Statement of Community Involvement

M6 Junction 10 Improvements

FINAL Version 1.2

Author Donna Cattell

Senior Transport Planner

July 2017

Walsall MBC Strategic Transportation, Economy and Environment Civic Centre, Darwall Street, WS1 1 DG

Contents Page

1.0 Introduction 5

1.1 Application Overview 5

2.0 Site Context 2

2.1 Site Location and Description 2

3.0 Planning Policy Context 7

3.1 Introduction 7

3.2 National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance 7

3.3 Walsall Council Revised Statement of Community Involvement (2012) 9

4.0 Planning Application Consultation 10

4.1 Introduction 10

4.2 Pre-Application Meetings with the Local Planning Application 10

4.3 Public Consultation 10

4.4 Additional Consultation Activities 20

5.0 Public Consultation Feedback and Responses 22

5.1 Introduction 22

5.2 Pre-Application Meetings with the Local Planning Application 22

5.3 Public Exhibitions 22

6.0 Further Consultation Activities and Stakeholder Management 27

7.0 Summary and Conclusions 27

8.0 Appendices 28

8.1 The December 2015 Consultation Report 29

8.2 The February 2017 Public Engagement Report 30

8.3 Public Art Statement 31

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Application Overview

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and Highways England have prepared this Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) in connection with a Planning Application for the proposed highway improvements to M6 Junction 10. The scheme addresses the bridge replacement requirements, congestion issues and capacity issues currently present at the junction which impact the strategic and local network. The scheme seeks to improve highway capacity and reduce vehicle delays through the construction of new widened bridges, improvements to the junction slip roads, installation of traffic signals, widening of the nearby Bloxwich Lane Junction, modifications to part of the Black Country Route along with associated landscaping and other complimentary works. A planning application for the proposed development is submitted to Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council as the Local Planning Authority seeking full planning permission for the following development:

“Highways improvements at M6 Junction 10 including new widened bridges over the M6 Motorway, enhanced slip roads, improved non motorised user route through the junction, installation of traffic signals, widening of Bloxwich Lane, modifications to the Black Country Route, landscape works and associated infrastructure and engineering works.”

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and Highways England have been committed to an active community and engagement strategy, which has comprised of discussions with key stakeholder and local residents as part of the design process for the scheme. The SCI summarises the public consultation for the proposed scheme and is structured as follows:

• Section 2 – proves a description of the Site and the surrounding area; • Section 3 – sets out the statutory consultation requirements; • Section 4 – outlines the consultation undertaken; • Section 5 – Sets out the various feedback and findings of the consultation; and • Section 6 – provides a summary and conclusion.

2.0 Site Context

2.1 Site Location and Description

The M6 is a north-south motorway linking Rugby at Junction 19 of the M1, to Carlisle where the motorway ends at the A74 (M). M6 Junction 10 has various connections comprising the A454 Black Country Route, A454 Wolverhampton Road, B4464 Wolverhampton Road West and Bloxwich Lane. The junction provides a primary access route between Walsall, Wolverhampton, and the M6 Motorway, forming a key interchange within the West Midlands region. At present the standards of the junction are varied. To the west of the junction is the A454 Black Country Route, a dual carriageway with grade separate junctions. To the east of the junction is the A454 Wolverhampton Road, a dual carriageway that passes through residential areas of Walsall. Also to the west of the junction is the B4464, a single lane road that passes through the residential area of Bentley. Bloxwich Lane feeds off the A454 Wolverhampton Road immediately east of the M6 J10 via a standard junction. The application site is located wholly within the administrative boundary of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and a detailed red line plan illustrating the application site boundary is provided at Figure 001.

Figure 001: Red Line Boundary

Surrounding uses in the immediate context of the scheme include a mixture of housing and hotel to the north-west of the site whilst to the north-east is a row of dwellings along a truncated section of Wolverhampton Road, a church, and the Pale Leaf Industrial Estate. Towards the south-east, the surrounding uses comprise hotels, a vacant development site and Alumwell Business and Enterprise College alongside playing fields. Land to the south- west includes retail outlets, housing along Bentley Mill Lane, and the Pale Leaf Industrial Estate.

3.0 Planning Policy Context

3.1 Introduction

This section of the SCI considers the requirements for consultation for planning applications in the administrative area of Walsall Council. It sets out the legislative framework for consultation in the planning system and the policies of Walsall Council’s Revised Statement of Community Involvement 2012.

3.2 National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance

National planning policy is contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (2012) (NPPF). The NPPF sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how they are expected to be applied. It provides guidance for local planning authorities and decision- takers, both in drawing up plans and making decisions about planning applications. It confirms that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to sustainable development through economic, social and environmental dimensions.

The NPPF reiterates the importance of consultation as a key component part of the planning. Paragraph 188 of the NPPF states that ‘…early engagement has significant potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning application system for all parties. Good quality pre-application discussion enables better co-ordination between public and private resources and improved outcomes for the community’.

Paragraph 66 of the NPPF further states at Paragraph 66 that ‘Applicants will be expected to work closely with those directly affected by their proposals to evolve designs that take account of the views of the community. Proposals that can demonstrate this in developing the design of the new development should be looked on more favourably.’

The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) (2014) adds further context to the NPPF. It sets outs that pre-application engagement by prospective applicants offers significant potential to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning application system and improve the quality of planning applications and their likelihood of success. It confirms that this can be achieved by:

• providing an understanding of the relevant planning policies and other material considerations associated with a proposed development

• working collaboratively and openly with interested parties at an early stage to identify, understand and seek to resolve issues associated with a proposed development

• discussing the possible mitigation of the impact of a proposed development, including any planning conditions

• identifying the information required to accompany a formal planning application, thus reducing the likelihood of delays at the validation stage.

• putting in place a Planning Performance Agreement where this would help with managing the process and agreeing any dedicated resources for progressing the application

(Paragraph: 001 Reference ID: 20-001-20150326)

The PPG recognises that pre-application engagement is a collaborative process between a prospective applicant and other parties, which may include the local planning authority, statutory and non-statutory consultees, elected members and local people. The parties involved at the pre-application stage will vary on a case by case basis, and the level of engagement needs to be proportionate to the nature and scale of a proposed development. Within each party involved fulfilling an important role in ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of pre-application engagement.

3.3 Walsall Council Revised Statement of Community Involvement (2012)

Walsall Council Local Planning Authority encourages developers to discuss their proposals with residents and other interested parties prior to submitting a formal planning application. The Government also encourages this approach and requires those proposing certain major developments to consult the local community before an application is made. Pre-application consultation means that issues can be discussed and solutions found, which should reduce conflict and potential delays during the formal determination period for the application.

Walsall Council expects applicants when carrying out pre-application involvement with the community to ensure that:

• The involvement approach conforms to the principles and approaches contained within Walsall Council’s Revised Statement of Community Involvement 2012;

• Any supporting information is factually correct and addresses all planning implications of the proposal;

• The results of any community involvement exercises are published and submitted with the application as part of any supporting material.

The M6 Junction 10 Planning Application falls into the Tier 3 category which is defined as large applications, that require a full transport assessment, involve the development of playing fields and/or are for proposals within Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations.

Applicants of Tier 3 applications are required to:

• Present to Walsall Council’s Development Team;

• Erect site notices;

• Letter informing occupiers and owners about the planning application, how to view submitted documents and how to submit comments may also be sent to other properties. The extent of properties to be notified will be determined on a case by case basis.

• Letter to ward councillors to inform of proposals.

In addition, there is a need for the applicant to determine whether the proposal would trigger the requirements of section 122 of the Localism Act (inserted into the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 as Sections 61W-61Y), in which case the applicant would also have take measures including:

• Publicising the proposal in such a way as to be likely to bring it to the attention of nearby occupiers and persons who may be specified, giving them sufficient information and time to comment;

• Having regard to responses received; and

• Providing evidence when the application is submitted to show how the requirement has been complied with, the responses received and the account taken of those responses.

4.0 Planning Application Consultation

4.1 Introduction

Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England have worked in partnership to engage with the community since 2015 during the project development. This section of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) provides details of the full programme of public consultation and information exercises that have been undertaken.

4.2 Pre-Application Meetings with Local Planning Authority

In line with Walsall’ Local Planning Authority’s community engagement requirements for a Tier 3 application, a ‘Development Team’ meeting was held on 30 June 2016.

Development Team is a pre-planning application service offered by Walsall Planning Authority. The aim of this service is to provide a single "one stop" point of advice for major development proposals.

The M6 J10 Project Team, which included representatives from Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England, presented the scheme to the Development Team members; this included the overall objectives of the project and the design options being considered at that time. Prior to the meeting a programme and scheme drawings were submitted to the Local Planning Authority.

Ongoing discussions with the Local Planning Authority following the formal pre-application meeting have been undertaken to inform them of design changes and to confirm the scope and content of the application submission. Additional discussions have also taken place with other key council stakeholders to inform the various technical studies required to accompany the submission to ensure that all matters are addressed within the planning application.

4.3 Public Consultation

Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England have jointly engaged with the local community throughout the evolution of the design of the project. A public consultation exercise was held during December 2015 and asked the public’s opinion on the two preferred options for the scheme. A public information exercise was undertaken during February 2017, which announced the preferred option and shared the latest information about the scheme.

A Public Consultation Report for the Public Consultation Exercise is provided at Appendix 8.1 and one for the Public Information Exercise at Appendix 8.2. Both reports provide additional information to the engagement undertaken in each consultation event and provide copies of all the consultation materials used throughout the process.

4.3.1 Public Consultation Exercise (December 2015)

Summary of Consultation

A joint public consultation exercise between Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England was open from Thursday 3 December, 2015 until Sunday 24 January 2016.

The exercise saw Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England officers attend five exhibition events in total.

The first event was held in the Walsall Council House on Thursday 3 December 2015 and had a specific and distinct purpose; to announce the project to the relevant news media outlets and to then engage separately with local politicians and key organisational stakeholders.

All of Walsall Council’s Cabinet Members, local MP’s and media outlets such as the Express and Star were invited to this event. The Highways England Senior Project Manager was interviewed on BBC Midlands Today during the event, which was televised on the local BBC news that evening, to announce the project.

The four events to follow were open to all, including the general public.

The location of the consultation exhibitions were as follows:

1. Friday 4 December 2015; 12pm - 4pm; Tesco, Owen Rd, Willenhall

2. Saturday 5 December 2015; 10am - 2pm; Holiday Inn, Wolverhampton Road West

3. Monday 7 December 2015; 2pm - 7pm; The Village Hotel, Tempus Drive, Walsall

4. Wednesday 9 December 2015; 10am - 4pm; The Art Gallery, Gallery Square, Walsall

At all of the events, seven banners were erected which displayed information about the scheme. The banners covered topics such as the project justification, objectives and the preferred options for the scheme. Attendees were invited to talk through the scheme and the options with transportation officers. Brochures containing summary information were available to take away, this also contained information on how to complete the consultation questionnaire. This could have been done by either filling-in a paper copy or via the Walsall Council website (www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10) where an electronic copy could be populated and then submitted.

Holiday Inn Event – Saturday 5th December 2015

Direct promotion to residents

In advance of the first event, around one thousand letters were hand delivered to households and business near to the junction.

