Blueprints to radically change the traffic flow and improve safety in Lye are being drawn up as part of a £20 million bid.

Lye Bypass will be made two-way as part of the plans which will reduce the amount of traffic down the High Street improving the air quality and allowing increased footways and cycle routes. A key aspect will be better pedestrian connection from the train station to the High Street

Junctions along the A4036 will be improved to allow better and smoother traffic flow. Dudley Council is working with local businesses and Stourbridge MP, Suzanne Webb on the bid to the government’s levelling up fund.

The plans will also bring forward 4 brownfield sites to deliver new homes and new car park provision. The bid will be submitted in July and the outcome is likely in autumn. Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said:

"These are ambitious plans for Lye and will see radical changes to the road layout. That will help shoppers and traders and also make the area safer for motorists.

"This is one of a number of bids we are looking at as part of round two of the levelling up fund which, if successful, will see improvements in our town centres."

The levelling up fund is a government initiative to invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities, including local transport schemes, urban regeneration projects and cultural assets. Successful bids will be announced in the autumn. Stourbridge MP, Suzanne Webb, added:

“I am really pleased with these ambitious plans which will potentially make a huge difference to Lye residents’ lives. Regenerating the town cannot be done overnight and there will be more work to do to make sure it’s a place people want to live, work and visit.

“Dudley Council is to be congratulated for its vision and I am going to work my socks off in Westminster alongside the Council and other organisations to make it a reality with a successful bid to the Levelling Up Fund.

“This key Government policy is a huge part of making sure local people see for themselves better facilities, infrastructure, homes and lives. We need to work together now to make the bid is the best it can be.”