by West Midlands Magazines | Mar 13, 2024 | Bilston, Council, Environment, News, Travel, Wednesfield, West Midlands, Wolverhampton
Nearly £10million is set to be invested in extensive works to improve, maintain and repair Wolverhampton’s highways during the coming year.
Included in this cash boost is a dedicated fund of £500,000 which has been set aside to tackle potholes affecting the city’s roads.
This additional dedicated funding will support the city’s existing pothole budget and ensure repairs are carried out within the council’s set timeframes.
Potholes are a priority for the council to manage, and over the past year more than 6,800 have been repaired on routes across the city.
In total, during the past decade, more than 53,000 pothole repairs have been made in Wolverhampton, with 94% of potholes in the city dealt with within the set deadlines.
Other proposed highway improvements planned for 2024/25 include major maintenance and resurfacing schemes across the city, road safety and traffic management work, upgrading the council’s car park management system, street lighting improvements and the delivery of further Safer Routes to Schools programmes.
There will be improvements to ring road and city centre signage as well as structural reviews and works on a number of city bridges. In addition, there will be the completion of the council’s programme to convert older streetlights to LEDs to reduce carbon emissions. More than 24,550 streetlights have already been converted.
The council will carry out the work under the next phase of its Highway Capital Programme, which has a total budget of £9.7million. Funding for the programme has come through external grants and council resources.
Councillor Craig Collingswood, cabinet member for environment and climate change at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “This is a major investment in our transport network and shows our commitment to providing a smooth and seamless journey through our city. “We know that the condition and safety of our roads really matters to our residents, and it matters to us too. This is why we’re making the most of all available funding by ensuring this additional £500,000 helps to tackle potholes, a problem which affects roads both here in Wolverhampton and all across the country.
The planned improvements are pending approval and will be discussed at City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 20 March.
by West Midlands Magazines | Feb 13, 2024 | Council, Environment, Wolverhampton
More than 250,000 trees across Wolverhampton have been carefully inspected and mapped to help protect the city’s green landscape for the future.
The far-reaching inspection programme has included all 258,295 trees that fall under the direct care of City of Wolverhampton Council.
It covers a diverse range of species that are located in streets, near public buildings, in cemeteries and at various parks and open spaces throughout the city.
The inspection programme, which has taken two years to complete, firstly involved identifying the exact number and location of the trees that fall under the care of the council.
Tree inspectors then assessed each tree to determine its specific management needs. Every tree has undergone a thorough health and safety review and any necessary maintenance has been identified and planned in accordance with the council’s Tree Risk Management policy.
The result is a comprehensive city-wide record which will help provide information about any tree under the council’s care.
In addition, the council has also launched an innovative interactive tree inspection map which allows both residents and stakeholders to access real-time information on tree locations and inspections.
Councillor Craig Collingswood, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: “This is a huge achievement which has been made possible by the dedication of our arboriculture team alongside the development of a digital platform to manage the tree inspection programme and ongoing maintenance.
“Thanks to officers’ efforts in inspecting, cataloguing and tailoring strategies for each one of our 258,295 trees, we are ensuring both public safety and the wellbeing of the trees themselves.
“This comprehensive record and new interactive map will now be vital tools to help us with risk management, maintenance and expansion of our tree stock. This is important work that will benefit generations to come.
“Trees play a vital role in our commitment to tackle climate change. They capture carbon, provide a habitat for wildlife, reduce the effects of summer heat and offer a way to limit the risk of flooding.
“Not only are there huge environmental advantages, but there are health and wellbeing benefits too. Getting outside and creating and enjoying green spaces in our neighbourhoods can make a real difference to peoples’ physical and mental wellbeing.”
The council’s arboriculture team responds to more than 1,600 customer enquiries each year about trees.
These include queries about pruning, fallen and damaged trees, diseased and unhealthy trees and requests for planting.
For more information about the council’s tree service visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/environment-and-climate/trees-hedges-and-grass