Direct promotion to businesses

Strategic Transportation officers made contact via email with over six thousand business contacts across the borough. M6 Junction 10 is the key link to the motorway network for businesses across much of the borough. The emails were supplemented with face-to-face visits to twenty companies, located within a half-mile radius of the junction.

On-street ‘notice’ promotion

Around one hundred and fifty A4 posters were erected on lamp columns close to the consultation event - a week in advance of the first event. The posters listed the dates and locations of all events.

News media promotion

The press event which began the public consultation period was used to publicise the event and the wider project to local news media. This resulted in a front page story on the main local newspaper, the Express & Star, which covers all of the Black Country and large parts of the wider West Midlands region, and a piece on BBC Midlands Today 3 December, 2015. The webpage version of the Express and Star story can be seen on page 13.

Online and social media promotion

Information about the consultation period and about the project more generally was made available on both the Walsall Council and Highways England websites.

Alongside this, the social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) of both Walsall Council and Highways England were used. Firstly, to inform the public about the consultation events, and secondly to inform the public as to how they could respond to the consultation.

Total attendance & questionnaires

In total, when the consultation period closed, 24/01/16, 265 people attended the four public events, and a total of 217 questionnaire responses had been submitted. It is those 217 responses from which the December 2015 Consultation Report draws all data and subsequent analysis.

Questionnaires

The questionnaire contained 18 multiple choice, tick-box, and ranking of importance style questions. These asked respondents to detail their frequency of travel through M6 J10, their main mode/s of transport and their journey origins and destinations. Respondents were also asked to give their views on the potential effectiveness of each of the preferred options, if they disagreed or agreed with any part of the scheme, and to state in detail their reasons why.

The questionnaire was key to the consultation as it was our main method of eliciting both quantitative and qualitative information giving an overview of current public perceptions of the proposals to improve M6 Junction 10.

4.3.2 Pubic Information Events (February 2017)

Option 1B

Ongoing investigation into the two preferred scheme options was undertaken during 2016 taking into account the findings of the previous Public Consultation Exercise. The investigation determined that option 1b is the most suitable design solution and on that basis has been selected to be taken forward.

As a follow up to the December 2015 Consultation a number of Public Information Events were held in February 2017.These events gave the opportunity for the public to view the final scheme option and discuss the reasons why the option had been selected, and any further detailed design refinements.

Summary of Consultation

The joint public information exercise between Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England was open from Wednesday 15 February until Friday 10 March 2017.

The exercise saw Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England officers attend three public ‘drop-in’ events in total, as listed below:

1. Village Hotel, Tempus Ten, Walsall, WS2 8TJ - Wednesday 15 Feb, 14:00 – 20:00 2. Holiday Inn, Wolverhampton Road West, Walsall, WS2 0BS - Monday 20 Feb, 12:00 – 16:00 3. Boundary Mill, Bentley Mill Way, Walsall WS2 0LE - Saturday 25 Feb, 11:00 – 14:00

At all of the events, three banners were erected displaying information about the scheme and the preferred option for the scheme. Leaflets containing similar information were available to take away (see the banners and leaflets in Appendix A). A visualisation video showing the junction ‘before and after’ the new construction was projected onto a screen at each event. A still of these images is shown below.

Upon entering the event visitors were welcomed by a Highways England member of staff who explained the information displayed and which of the key members of the project team were available to talk to. Attendees were invited to talk through the scheme and raise any questions or concerns they may have. There were a minimum of four members of the project team attending each event, which included a range of different disciplines such as environmental and engineering specialists.

Visitors were handed a leaflet and a feedback form on arrival. The leaflet contained details of where to find more information about the project and how to share views about the scheme directly with Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England project officers. The feedback form, which asked visitors how informative and accessible the events were, could be filled in at the event, returned by post or completed on line. The event feedback can be found in the February 2017 Public Information Event Report provided at Appendix 8.2.

A total of 165 people attended the events during February 2017.

Boundary Mill Event – Saturday 25 February 2017

Direct promotion to residents

In advance of the first 2017 event, letters were delivered by post to households and business within an area of influence of M6 J10. In total around one thousand; eight hundred letters were delivered to the nearest properties to the junction. A map showing the area of delivery can be seen below.

Email promotion

In advance of the 2017 events seven hundred and thirty emails were sent to key stakeholders, and respondents to previous consultation. The email contained a copy of the letter inviting people to take part in the public information event and details of where to find more information about the scheme.

Further promotion to businesses

Walsall Council’s Employment Growth Team included an article promoting the events in their monthly ‘Business Investment Newsletter’. This email reached two thousand; five hundred business contacts in Walsall. A copy can be seen in Appendix B of the February 2017 Public Information Report contained at Appendix 8.2.

News media promotion

A press release (see Appendix C of the February 2017 Public Information Report provided at Appendix 8.2) was sent to various press organisations on 6 February 2017. This included the Express & Star, which covers all of the Black Country and large parts of the wider West Midlands region.

The Express and Star printed an article about M6 J10 in their 7 February edition and published a similar story on their website. See Appendix D of the February 2017 Public Information Report provided at Appendix 8.2.

Walsall Council’s Deputy Leader was interviewed on the BBC WM ‘Paul Frank Show’ on 7 February where he commented on the need to deliver an improvement at M6 J10 and the economic benefits for the Black Country.

The Highways England Project Manager for the scheme and The Leader of Walsall Council were interviewed live on BBC Midlands Today on the 15 February to coincide with the opening of the first public information event. The interviews were carried out on location at M6 J10 and televised during the lunch time and evening BBC Midlands Today news programs.

David Reed, Highways England Project Manager, interview with BBC Midlands Toady, 15 February 2017

Online and social media promotion

Information about how to take part in the February 2017 public engagement and about the project more generally was updated on the dedicated the Walsall Council and Highways England project webpage’s. The Website addresses were referenced in the letters, emails and event materials. www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10 www.roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m6-junction-10-improvement

Alongside this, the social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) of both Walsall Council and Highways England were used. Firstly, to inform the public about the information events and, secondly, to inform the public how to find out more information and contact the project team.

4.4 Additional Consultation Activities

In addition to the public exhibitions described above a number of meetings were requested by key stakeholders, where the project team were invited to present the scheme and answer any questions.

Black Country Chamber - Walsall Business Parks Board Meeting

The scheme was presented to members of the board on 23 November 2016, by both Walsall Council and Highways England Project Managers. The presentation included information about the preferred options and when construction was likely to start, subject to planning.

Boundary Mill Stores Staff Briefing

Boundary Mill is a large retail store located near the north bound off slip of M6 Junction 10. Walsall Council’s Project team have had an ongoing dialog with the store since 2015. The General Manager asked if the project team could update her staff in a private meeting on 14 February 2017.

The scheme was presented to the staff by the Highways England Project Manager and the Walsall Council Business Liaison Officer for M6 J10. A project engineer was also on hand to answer any questions relating to the construction period.

Jaguar Land Rover Engineer Manufacturing Centre (i54, M54)

The Project Team were invited to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on 22nd June 2017 to present an overview of the scheme to senior managers. JLR were particularly keen to understand the plans for construction period and traffic management. Covering the periods of road closures for bridge demolition and installation, and progress on any other nearby Highways England schemes.

Public Art Project

Walsall’s Unitary Development Plan saved Policy ENV 34 sets out that large scale developments make provision for public art to be delivered as part of the overall project at M6 Junction 10 where possible.

The project team have appointed an artist to engage with nearby local school children during autumn 2017 in the creation of an art piece(s). It is intended that the results of working with the schools will be visibly seen in the final art work.

The public art project with the schools will be based on the theme that M6 J10 is a ‘Gateway’ to Walsall and with this what Walsall means to them. Inspiration will come from Walsall’s rich industrial heritage (such as leatherworking) and contemporary assets in Walsall such as the refurbished Arboretum.

More detail about this can be found in the Public Art Statement provided at Appendix 8.3.

Walsall Cycling Forum

Walsall Cycling Forum is made up of local cyclists, the CTC (Cyclists’ Touring Club), Primary Care Trust, Business Community, Sustrans and Walsall Council officers. The forum meets every three months at Walsall Council House. Members of the forum are consulted on proposed cycling schemes in the Walsall Borough and other schemes which may affect cyclists. The forum is chaired by a local cyclist and Walsall Council provides secretarial support for the group. Guest speakers often attend the forum to give presentations on cycling related subjects.

The M6 J10 Improvement has been an item on the agenda at the forum four times since early February 2016. Updates generally about the scheme and the design for None Motorised User Routes (NMUs) have been presented at the forum by the Walsall Council Cycling Officer. Comments from the forum have been shared with the design team to help inform the design for the NUM route.

Walsall Council M6 J10 Co-ordination Group

This group has been established so that Walsall Council’s engineering teams have regular input to the project and ensure the design meets the requirements and standards of the Highway Authority.

Key members from Walsall’s Highway Authority share views with the project team during a quarterly meeting.

5.0 Public Consultation Feedback and Responses

5.1 Introduction

This section of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) provides a summary of the response and formal feedback received during the consultation activities described in the previous chapter (Chapter 4 Planning Application Consultation).

5.2 Pre-Application Meetings with the Local Planning Authority

As described in section 4.2, a pre-application meeting was held with the Local Planning Authority on 30 June 2016.

The meeting provided the M6 Junction 10 project team with direct access to relevant technical and scientific specialists within Walsall Council and some external bodies. Written advice from these specialists was issued to the project team on 10 August 2016 in the form of a letter. This advice has been used to aid the development of the design through to the planning application submission.

5.3 Public Exhibitions

The first public consultation exercise was held during December 2015 and asked the public’s opinion on the two preferred options for the scheme. The questionnaire, available at the events or to fill in on line, asked respondents to give their views on the potential effectiveness of each of the preferred options, if they disagreed or agreed with any part of the scheme, and to state their reasons why.

Out of the 217 people who responded to the December 2015 consultation 92% either strongly agreed or agreed that M6 J10 needs improvement.

When the respondents were asked which design is the best for M6 Junction 10, 65% felt that option 1a, 1b or either option is most suitable. 21% said that they didn’t know and 14% felt that neither option nor that another option would be more suitable.

The top five considerations when designing the scheme were ranked by respondents as:

1. Congestion is reduced;

2. The safety of road users;

3. Disruption to road users during construction;

4. Ease of use / navigation;

5. The time taken to complete the scheme.

The M6 Junction 10 Design Team recognises that congestion-reduction is the main aim of the scheme; this will in turn promote economic growth for the region. The results listed in this report have concluded that the vast majority of respondents agree that an improvement is needed for M6J10, with congestion being the primary concern for those who agreed.

In June 2013, Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team in conjunction with Highways England went through a detailed process of assessing a number of design options for M6J10. The assessments were based on traffic modelling, design, maintenance considerations and value for money. These five options, together with the outcomes of the option assessment and plans were included in the material produced for the consultation.

The consultation materials included the reasons why the previous scheme options had been discounted. Full details of this can be found in The December 2015 Consultation Report provided at Appendix 8.1

Ongoing investigation during 2016 has determined that option 1b is the most viable in terms of the ability to actually build the structures and total cost. Computer generated traffic modelling has also determined that this option is the most efficient.

The table below illustrates a summary of queries raised during the two public engagements which have been grouped into themes. These themes have been positively responded to as part of the consultation process.

