forward plan.”

Making the tram extension and the train station co-terminus would really open up Willenhall to potential inward investment and widen opportunity for residents putting them at the heart of a West Midlands revival.