Theme Response ‘Concerns regarding An Environmental Impact Assessment is required to be submitted the potential for traffic as part of the Planning application for the M6 J10 Improvements. noise to increase for This assessment will identify all the environmental impacts of the local resident upon scheme, including noise. Mitigation for any adverse environmental completion.’ impacts will be put in place.

‘The current junction Since the December 2015 public consultation a preferred option layout is unwelcoming has been selected and the design for the new junction at M6 and potentially Junction 10 has been progressed. During the Preliminary Design dangerous for stage we are considering a number of options to introduce a pedestrians and shared route for cyclists and pedestrians, which are likely to be cyclists. What will be segregated from vehicles and include controlled crossing points done to improve this (with a push button facility) where there is a need to cross traffic situation?’ lanes. This improvement will be available to comment on during the Planning Application process.

‘The position of one of A technical note was produced by the highway designers working the proposed gantry on the scheme, to assess if the gantry could be removed from this signs on the Black particular location on the Black Country Route. The assessment Country Route will be concluded that the gantry could be replaced by a verge mounted seen from my property. sign. This has been communicated to the resident, who was happy Can anything be done with the outcome. to minimise this impact?’ ‘Has consideration National Express and Transport for West Midlands (previously been taken for public known as Centro), Passenger Transport Executive for the West transport users and the Midlands, are key consultees for this scheme. The 529 route is of bus operators? Will the strategic importance to the Black Country. The increased capacity exciting bus priority which will be gained from implementing the new option will benefit facilities remain?’ bus routes. The existing bus lanes on the Wolverhampton Road will remain in the new design. Traffic modelling has been undertaken to calculate the extra capacity created by the preferred option. Bus movements have been included in this model and future years have been forecast. The model takes into account new traffic that will be attracted to the junction because of the increased capacity. Outputs from the traffic modelling have confirmed that the new junction will be operating within its full capacity past the year 2035.

‘A method should be A design including a ‘fly over’ was considered during the concept found of separating design stage in 2013. Following investigation this option was local (Wolverhampton dismissed. This was due to the design being unable to meet the to Walsall) traffic from desirable maximum vertical gradient for the ramp to tie into the motorway. What Bloxwich Lane. should have happened when building the Furthermore, the construction of a flyover would change the nature original junction was to of the junction by introducing a new higher and larger feature, insert a flyover from potentially resulting in significant adverse landscape and visual the Willenhall Road to effects. the A454. If new Early traffic modelling also confirmed that the fly over option would bridges are being built reach capacity by 2021. Whereas the preferred option will be anyway then a operating within its full capacity past the year 2035. separate crossing point should be built north of the island to take traffic directly between the two, completely by- passing the junction. The designs published all still suffer the same basic problem of this traffic crossing the

traffic entering and exiting the motorway/Black Country route major highway.’

‘How will disruption be We recognise the need to plan work carefully to minimise delay minimised for road and disruption during the works. Highways England intends to use users using lessons learned from other schemes and best practice to keep construction?’ disruption to a minimum. Overall the existing bridges will remain open to traffic, until the new bridges have been built alongside them. There will be periods where road closures will be required, but this will be done during quieter, off peak times. Advanced warning will be given and diversion routes will be put in place during these times. During the construction work, traffic may choose alternative routes and it is essential to support the local road network during these works. Walsall Council has undertaken some highway improvements for junctions in the Birchills-Leamore area of the borough. This project named ‘The Junction 10 Resilience Package’ has improved 3 key junctions in 2016/17 helping to aid traffic through the local area. ‘The traffic Highways England will use their traffic information system to give management drivers advanced warning of any traffic management required arrangements during during construction. This will include updates to their traffic construction will need information webpage. Similarly the construction contractor will to be communicated display advanced warning signs on the local network. Walsall with accurate and Council will also update their dedicated traffic management advanced warning for webpage weekly giving details of the traffic management. road users.’ ‘The main traffic The scope of this scheme is to improve the junction only. However congestion problems the new bridges have been designed to allow any potential future are on the southbound widening of the motorway. carriageway of motorway, rather than the junction 10 island itself. Are there any plans to improve this problem?’ ‘With the number of To increase junction capacity, the scheme requires widening of the lanes increasing in the roundabout to provide more lanes. Therefore the use of gantries new design, navigation mounted direction signing is required to clearly mark out the across the island will direction of each lane. become more of a problem.’

‘Vehicle blocking of the This is a consideration for the detailed design of the process, exits from the slip which will start if we gain planning approval. The introduction of roads onto the island such regulations will be investigated at this point and the regularly occurs at the comments made will be considered as part of this process. junction. Could 'yellow boxes' or cameras be introduced in the new design to minimise this?’ ‘Why is Walsall Council Walsall Council submitted a bid to the Black Country Local spending money on Enterprise Partnership to gain the funding to develop and deliver a this project when there project at M6 J10. Together with Highways England's contribution are cut back to to the project, this funding is solely available to deliver transport important local projects. services?’ ‘Can the passenger rail The re-instatement of the passenger service on the Walsall to link between Walsall Wolverhampton railway line is currently dependant on the outcome and Wolverhampton be of the new West Midlands Rail Franchise, which is anticipated to reinstated to also help be awarded in August 2017. Until then, we cannot say for sure if ease congestion at M6 the line will have a re-instated passenger service. The franchise is Junction 10?’ expected to commence December 2017, but services on Walsall – Wolverhampton would not commence immediately from that date. It is unknown at this stage when/if services would be re-instated.

A detailed outcome of the December 2015 and February 2017 Public Engagements can be found in Appendix and 8.1 and Appendix 8.2.

6.0 Further Consultation Activities and Stakeholder Management

Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England are seeking Planning Permission to implement the improvement at M6 Junction 10. If successful, the Project Team will move forward into detailed design and appoint a contractor to deliver the project. Communication with stakeholders will continue to be led by Walsall Council’s Strategic Transportation Team and Highways England during the detailed design period. This will be done in the form of communicating any pre-construction site works and continuing to listen to any new concerns raised with a view to resolve them where possible.

The Public Art Project planned for autumn 2017, will give a further opportunity for the Project Team to engage positively with the community.

Highways England will use their traffic information system to give drivers advanced warning of any traffic management required during construction. This will include updates to their traffic information webpage. Similarly the construction contractor will display advanced warning signs on the local network. Walsall council will also update their dedicated traffic management webpage weekly giving details of the traffic management.

During the construction period, the contractor delivering the project will have a Community Liaison Officer who will be a single point of contact for this period.

7.0 Summary and Conclusions

Walsall Council and Highways England have been committed to an active community engagement strategy, which has comprised of discussions with The Walsall Planning Authority, and other key stakeholders and local residents. The Statement of Community Involvement sets out the comprehensive overview of the engagement undertaken and is submitted as part of the planning application.

In summary, the Statement of Community Involvement has demonstrated that Walsall Council and Highways England have had regard to the consultation requirements set out at the national and local level through undertaking an extensive non-statutory consultation through pre-application meetings, a public exhibitions and a dedicated websites.

Appendix 8.1

Statement of Community Involvement

Public Consultation Report – December 2015

M6 Junction 10 Improvements

July 2016

Version 1.1 – Final

Author Donna Cattell Senior Transport Planner

Walsall MBC Strategic Transportation, Economy and Environment Civic Centre, Darwall Street, WS1 1 DG

Contents

Section Title Page/s

1 Introduction 3-5 1.1 Main Objectives 3 1.2 Scheme Options 4 1.3 Project Timescale 5

2 Consultation exercise 6-9 2.1 Overview 6-7 2.2 Promoting the consultation 8 2.3 Questionnaires 9

3 Questionnaire results and analysis 10-18 3.1 Travel behaviour 10-12 3.2 Proposed improvement 13-18

4.0 Conclusion 19

5.0 Further information - contact details 20

6.0 Appendices 21

1.0 Introduction

Walsall Council is working in partnership with Highways England to improve Junction 10 of the M6 motorway (M6J10). As a busy route between Walsall and Wolverhampton, the junction is often heavily congested and this reduces the attractiveness of the local area for business and investment, including within the nearby Black Country Enterprise Zone.

Walsall Council and Highways England are developing plans to provide a long term improvement to M6 Junction 10. The non-statutory public consultation events held in December 2015 presented the current scheme options and sought comments and feedback to inform the final decision and help shape the design.

1.1 Main objectives of the scheme

There are three main objectives of the M6J10 scheme. The first objective is to reduce congestion. By improving M6J10, congestion can be reduced on the A454 Black Country Route eastbound to improve journey time reliability. This is critical to the needs of local residents, businesses and the 120 hectares of developable land within the nearby Black Country Enterprise Zone. Congestion can be reduced on other roads linking to the junction, such as A454 Wolverhampton Road, B4464 Wolverhampton Road West and Bloxwich Lane, reducing ‘rat-running’ traffic on nearby routes parallel to the A454 Black Country Route, the A454 Wolverhampton Road and the B4464 Wolverhampton Road West.

The second objective is to support economic growth with the enhancement of transport infrastructure. Improving M6J10 will complement recent investments in local transport infrastructure made by Walsall Council which includes the £26m Darlaston Strategic Development Area (DSDA) Access Project. Highways England has also made significant recent investment with Smart Motorways at M6 Junctions 5-8 and 10A-13. Together these schemes will result in enhanced operational conditions for existing businesses, especially those with Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) that rely on excellent links to the strategic road network. New business and development will be attracted to the area by enhanced road infrastructure and reduced journey times.

The third objective is to provide a safe and serviceable network. Replacing the bridge structures over the M6 motorway and avoiding major maintenance work on the structures in the near future. Conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and other non- motorised users can also be enhanced.

In addition to addressing all of the above the option selected will also provide good value for money.

1.2 Scheme Options

Previous Options Considered

In June 2013, Walsall Council in conjunction with Highways England went through a detailed process of assessing a number of design options for M6J10. The assessments were based on traffic modelling, design and maintenance considerations. These five options, together with the outcomes of the option assessment and plans were included in the material produced for the consultation.

Below are the main reasons why four of the five the previous options were discounted

Option 2; four new straight bridges including two lanes on each bridge Creating four new additional structures will require a bigger maintenance programme in the future causing more disruption.

Option 3; retain the existing bridges, build two new bridges – two lanes on each bridge Continued use of the existing bridges would require an extensive and ongoing maintenance programme causing more disruption. Furthermore there would be insufficient width between the bridges to install a vehicle restraint system to be compliant with current standards.

Option 4; two new straight bridges, including two lanes plus a flyover Option discounted as it cannot be constructed within the footprint of the junction, particularly on the A454 Wolverhampton Road side. The existing structures would also need replacing.

Option 5; two new straight two lane bridges plus a centre straight through bridge The addition of the centre bridge introduces an additional traffic signal stage on each side of the roundabout which cause traffic build up. The existing structures would also need replacing.

The preferred options

The reasons why option 1a and 1b are the preferred options.

Option 1a; two new straight bridges including four lanes on each bridge This option offers the largest improvement when reducing congestion. Both existing structures will be replaced – reducing future maintenance costs. New bridge structures can be constructed alongside the existing reducing disruption during construction.

Options 1b; two new curved bridges including four lanes on each bridge Also offers the largest improvement when reducing congestion. Both existing structures will be replaced – reducing future maintenance costs. New bridge structures can be partially constructed alongside the existing reducing disruption during construction.

The consultation materials included full scheme options can be found in Appendix 6.1 and 6.2.

1.3 Project timescale

The December 2015 consultation was the opportunity for stakeholders to give their views on the options proposed ahead of further development of the scheme and the selection of a preferred design.

Following the closure of the consultation period on Sunday 24 January 2016, Walsall Council and Highways England have considered all of the responses and opinions of the public, local groups and organisations. This has enabled further development of the scheme. The preferred design will be announced around September 2016.

Once the design has been announced a second public consultation will be conducted. This consultation will be part of the process of taking the preferred scheme option towards gaining funding, planning approval and any required statutory powers that are needed in order for the scheme to be built.

At present Walsall Council and Highways England anticipate that the scheme will take approximately two years to build, starting construction during 2018 and then being open to traffic during 2020.

2.0 December 2015 Consultation Exercise

2.1 Overview A non-statutory joint consultation exercise between Walsall Council and Highways England was open from Thursday 3 December, 2015 until Sunday 24 January 2016.

The exercise saw Walsall Council and Highways England officers attend five events in total. The first event had a specific and distinct purpose, to announce the project to the relevant news media outlets and to then engage separately with local politicians and key organisational stakeholders (emergency services, bus companies, etc).

The following four events were all fully open to all, including the general public.

The details of the consultation events were as follows:

1. Friday 4 December 2015; 12pm - 4pm; Tesco, Owen Rd, Willenhall 2. Saturday 5 December 2015; 10am - 2pm; Holiday Inn, Wolverhampton Road West 3. Monday 7 December 2015; 2pm - 7pm; The Village Hotel, Tempus Drive, Walsall 4. Wednesday 9 December 2015; 10am - 4pm; The New Art Gallery, Gallery Square

At all of the events, seven banners were erected which displayed information about the scheme, covering topics such as justification, objectives and the preferred options for the scheme. Attendees were invited to talk through the scheme and the options. Brochures containing similar information were available to take away, this also contained information on how to complete the questionnaire. This could be done by either filling-in a paper copy or going to the Walsall Council website where an electronic copy could be filled-in and then submitted.

Holiday Inn Event

Walsall Art Gallery Event

2.2 Promoting the consultation

Direct promotion to residents In advance of the first event, letters were hand delivered to households and business within an area of influence of M6 J10. In total around one thousand letters were delivered to the nearest residents to the junction.

Direct promotion to businesses Officers of Walsall Council made contact via email with over six thousand business contacts across the borough. M6 Junction 10 is the key link to the motorway network for businesses across much of the borough. The emails were supplemented with face- to-face visits to twenty companies. These companies are located within a half-mile radius of the junction and were identified as either key employers or originators of significant volumes of road traffic.

On-street promotion Around one hundred and fifty A4 posters were erected on lamp columns close to the consultation event - a week in advance of the first event. The posters listed the dates and locations of all events.

News media promotion The press event which began the public consultation period was used to publicise the event and the wider project to local news media. This resulted in a front page story on the main local newspaper, the Express & Star, which covers all of the Black Country and large parts of the wider West Midlands region, and a piece on BBC Midlands Today 3 November, 2015.

Online and social media promotion Finally, information about the consultation period and about the project more generally was made available on both the Walsall Council and Highways England websites. Alongside this, the social media channels of both Walsall Council and Highways England – namely Facebook and Twitter – were used, firstly, to inform the public about the consultation events and, secondly, to inform the public as to how they could respond to the consultation with their views of the proposals to improve M6 Junction 10.

2.3 Copies of consultation materials All consultation materials can be found on the M6 J10 website, and at the end of this report in Appendix 6.1 and 6.2.

2.4 Total attendance & questionnaires By the end of the final consultation event, a total of 265 people had attended. By the time the overall consultation period closed on Sunday 24 January 2016, a total of 217 questionnaire responses had been submitted. It is those 217 responses from which this report draws all data and subsequent analysis.

2.5 Questionnaires

A questionnaire was designed in order to elicit feedback from stakeholders as part of the consultation.

The questionnaire contained multiple choice, tick-box, and ranking of importance style questions. These asked respondents to detail their frequency of travel through M6 J10, their main mode/s of transport and their journey origins and destinations. Respondents were also asked to give their views on the potential effectiveness of each of the preferred options, if they disagreed or agreed with any part of the scheme, and to state in detail their reasons why.

The questionnaire is key to the consultation as it was our main method of eliciting both quantitative and qualitative information giving a detailed and holistic overview of current public perceptions of the proposals to improve M6 Junction 10. As such, analysis of the results of the questionnaire will form the bulk of the remainder of this public consultation report.

For reference, as with all other public consultation materials, the questionnaire can be found at in Appendix 6.5.

3.0 Questionnaire results and analysis

The questionnaire asked 15 questions of all respondents with those questions addressing two broad but distinctly different topics. The first topic related to respondent travel behaviour whilst the second topic related to respondent perceptions of the proposed improvement.

The remainder of Section 3 is split into these 2 sections and deals in chronological order with each question, describing and then analysing the received responses.

3.1 Questions pertaining to respondent travel behaviour

Questions 1 to 6 of the questionnaire related to how and when the consultees used M6 J10. Results can be see below.

3.1.1 Question 1

3.1.2 Question 2

3.1.3 Question 3

3.1.4 Question 4

3.1.5 Question 5

3.1.6 Question 6; please tell us your home postcode.

The fu ll post codes provided were used to create the map above. Most of the people who responded to the questionnaire live in Walsall or Wolverhampton. However some were as far away as Gillingham, Corby, Wilmslow and Dorset, which couldn’t be plotted on this map.

3.2 Questions pertaining to respondent perceptions of the proposed improvement

Questions 7 to 15 relate to the scheme options for M6 J10 and ultimately which of the preferred options is most desirable.

3.2.1 Question 7

Out of the 217 people who responded to the consultation 92% either strongly agreed or agreed that M6 J10 needs improvement. Compared to only 8% of respondents who either strongly disagreed or disagreed that M6 J10 needs improvement.

3.2.2 Question 8

Consultees were asked the reasons why they agreed or disagreed that M6 J10 needs improvement. Out of the 217 people who answered question 7, 170 people gave a single or multiple reasons.

From question 7 we can see that 200 people either strongly agreed or agreed that M6 J10 needs improvement. A total of 178 reasons were given by the 200 respondents. The reasons given fall into one of the categories below in Table 1.

Out of the respondents who either strongly agreed or agreed 82.57% felt that congestion is the main issue at M6 J10.

Table 1

Reason for strongly agree or agree Agree Percentage (%) Congestion/Capacity 82.57 Current arrangement not adequate 3.97 Poor road surface 4.48 Road Safety issues 2.81 Current traffic signal timings/setup not working 1.69 Noise / Pollution issues 1.12 Age of structure 1.12 Lack of pedestrian / cycling facilities 0.56 Current arrangement gives a poor image for the region 0.56 Other 1.12

17 people either strongly disagreed or disagreed that M6 J10 needs improvement. A total of 14 reasons were given by the 17 respondents. The reasons given, fall into one of the categories below in Table 2.

Table 2

Reason for strongly disagree or disagree Disagree Percentage (%) Congestion problems are on the M6 motorway not the island 35.71 Current scheme options not suitable 14.29 Not value for money / Cost too high 14.29 Current configuration is sufficient 14.29 Increasing capacity not the answer 7.14 Concerns widening will cause road safety issues 7.14 Concerned with disruption/delay caused by works 7.14

The top reason, at 35.71% was that congestion problems on the M6 motorway were an issue rather than on the M6 J10 island. However, this was only 2.6% of the overall reasons given as shown in Table 3 on page 15.

Table 3

Fell into Agree or Reason Disagree Overall % Congestion/Capacity Agree 76.57 Current arrangement not adequate Agree 3.65 Poor road surface Agree 4.18 Road Safety issues Agree 2.6 Current traffic signal timings/setup not working Agree 1.56 Noise / Pollution issues Agree 1.04 Age of structure Agree 1.04 Lack of pedestrian / cycling facilities Agree 0.52 Current arrangement gives a poor image for the region Agree 0.52 Other Agree 1.04 Congestion problems are on the M6 motorway not the island Disagree 2.6 Current scheme options not suitable Disagree 1.04 Not value for money / Cost too high Disagree 1.04 Current configuration is sufficient Disagree 1.04 Increasing capacity not the answer Disagree 0.52 Concerns widening will cause road safety issues Disagree 0.52 Concerned with disruption/delay caused by works Disagree 0.52 Total 100 %

3.2.3 Question 9

Please read all of the considerations below and rank (number) them in order of importance to you.

An average score was calculated from the two hundred and seventeen responses and were ranked in order of importance as below:

1. The congestion is reduced 2. The safety of road users 3. Disruption to road users during construction 4. The ease of use / navigation 5. The time taken to complete the scheme 6. Pedestrian Safety 7. Cycle user safety 8. The cost 9. The environmental impact 10. The impact on surrounding land 11. The visual impact

3.2.4 Question 10; is there anything else you think is important when choosing a design option for M6 J10?

Please see section 3.8.9

3.2.5 Question 11

3.2.6 Question 12

Why do you say option 1a is best?

Out of the 41 people who chose 1a, 36 people gave a single or multiple reasons which fell into the categories below.

Reasons why option 1a is best Percentage (%) Offers the best layout 58.33 Least impact during construction 41.67

3.2.7 Question 13

Why do you say option 1b is best?

Out of the 52 people who chose 1b, 46 people gave a single or multiple reasons which fell into the categories below.

Reasons why option 1b is best Percentage (%) Offers the best layout 84.77 Aesthetically pleasing 8.68 Least impact during construction 6.55

3.2.8 Question 14

Why do you say either or neither option is suitable?

Out of the 48 people who said either 1a or 1b is suitable, 37 people gave a single or multiple reasons which fell into the categories below.

Reasons why either option 1a or 1b Percentage (%) The two designs are very similar 72.97 Other 27.03

Out of the 13 people who said neither 1a nor 1b is suitable, 13 people gave a single or multiple reasons which fell into the categories below.

Reasons why neither option is suitable Percentage (%) Discounted options were better 30.77 Neither of the preferred option designs are suitable 30.77 Cost too high 30.77 Motorway traffic is the issue rather than the island 7.69

After reading the consultation material and discussing the options with project staff at the consultation events, 65% of all respondents felt that 1a, 1b or either option is most suitable. 21% said that they didn’t know and only 6% felt that neither was suitable.

Layout of the new design was most important to respondents, with least impact caused during the new the construction also being an important factor.

Of the 6% who felt that neither option was suitable, most respondents were concerned about the cost of the scheme and that the preferred options were not suitable. Section 2.1 of the report explains that Walsall Council and Highways England have been through a detailed process of selecting the most viable options to take forward, hence why options 1a and 1b were promoted during the consultation.

3.8.9 Questions 10 and 15;

Is there anything else you think is important when choosing a design option for M6 J10?

Do you have any other suggestions for how M6 J10 might be redesigned?

Questions 10 and 15 gave the respondent the opportunity to inform Walsall Council and Highways England of what they feel is important for the design of M6 J10 and if they had a suggestions for the ongoing redesign. There were many different suggestions, with some common themes.

Congestion reduction was ranked the most important in the responses to question 9 and the comments written for questions 10 and 15 confirmed this further. Respondents felt that the chosen design should offer the highest reduction in congestion and this should be ‘future proofed’ for traffic growth in years ahead.

Ease of navigation, including advanced warning signs, advising users of the lane discipline was also a common suggestion. Pedestrian and cyclist safety is important to respondents; it was felt that if possible, segregation would provide the safest route for these users.

Some comments talked about the vehicles travelling across M6 J10 and not joining the motorway. A few respondents felt that segregating this traffic in the form of a fly over would ease congestion further. A Flyover was one of the options previously considered and was discounted in terms of the ability to actually build the structure. Constraints at this location mean that that type of structure isn’t possible.

When the work is due to commence at M6 J10 the comments suggested that it is important to have frequent progress updates and that the impact for local residents should be considered and prioritised. Another common theme was that M6 J10 should be aesthetically pleasing as it often the first impression people have of Walsall and the region.

If not already explored, comments in the above sections will be considered when choosing the most viable option for M6 J10, and will be accommodated were possible.

4.0 Conclusion As we can see from the responses in section 3.1, the improvement at M6J10 will affect a lot of people travelling at all times of day and throughout the week across the loc al area. It is critical for all road users, both residents and businesses alike. Also, as a part of the motorway network the scheme will clearly affect travellers who live a long distance from the junction, some respondents to the survey lived as far a way as Gillingham, Corby, Wilmslow and Dorset.

Walsall Council and Highways England are working in partnership to develop a viable design option to improve M6 J10. Congestion-reduction is the main aim of the scheme, which will in turn promote economic growth for the region. The results listed in this report have concluded that the vast majority of respondents agree that an improvement is needed for M6J10, with congestion being the primary concern for those who agreed. After thorough consideration of the options in 2013, options 1a and 1b were put forward for this public consultation in December 2015. The majority of respondents agreed that one of these options or either of them is the most suitable. Ongoing investigation into options 1a and 1b will determine which option is the most viable in terms of the ability to actually build the structures and total cost. Computer generated traffic modelling will help determine which design is the most efficient. The chosen option will be announced in autumn 2016.

19 5.0

For further information

Steven Edwards Principal Transport Planner Walsall Council M6 J10 Project Manager Contact: 01922 654771 [email protected]

Walsall Council Strategic Transportation Economy and Environment Zone 2K, Civic Centre Darwall Street WS1 1DG

David Reed Highways England M6 J10 Project Manager Contact 0300 123 5000 [email protected] Highways England The Cube 199 Wharfside Street Birmingham B1 1RN

Website: www.walsall.gov.uk/M6J10 Project email address: [email protected]

20 6.0 Appendices

6.1 Consultation banners

6.2 Consultation brochure

6.3 Letter to residents

6.4 Email to businesses

6.5 Questionnaire

6.6 Press cutting

Appendix 6.1

Consultation Banners M6 Junction 10 Public Consultation

Public Consultation: Options

Walsall Council and Highways England are developing plans to provide a long term improvement to M6 junction 10. We are holding this non-statutory public consultation to present the current scheme options and seek comments and feedback to inform the ﬁnal decision and help shape the design.

M6 junction 10 is a congested location on both the national motorway network and on the local road network within Walsall.

Highways England – Creative Xxxxxxx M6 Junction 10 Public Consultation

Introduction

M6 junction 10 currently experiences signiﬁcant congestion and The junction is of strategic importance to Walsall and the wider resultant delays particularly during morning and evening peak area, providing access to the West Midlands. However, these times. queues affect the local community and business environment quite signiﬁcantly, making it harder for businesses to get their The area suffers from long queues at peak times on the A454/ goods and services to market, impacting local businesses and Black Country Route west of M6 junction 10 and from M6 jobs. junction 10 to the junction with Bentley Road South.

There is also signiﬁcant queuing on the roundabout and both the on and off motorway slip roads. Congestion also occurs on other roads leading to the junction, such as A454/ Wolverhampton Road, B4464/Wolverhampton Road West and Bloxwich Lane.

Highways England – Creative Xxxxxxx M6 Junction 10 Public Consultation

Objectives

The main objectives of the scheme are to:

1. Provide a more free flowing network by; 3. Provide a safe and serviceable network with improved - reducing congestion on the A454/Black Country Route access by; eastbound to improve journey time reliability, critical to the needs - replacing the structures that carry M6 junction 10 over the M6 of local residents, businesses and the Black Country Enterprise and avoiding major maintenance work on the structures in the Zone; near future; - reducing congestion on other roads linking to the junction, - improving conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and other non- - reducing ‘rat-running’ trafﬁc on nearby routes motorised users at the junction. In addition to addressing all of the above the option selected will also provide good value for money. 2. Support economic growth by; - improving transport in the local area to tie-in with signiﬁcant recent investments made by Walsall Council in local transport infrastructure with the £26m Darlaston Strategic Development Area (DSDA) Access Project and by Highways England with Smart Motorways at M6 junctions 5-8 and 10a-13; - enhancing operational conditions for existing businesses, that rely on excellent links to the strategic road network; - attracting new business and development to the area by enhanced road infrastructure. Supporting the commitment Central Government made to Walsall for numerous designated development sites and Enterprise Zone status in 2011.

Gas holders site Parallel 9-10 Aspect 2000

Phoenix 10

Highways England – Creative Xxxxxxx M6 Junction 10 Public Consultation

Environment

As the volume of trafﬁc and congestion continues to rise it will have a greater impact upon the local environment. We have considered this in our options, with several issues requiring consideration within the design of the chosen option.

t Noise pollution and reduced air quality associated with high volumes of slow moving or stationary trafﬁc impacts on local residents, especially those that live adjacent to roads leading to M6 junction 10 t Unwelcoming and potentially dangerous environment for pedestrians and cyclists that use the junction and nearby roads t The local natural environment provides habitats for protected species around the junction and adjacent roads.

In addition to the above general environmental issues there are various speciﬁc environmental issues in close proximity to M6 junction 10 . The main speciﬁc issues, listed below, are the presence of the following:

t an Air Quality Management Area in the local area t a DEFRA Noise Improvement Area nearby t an underground canal culvert t habitats along nearby watercourses, both the Walsall Canal and the River Tame t key community facilities, such as schools, local shops and hotels t area of housing, including; adjacent the southbound off-slip, adjacent the A454 (Black Country Route and Wolverhampton Road), and, adjacent Wolverhampton Road West (B4464)

The above will need to be taken into consideration by Walsall Council and Highways England both during the design and construction phases of the project.

Highways England – Creative Xxxxxxx M6 Junction 10 Public Consultation

Preferred options

Option 1a, Two new straight four lane bridges Option 1b, Two new curved four land bridges

Option 1a; Two new straight four lane bridges Option 1b; Two new curved four lane bridges Impact on journey:

Long distance All options are likely to show a similar, slight degree of improvement for long distance (motorway) trafﬁc

Local Large improvement; this option is expected to show signiﬁcant reductions to Largest improvement; this option is expected to show signiﬁcant reductions to queues and delays on the A454/Black Country Route and slip roads. queues and delays on the A454/Black Country Route and slip roads.

Efficiency benefits Highest degree of efﬁciency beneﬁts; these options provide for the full modernisation of bridge structures by creating a minimum number of new structures. for Highways England maintenance programme.

Affordability Affordable

Value for money Very good value for money

Facilitate economic growth All options would facilitate economic growth along in the surrounding area, particularly in and around Walsall town centre and the nearby Walsall section of the Black Country Enterprise Zone.

Safety Reduced accidents rates along existing routes

Landscape These options would all require only minimal land adjacent the highway and it is anticipated that no buildings would be impacted. The current junction already consists of bridges carrying two lanes of trafﬁc above a pre-existing motorway, replacing it with bridges carrying four lanes of trafﬁc will have minimal visual impact.

Ecology & nature All options will avoid impacts on sites of international or national importance although some local wildlife sites have the potential to be slightly effected. Any conservation impacts on protected species and local habitiats will be mitigated as appropriate.

Pedestrians, These options would likely make limited changes to the experiences of pedestrians and cyclists at the junction, maintaining current levels of accessibility across cyclists etc the junction and on adjacent roads.

Disruption for road users Least disruption; trafﬁc could be managed during the construction works, Minimal disruption, trafﬁc could be managed during the construction works, during construction mainly via lane closures. The new bridges could be built almost wholly parallel mainly via lane closures. The new bridges could be partly built alongside the to the existing bridges before demolition. existing bridges before demolition.

Highways England – Creative Xxxxxxx M6 Junction 10 Public Consultation

Options considered

Option 3; two new straight two lane bridges and Option 2; four new straight two lane bridges retained existing bridges

Impact on journey

Long distance: All options are likely to show a similar, slight degree of improvement for long distance (motorway) trafﬁc

Local: Large improvement; this option is expected to show signiﬁcant reductions to queues Moderate improvement; it is expected that the degree of improvement will reduce due and delays on the A454 Black Country Route and slip roads. to the need for signiﬁcant and/or regular maintenance interventions, causing queues and delays.

Efficiency Moderate efficiency benefits; this option provides for the full modernisation of bridge Low efficiency benefits; this option does not address the needs of the current benefits for structures but creates additional structures which will require a bigger maintenance structures and also creates additional structures. Highways England programme in future maintenance programme.

Affordability Affordable Low affordability

Value for money Very good value for money Low value for money

Facilitate economic All options would facilitate economic growth along in the surrounding area, particularly in and around Walsall town centre and the nearby Walsall section of the Black Country growth Enterprise Zone.

Safety Reduced accident rates along existing routes

Ecology & nature All options will avoid impacts on sites of international or national importance although some local wildlife sites have the potential to be slightly effected. Any impacts on conservation protected species and local habitiats will be mitigated as appropriate.

Disruption for Moderate disruption, traffic could be managed during the construction works, mainly Moderate disruption, traffic could be managed during the construction works, mainly road users during via lane closures. The two new bridges could be built almost wholly parallel to via lane closures. The two new bridges could be built almost wholly parallel to the construction the existing bridges before demolition. However, the two inner bridges could only existing bridges before demolition. However, the decision to maintain the two existing begin construction once the existing bridges are demolished. Construction of extra bridges would likely lead to significant maintenance works in future causing disruption structures above the motorway would create more disruption for motorway traffic. for motorway traffic.

Reasons for Creates additional structures which will require a bigger maintenance programme in Continued use of the existing bridges would require an extensive and ongoing discounting future, causing more disruption. maintenance programme, causing more disruption. Furthermore there would be insufﬁcient width between the bridges to install a vehicle restraint system compliant to our standards.

Option 4; two new straight two lane bridges Option 5; Two new straight two lane bridges plus flyover plus hamburger

Impact on journey

Long distance: All options are likely to show a similar, slight degree of improvement for long distance (motorway) trafﬁc

Local: Moderate improvement; it is expected that the degree of improvement will reduce Slight improvement; it is expected that the degree of improvement will reduce due to due to likely conflicts between two key traffic movements: traffic exiting the flyover the extra red time that is added to traffic signals in order to accommodate the new eastbound and turning left, and traffic heading east towards the junction of ‘straight-across’ movement. Wolverhampton Road/Bloxwich Lane going straight ahead.

Efficiency Low efficiency benefits; this option does not address the needs of the current Some traffic reductions on A449 and A460 benefits for structures and also creates additional structures. Highways England maintenance programme.

Affordability Least affordable Low affordability

Value for money Low value for money Lowest value for money

Safety Least reductions in accident rates due to conflicts between flyover traffic turning Lower reductions in accidents rates. left onto Bloxwich Lane and eastbound straight ahead traffic along A454/ Wolverhampton Road.

Landscape This option would have the greatest degree of visual impact, with construction of a This option would have a similar visual impact as options 1a-3, with a third central new structure at a greater height than the existing bridges, in fairly close proximty to bridge at the same vertical level as the existing bridges. nearby residential properties.

Ecology & nature All options will avoid impacts on sites of international or national importance although some local wildlife sites have the potential to be slightly effected. Any impacts on conservation protected species and local habitiats will be mitigated as appropriate.

Pedestrians, This option offers significant detriment to pedestrian and cyclists. It is likely to create This option would likely make limited changes to the experiences of pedestrians and cyclists etc conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists attempting to negotiate the junction of cyclists at the junction, maintaining current levels of accessibility across the junction A454/Wolverhampton Road and Bloxwich Lane, particularly where eastbound traffic and on adjacent roads. looks to turn left or right from the flyover to Bloxwich Lane or Tempus Drive.

Disruption for These two options offer the greatest - and significant - disruption; the critical section of construction in this option - that of tyng-in a new flyover or link road ontoa dual road users during carriageway (the A454/Black Country Route and the A454/Wolverhampton Road) - would require significant lane closures or even road closures to achieve the required safe construction working space for construction workers.

Reasons for Option discounted as cannot be constructed within the footprint of the junction, The addition of the centre bridges introduces an additional signal stage on each side discounting particularly on the A454 Wolverhampton Road side. The existing structures would of the roundabout, which would cause trafﬁc build up. The existing structures would also need replacing. also need replacing.

Highways England – Creative Xxxxxxx M6 Junction 10 Public Consultation

Next steps

This consultation is your opportunity to give your views on the a preferred design during 2016. Once that design has been options we are proposing ahead of further development of the announced we will seek your views again. The subsequent scheme and choosing a preferred design. consultation will be part of the process of taking the chosen scheme option towards gaining funding, planning approval and We will need you to complete the questionnaire for your view to any required statutory powers that are needed in order for the be taken into account, sending your completed questionnaire and scheme to be built. any other feedback by Sunday 24 January 2016. At present we anticipate that the scheme will take approximately After the consultation ends, we will publish a report summarising 2 years to build, starting construction during 2018 and then being the responses and opinions of the public, local groups and open to trafﬁc during 2020. organisations. Following this we will make recommendations for further development of the scheme. We will select and announce

More information on the scheme can be found on Walsall Council website at: www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10 and Highways England scheme website at: www.highwaysengland.co.uk/m6junction10improvement.

Share your views We want to know your views on the proposed junction design. Please complete the online questionnaire available via the above address on Walsall Council’s website, who are working with Highways England on the scheme.

You can also request a printed copy of the questionnaire from either Walsall Council or Highways England, using the contact details below.

Strategic Transportation M6J10 Project Team, Zone 2K, 2nd Floor The Cube, Civic Centre 199 Wharfside Street, Darwall Street Birmingham, Walsall B1 1RN. WS1 1DG Telephone: 0300 123 5000 Telephone: 01922 65 4771 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

If you have any questions please get in touch.

Highways England – Creative Xxxxxxx

Appendix 6.2

Consultation Brochure M6 Junction 10 Public Consultation December 2015 Introduction

M6 junction 10 currently experiences significant The junction is of strategic importance to Walsall congestion and resultant delays particularly during and the wider area, providing access to the West morning and evening peak times. Midlands. However, these queues affect the local community and business environment quite The area suffers from long queues at peak times on significantly, making it harder for businesses to get the Black Country Route from M6 junction 10 to the their goods and services to market, impacting local junction with Bentley Road South. businesses and jobs.

There is also significant queuing on the roundabout and both the on and off motorway slip roads. Congestion also occurs on other roads leading to the junction, such as Wolverhampton Road, Wolverhampton Road West and Bloxwich Lane. Environment Objectives

The main objectives of the scheme are to: As the volume of traffic and congestion continues to rise it will have a greater impact upon the local environment. We have considered this in our options, with several issues requiring consideration. 1. Provide a more free flowing network by; enhancing operational conditions for existing reducing congestion on the Black Country Route businesses that rely on excellent links to the Noise pollution and reduced air quality eastbound to improve journey time reliability, strategic road network associated with high volumes of slow moving critical to the needs of local residents, businesses attracting new business and development to the or stationary traffic impacts on local residents, and the Black Country Enterprise Zone area by enhanced road infrastructure. Supporting especially those that live adjacent to roads reducing congestion on other roads linking to the commitment Central Government made to leading to M6 junction 10 the junction, such as Wolverhampton Road, Walsall for numerous designated development Unwelcoming and potentially dangerous Wolverhampton Road West and Bloxwich Lane sites and Enterprise Zone status in 2011. environment for pedestrians and cyclists that use reducing ‘rat-running’ traffic on nearby 3. Provide a safe and serviceable network the junction and nearby roads routes parallel to the Black Country Route, with improved access by; The local natural environment provides habitats Wolverhampton Road and Wolverhampton replacing the structures that carry M6 junction for protected species around the junction and Road West. 10 over the M6 and avoiding major maintenance adjacent roads 2. Support economic growth by; work on the structures in the near future improving conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and In addition to the above general environmental improving transport in the local area to tie-in other non-motorised users at the junction. issues there are various specific environmental with significant recent investments made by issues in close proximity to M6 junction 10. The main Walsall Council in local transport infrastructure, In addition to addressing all of the above the specific issues, with the £26m Darlaston Strategic Development Area (DSDA) Access Project, and by Highways option selected will also provide good value listed below, are the presence of the following: England with Smart Motorways at M6 junctions for money. 5-8 and 10a-13 The above will need to be taken into consideration by An Air Quality Management Area in the local area Walsall Council and Highways England both during A DEFRA Noise Improvement Area nearby the design and construction phases of the project. An underground canal culvert Gas holders site Habitats along nearby watercourses, both the Parallel 9-10 Aspect 2000 Walsall Canal and the River Tame Key community facilities, such as schools, local shops and hotels Area of housing, including; adjacent the southbound off-slip, adjacent the A454 (Black Country Route and Wolverhampton Road), and, Phoenix 10 adjacent Wolverhampton Road West (B4464).

The M6 and junction 10 carries large Phoenix 10 volumes of traffic through the heart of the Walsall section of the Black Country Enterprise Zone Preferred options Preferred options

Option 1a, Two new straight four lane bridges Option 1a; Option 1b; Two new curved four lane Two new straight four lane bridges bridges

Impact on journey: All options are likely to show a similar, slight degree of improvement for long Long distance distance (motorway) traffic Local Large improvement; this option is Largest improvement; this option is expected to show significant reductions expected to show significant reductions to queues and delays on the A454/ to queues and delays on the A454/ Black Country Route and slip roads. Black Country Route and slip roads. Efficiency benefits Highest degree of efficiency benefits; these options provide for the full for Highways modernisation of bridge structures by creating a minimum number of new England maintenance structures. programme Affordability Affordable Value for money Very good value for money Facilitate economic All options would facilitate economic growth along in the surrounding area, growth particularly in and around Walsall town centre and the nearby Walsall section of the Black Country Enterprise Zone. Safety Reduced accidents rates along existing routes Landscape These options would all require only minimal land adjacent the highway and it is anticipated that no buildings would be impacted. The current junction already consists of bridges carrying two lanes of traffic above a pre-existing motorway, Option 1b, Two new curved four lane bridges replacing it with bridges carrying four lanes of traffic will have minimal visual impact. Ecology & nature All options will avoid impacts on sites of international or national importance conservation although some local wildlife sites have the potential to be slightly effected. Any impacts on protected species and local habitiats will be mitigated as appropriate. Pedestrians, These options would likely make limited changes to the experiences of cyclists etc pedestrians and cyclists at the junction, maintaining current levels of accessibility across the junction and on adjacent roads. Disruption for Least disruption; traffic will be managed Minimal disruption, traffic will be road users during during the construction works, mainly managed during the construction construction via lane closures. The new bridges will works, mainly via lane closures. be built almost wholly parallel to the The new bridges will be partly built existing bridges before demolition. alongside the existing bridges before demolition. Options considered Option 4; Option 5; Option 2; Option 3; two new straight two lane two new straight two lane bridges Two new straight two lane bridges four new straight two lane bridges bridges and retained existing bridges plus flyover plus “hamburger” bridge Impact on journey All options are likely to show a similar, slight degree of improvement for long distance Impact on journey All options are likely to show a similar, slight degree of improvement for long Long distance: (motorway) traffic. Long distance: distance (motorway) traffic. Local: Large improvement; this option is Moderate improvement; it is expected Local: Moderate improvement; it is expected Slight improvement; it is expected that expected to show significant reductions that the degree of improvement will that the degree of improvement will the degree of improvement will reduce to queues and delays on the A454 Black reduce due to the need for significant reduce due to likely conflicts between two due to the extra red time that is added to Country Route and slip roads. and/or regular maintenance interventions, key traffic movements: traffic exiting the traffic signals in order to accommodate causing queues and delays. flyover eastbound and turning left, and the new ‘straight-across’ movement. Efficiency Moderate efficiency benefits; this option Low efficiency benefits; this option does traffic heading east towards the junction benefits for provides for the full modernisation of not address the needs of the current of Wolverhampton Road/Bloxwich Lane Highways England bridge structures but creates additional structures and also creates additional going straight ahead. maintenance structures which will require a bigger structures. Efficiency benefits Low efficiency benefits; this option does Some traffic reductions on A449 and programme maintenance programme in future. for Highways not address the needs of the current A460. England maintenance Afford ability Affordable Low affordability structures and also creates additional programme Value for money Very good value for money Low value for money structures. Facilitate economic All options would facilitate economic growth along in the surrounding area, Afford ability Least affordable Low affordability growth particularly in and around Walsall town centre and the nearby Walsall section of the Value for money Low value for money Lowest value for money Black Country Enterprise Zone. Facilitate economic All options would facilitate economic growth along in the surrounding area, Safety Reduced accident rates along existing routes. growth particularly in and around Walsall town centre and the nearby Walsall section of the Landscape These options would all require only minimal land adjacent the highway and it is Black Country Enterprise Zone. anticipated that no buildings would be impacted. The current junction already consists Safety Least reductions in accident rates due to Lower reductions in accidents rates. of bridges carrying two lanes of traffic above a pre-existing motorway, replacing it conflicts between flyover traffic turning with bridges carrying four lanes of traffic will have minimal visual impact. left onto Bloxwich Lane and eastbound straight ahead traffic along A454/ Ecology & nature All options will avoid impacts on sites of international or national importance although Wolverhampton Road. conservation some local wildlife sites have the potential to be slightly effected. Any impacts on Landscape This option would have the greatest This option would have a similar visual protected species and local habitiats will be mitigated as appropriate. degree of visual impact, with construction impact as options 1a-3, with a third Pedestrians, These options would likely make limited changes to the experiences of pedestrians of a new structure at a greater height central bridge at the same vertical level cyclists etc and cyclists at the junction, maintaining current levels of accessibility across the than the existing bridges, in fairly close as the existing bridges. proximty to nearby residential properties. junction and on adjacent roads. Disruption for Moderate disruption, traffic will be Moderate disruption, traffic will be Ecology & nature All options will avoid impacts on sites of international or national importance road users during managed during the construction works, managed during the construction works, conservation although some local wildlife sites have the potential to be slightly effected. Any construction mainly via lane closures. The two new mainly via lane closures. The two new impacts on protected species and local habitiats will be mitigated as appropriate. bridges will be built almost wholly parallel bridges will be built almost wholly parallel Pedestrians, This option offers significant detriment This option would likely make limited to the existing bridges before demolition. to the existing bridges before demolition. cyclists etc to pedestrian and cyclists. It is likely to changes to the experiences of However, the two inner bridges could However, the decision to maintain the create conflicts between pedestrians pedestrians and cyclists at the junction, only begin construction once the existing two existing bridges would likely lead to and cyclists attempting to negotiate the maintaining current levels of accessibility bridges are demolished. Construction of significant maintenance works in future junction of A454/Wolverhampton Road across the junction and on adjacent extra structures above the motorway would causing disruption for motorway traffic. and Bloxwich Lane, particularly where roads. eastbound traffic looks to turn left or create more disruption for motorway traffic. right from the flyover to Bloxwich Lane or Reasons for Creates additional structures which will Continued use of the existing bridges Tempus Drive. discounting require a bigger maintenance programme would require an extensive and ongoing Disruption for These two options offer the greatest - and significant - disruption; the critical in future, causing more disruption. maintenance programme, causing more road users during section of construction in this option - that of tyng-in a new flyover or link road ontoa Furthermore there would be insufficient disruption. Furthermore there would be construction dual carriageway (the A454/Black Country Route and the A454/Wolverhampton width between the bridges to install a insufficient width between the bridges to Road) - would require significant lane closures or even road closures to achieve the vehicle restraint system compliant to our install a vehicle restraint system compliant required safe working space for construction workers. standards. to our standards. Reasons for Option discounted as cannot be The addition of the centre bridges discounting constructed within the footprint of introduces an additional signal stage the junction, particularly on the A454 on each side of the roundabout, which Wolverhampton Road side. The existing would cause traffic build up. The existing structures would also need replacing. structures would also need replacing. Next steps Share your views

This consultation is your opportunity to give your announced we will seek your views again. The We want to know your views on the proposed junction design. Please complete the online views on the options we are proposing ahead of subsequent consultation will be part of the process questionnaire available via the above address on Walsall Council’s website, who are working with further development of the scheme and choosing a of taking the chosen scheme option towards gaining Highways England on the scheme. preferred design. funding, planning approval and any required statutory powers that are needed in order for the We will need you to complete the questionnaire for scheme to be built. You can also request a printed copy of the questionnaire from either Walsall Council or Highways your view to be taken into account, returning your England, using the contact details below. completed questionnaire and any other feedback by At present we anticipate that the scheme will Sunday 24 January 2016. take approximately two years to build, starting construction during 2018 and then being open to After the consultation ends, we will consider the traffic during 2020. responses and opinions of the public, local groups and organisations. Following this we will make recommendations for further development of the scheme. We will select and announce a preferred design during 2016. Once that design has been

More information on the scheme can be found on Walsall Council website at: Strategic Transportation M6J10 Project Team, www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10 Zone 2K, 2nd Floor The Cube, Civic Centre 199 Wharfside Street, and Highways England scheme website at: Darwall Street Birmingham, www.highways.gov.uk/roads/m6junction10improvement Walsall WS1 1DG B1 1RN.

Telephone: 01922 65 4771 Telephone: 0300 123 5000 Email: [email protected] Email: M6junction10improvement@ highwaysengland.co.uk

You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence: visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email [email protected].

This document is also available on our website at www.highways.gov.uk.

If you have any enquiries about this publication email [email protected] or call 0300 123 5000*.

Highways England creative job number M150369

*Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls. These rules apply to calls from any type of line including mobile, BT, other fixed line or payphone. Calls may be recorded or monitored.

Printed on paper from well-managed forests and other controlled sources.

Registered office Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ Highways England Company Limited registered in England and Wales number 09346363

Appendix 6.3

Letter to Residents

Economy & Environment Our Ref: M6J10_20151123 Date: 23rd November 2015 Please Ask For: Steven Edwards Direct Line: 01922 65 4771 Email [email protected]

Dear Resident,

M6 Junction 10 improvements – Public Consultation

M6 Junction 10 is part of a busy route between Walsall and Wolverhampton. The junction is often heavily congested and this reduces the attractiveness of the local area for business and investment, including within the nearby Black Country Enterprise Zone. Walsall Council and Highways England are working in partnership to improve M6 Junction 10 and will shortly be consulting with the local community, from Friday 4th December 2015 until Sunday 24th January 2016.

Walsall Council and Highways England would like to discuss the design options considered thus far with local people. Whichever design option is taken forward will need to address congestion and safety around the junction and replace the two bridges beneath the junction. Other work to improve congestion and safety will also be undertaken on the adjacent junction of Wolverhampton Road and Bloxwich Lane and also along a short section of the A454 Black Country Route. Construction work is currently planned to start in 2018.

We will be holding several drop-in information events for local residents and businesses to come along and find out more about the project. These will be at the following dates, times and venues;

12pm-4pm, Friday 4th December at Tesco Willenhall Superstore, Owen Road, nr the Keyway roundabout 10am-2pm, Saturday 5th December at Holiday Inn, Wolverhampton Road West, near Junction 10 2pm-8pm, Monday 7th December at The Village Hotel, Tempus Drive, near Junction 10 10am-4pm, Wednesday 9th December at The New Art Gallery, Walsall town centre

To read more go to www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10 or follow us on Facebook or Twitter (on Facebook just search 'Walsall Transport' and follow us on Twitter @walsalltransprt or @highwaysWMIDS). To tell us what you think of the project, please go to www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10 and fill-in the online questionnaire. Alternatively, contact us on the details below and we can post a printed copy for you to complete and return to Walsall Council.

If you have any questions, please contact the project team directly on the details at the bottom of this letter or by emailing [email protected] or [email protected].

Yours faithfully,

Steven Edwards Khalid Pervez Khalid Pervez M6 Junction 10 Project Manager Walsall Council, Project Manager Highways England, Project Manager Highways England, The Cube, Strategic Transportation, 2nd Floor, The Cube, 199 Wharfside Street, 199 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RN Civic Centre, Darwall Street, Walsall, WS1 1DG Birmingham, B1 1RN Tel: 0121 687 4121 Tel: 01922 65 4771 Tel: 0121 687 4121

Strategic Transportation, Economy & Environment, Walsall Council, Civic Centre, Darwall Street, Walsall WS1 1DG

Appendix 6.4

Email to Businesses Important Developments for M6 junctions 9 and 10

Newsletter of the Darlaston Strategic Development Area Access Project

Wallows Lane Roundabout

New roundabout spells traffic bliss for Junction 9 users.

With work on M6 junction 9 due to complete before Christmas, it is with great pleasure we can reveal the new roundabout at the junction of Wallows Lane and Bescot Road.

The new junction has significantly improved peak time traffic. There remains some work to be done on pedestrian guard rail, and footpaths, but the junction is now fully open with only occasional lane closures to protect workers on the footway.

The DSDA Access Project team are delighted to see this junction open and working, along with the crossroads at the Brown Lion, and the immediate improvements it has brought about.

M6 junction 10 Consultation

Important Highways England works at M6 junction 10 are due to begin in 2018.

As a local authority, Walsall Council are working with Highways England to manage the local impact of the project, and we want your views.

Please consider attending one of the forthcoming consultation events at venues in Walsall Town Centre and close to the junction itself. The views and opinions of local residents and businesses are vital to understanding how the project will affect our borough, and you are welcome to make your voice heard.

For more information, including dates and times, please download and read the pdf letter which has been produced to inform local residents of the events:

http://www.walsall.com/wp-content/uploads/M6-J10- Public-Information-Event-Letter-General-Public- 16.11.15.pdf

Ongoing Works - Christmas Break

As usual, roadworks in the borough of Walsall will be restricted in December.

Works on the road (lane closures, short term closures, etc) will cease for the period of Advent, to help with seasonal traffic flow and to support the Town and District Centre business, especially retailers as they work to attract customers.

This allows us to concentrate on James Bridge Aqueduct and Bentley Road South, both of which are in the final stages and should be complete by the end of Spring 2016.

The road lowering through James Bridge Aqueduct is now reaching the final steps, after which the new road can be laid and opened. On Bentley Road South works on the canal bridge are progressing, and the redesigned crossroads at Heath Road is beginning to take shape with fresh kerbs already visible.

If you have any concerns or questions about this scheme, please call the project's business liaison officer Andrew Clayton on 01922 654468 or e-mail [email protected]

Appendix 6.5

Questionnaire

Walsall Council and Highways England are working together on a major project to improve M6 Junction 10. Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions so that your views can be taken into consideration.

Before answering this questionnaire please ensure you have reviewed the information explaining this project available on our website www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10.

Anyone can answer this questionnaire, regardless of how you travel through the junction, even if you do not use it at all; everyone's views are important.

The closing date for responses is Sunday 24 January 2016.

1. How often, if at all, do you travel through M6 junction 10? Select ONE only. Almost every day Go to Q2. Within the last 12 months Go to Q2. Weekly Go to Q2. Longer ago Go to Q6. Monthly Go to Q2. Never Go to Q6.

2. During the last 12 months how have you travelled through M6 junction 10? Select all that apply.

Travel north or south on the M6 through J10 Exit M6 junction10 from the north and travel towards Wolverhampton / Willenhall Exit M6 junction10 from the north and travel towards Walsall Exit M6 junction10 from the south and travel towards Wolverhampton / Willenhall Exit M6 junction10 from the south and travel towards Walsall Travel from the direction of Walsall joining M6 J10 southbound (towards Birmingham) Travel from the direction of Walsall joining M6 J10 northbound (towards Stafford) Travel from the direction of Wolverhampton / Willenhall joining M6 J10 southbound (towards Birmingham) Travel from the direction of Wolverhampton / Willenhall joining M6 J10 northbound (towards Stafford) Travel from the direction of Walsall over M6 junction10 towards Wolverhampton / Willenhall Travel from the direction of Wolverhampton / Willenhall over M6 junction10 towards Walsall

Save money and time, respond online www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10 This survey is being managed by Walsall Council in partnership with Highways England.Your responses will be used to inform decisions regarding the redesign of M6 junction 10. Your views will never be reported alongside anything that could identify you. All data you submit, apart from any contact details, will be shared with Higways England. All data will be handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the survey run in adherance to the Market Research Society Code of Conduct. If you have any queries about this survey please email [email protected] 3. During the last 12 months at what time of the day / night have you travelled through M6 junction 10? Select all that apply.

Peak hours 7am to 10am Day time 10am to 4pm Peak hours 4pm to 7pm Night time 7pm to 7am

4. And in the last 12 months on what days of the week have you travelled through M6 junction 10? Select all that apply.

Monday to Friday Saturday / Sunday

5. What mode of transport do you usually use when travelling through M6 junction 10? Select ONE only.

On foot Bus / coach / minibus Bicycle Rigid HGV Moped / motorcycle Articulated HGV Car / small van (driver or passenger) Other

Please tell us your home postcode. We will use this for 6. analysis purposes only to look at responses geographically.

7. To what extent do you agree or disagree that M6 junction 10 needs improving? Select one only.

Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree

8. Why do you say this? 9. Please read all the considerations listed below and rank them in order of importance to you.

Write a number between 1 and 11 in each box, where 1 is most important. You may only use each number once.

That congestion is reduced ......

The impact on surrounding land......

The ease of use / navigation ......

The safety of road users ......

Pedestrian safety ......

Cycle user safety......

The visual impact ......

The environmental impact......

The cost ......

The time taken to complete the scheme ......

Disruption to road users during construction......

10. Is there anything else you think is important when choosing a design option for M6 junction 10? Please tell us.

11. Please ensure you have reviewed the information explaining this project www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10.

Which option do you think is the best design for M6 junction 10? Select one only.

Option 1a Go to Q12. Neither option 1a or 1b Go to Q14. Option 1b Go to Q13. Don't know Go to Q15. Either option 1a or 1b Go to Q14. Other Go to Q15.

12. Why do you say option 1a is the best? Please tell us.

Now go to Q15.left characters remaining. 13. Why do you say option 1b is the best? Please tell us.

Now go to Q15.left characters remaining.

14. Why do you say neither or either option is suitable? Please tell us.

Now go to Q15.left characters remaining.

15. Do you have any other suggestions for how M6 junction 10 might be redesigned? Please tell us.

Keeping you informed

16. Would you like to be kept informed by email about developments related to the redesign of M6 junction 10, including information about forthcoming events, consultation and progress?

Yes please Go to Q17. No thanks End of the questionnaire. By ticking yes you are agreeing for Walsall Council to include your name and email address on a mailing list which will be use to send you occasional emails regarding the redeisgn of M6 junction 10. Your views will never be reported alongside anything that could identify you. Your details will be stored securely and will not be shared with any other organisation outside of the council. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and will only be used for the purpose stated. Your details will be kept until 6 months after the redesign works are complete (anticipated 2020). You may unscbsribe at any time by emailing [email protected] with 'unsubscribe' in the subject box.

17. What is your first name? (so we can address our emails to you)

18. What is your email address? We will use this address to send you occasional updates about the redesign of M6 junction 10.

Please hand in to a member of staff or post to: Strategic Transportation, Walsall Council, Civic Centre, Darwall Street, Walsall, WS1 1DG by 24 January 2016.

Appendix 6.6

Press Cutting

Appendix 8.2

Statement of Community Involvement

Public Information Event Report – February 2017

M6 Junction 10 Improvements

May 2017

Version 1.0 - FINAL

Author Donna Cattell

Senior Transport Planner

Walsall MBC

Strategic Transportation, Economy and Environment Civic Centre, Darwall Street, WS1 1 DG

Contents

Page/s

1 Introduction 3- 4 1.1 Main Objectives 3 1.2 Project Timescale 4

2 The February 2017 Events 5-15 2.1 Overview of the events 5-6 2.2 Promoting the events 7-8 2.3 Event feedback 8-15

3 Ongoing Stakeholder Engagement 16 3.1 Next steps 16

4.0 Further information - contact details 17

5.0 Appendices 18

1.0 Introduction

Walsall Council and Highways England are developing plans to provide a long term improvement to M6 Junction 10.

1.1 Main Objectives

The first objective of the scheme will be to reduce congestion. By improving M6J10, congestion can be reduced on the A454 Black Country Route eastbound to improve journey time reliability. This is critical to the needs of local residents, businesses and the 120 hectares of developable land within the nearby Black Country Enterprise Zone. Congestion can be reduced on other roads linking to the junction, such as A454 Wolverhampton Road, B4464 Wolverhampton Road West and Bloxwich Lane, reducing ‘rat-running’ traffic on nearby routes parallel to the A454 Black Country Route, the A454 Wolverhampton Road and the B4464 Wolverhampton Road West.

The third objective is to provide a safe and maintainable network. Replacing the bridge structures over the M6 motorway and avoiding major maintenance work on the structures in the near future. Conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and other nonmotorised users can also be enhanced.

In addition to addressing all of the above, the option selected will also provide good value for money.

1.2 Project timescale

The December 2015 Public Consultation was the first formal opportunity for stakeholders to give their views on the scheme options proposed ahead of further development and the selection of a preferred design.

Following the closure of the December 2015 consultation period on Sunday 24 January 2016, Walsall Council and Highways England have considered all of the responses and opinions of the public, local groups and organisations. This enabled further development of the scheme. The preferred design was announced during the February 2017 Public Information Events and is shown below.

Following the February Public Information Events, the project team have continued to work towards gaining planning approval starting in summer 2017. Walsall Planning Authority is required to undertake a formal period of public consultation, prior to deciding the outcome of the planning application. This will be a further opportunity to view more detailed plans. How to comment will be explained within the publicity accompanying the planning application.

If successful in gaining planning approval, we will complete the detailed design of the scheme. Construction is anticipated to start in 2018 and take approximately 2 years to build.

2.0 The February 2017 Pubic Information Events

There were a number of non-statutory public consultation events held in December 2015, which presented the preferred scheme options named 1a and 1b. The consultation sought comments and feedback to inform the final scheme option selection and help shape the design.

Ongoing investigation into the two preferred scheme options during 2016, determined that option 1b is the most viable and has been selected to be taken forward.

As a follow up to the December 2015 Consultation a number of Public Information Events were held in February 2017.These events gave the opportunity for the public the few the final scheme option and discuss the reasons why the option had been selected.

2.1 Overview of the events

The joint public information exercise between Walsall Council and Highways England was open from Wednesday 15 February until Friday 10 March 2017.

The exercise saw Walsall Council and Highways England officers attend three public ‘drop- in’ events in total, as listed below:

Visitors were handed a leaflet and a feedback form on arrival. The leaflet contained details of where to find more information about the project and how to share views about the scheme directly with Walsall Council and Highways England project officers. The feedback form, which asked visitors how informative and accessible the events were, could be filled in at the event, returned by post or completed on line. The event feedback can be found in section 2.3.

A total of 165 people attended the events during February 2017.

Boundary Mill Event – Saturday 25 February 2017

2.2 Promoting the events

Direct promotion to residents

In advance of the first event, letters were delivered by post to households and business within an area of influence of M6 J10. In total around one thousand; eight hundred letters were delivered to the nearest properties to the junction. A map showing the area of delivery can be seen below.

Email promotion

In advance of the events around seven hundred and thirty emails were sent to key stakeholders, and respondents to previous consultation. The email contained a copy of the letter inviting people to take part in the public engagement and details of were to find more information about the scheme.

Further promotion to businesses

Officers in Walsall Council’s Employment Growth Team included an article promoting the events in there monthly ‘Business Investment Newsletter’. This email reached two thousand; five hundred business contacts in Walsall. A copy can be seen in Appendix B

News media promotion

A press release (see appendix C) was sent to various press organisations on 6 February 2017. This included the Express & Star, which covers all of the Black Country and large parts of the wider West Midlands region.

The Express and Star printed an article about M6 J10 in their 7 February edition and published a similar story on their website. See appendix D.

The Deputy Leader for Walsall Council was interviewed on the BBC WM ‘Paul Frank Show’ on 7 February where he commented on the need to deliver an improvement at M6 J10 and the economic benefits for the Black Country.

Online and social media promotion

Alongside this, the social media channels of both Walsall Council and Highways England – namely Facebook and Twitter – were used, firstly, to inform the public about the information events and, secondly, to inform the public how to find out more information and contact the project team.

2.3 Public information event feedback

A total of 34 people submitted feedback about the events. The responses are shown below.

The feedback form was anonymous, but did ask for the first part of the visitors post code. From this data we can see that the majority of the visitors who filled in a form, were located in the WS2 post code area, which is the immediate area surrounding M6 J10.

There was also a separate form available at the events and on-line, which gave an opportunity for visitors to leave their contact details so they can be kept up to date as the scheme moves through development.

3.0 Ongoing stakeholder engagement

During and after the events there were a number of comments and concerns raised where further investigation was required. These particular issues are being investigated by the design team and communication is ongoing with these stakeholders.

As the design team make more detailed plans around the construction methods, the residents and businesses directly affected will be consulted on a more individual or area specific basis.

3.1 Next steps

In 2017, Walsall Council and Highways England will be continuing to work towards gaining planning approval and completing the statutory process needed for the scheme to be built. The planning process will start during summer 2017.

Walsall Planning Authority is required to undertake a formal period of public consultation, prior to deciding the outcome of the planning application. Anyone can respond to a planning consultation. This may include individuals, community groups and special interest groups who may or may not be directly affected by a planning application.

The time period for making comments will be set out in the publicity accompanying the planning application, which will include publication in the local press. If successful in gaining planning approval, we will move to the final detailed design of the scheme.

4.0 For further information

Steven Edwards Walsall Council M6 J10 Project Manager

Phone: 01922 654771 Email: [email protected]

Walsall Council Strategic Transportation Economy and Environment Zone 2J, Civic Centre Darwall Street WS1 1DG

David Reed Highways England M6 J10 Project Manager

Phone: 0300 123 5000 Email: [email protected]

Highways England The Cube 199 Wharfside Street Birmingham B1 1RN

Project Websites: www.walsall.gov.uk/M6J10 www.roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m6-junction-10-improvement

Project email address: [email protected]

5.0 Appendices

M6 junction 10 Information event February 2017 Why are we developing a scheme to improve M6 junction 10?

M6 junction 10 is of strategic The main objectives of the M6 importance within the Black junction 10 scheme are to: Country and the wider region. 1. Provide a freer ﬂowing The current level of congestion network by: at the junction affects the local community and businesses on reducing congestion on the a daily basis, particularly during A454/Black Country Route morning and evening peak times. and other roads linking to the junction The congestion includes not only reducing rat-running trafﬁc on queuing on the roundabout and nearby routes the motorway slip roads, but also reducing queuing on the on the Black Country Route and motorway slip roads other roads leading to the junction.

Existing M6 junction 10 2. Support economic 3. Provide a safe and growth by: maintainable network by:

improving access to the replacing the bridge strategic road network structures at M6 junction 10, attracting new business and avoiding major maintenance development to the area work in the near future improving links to Walsall improving conditions for development sites given cyclists, pedestrians and Enterprise Zone status other non-motorised users in 2011 at the junction

Preferred option: Option 1b – Circular Preferred Option: Option 1b – Circular

M6 Footpath Proposed N new bridge Footpath

Footpath

Footpath Demolish

Footpath Footpath M6 A454

A454 B4464 Bus lane

A454 Demolish

A454 Proposed new bridge

Reasons for choosing the option: most effective at reducing congestion offers the best value for money lower cost to build offers the best improvement in terms of road safety easier and safer movement for pedestrians and cyclists Walsall Black Country Enterprise Zone

Former gas holders site Parallel 9-10 Aspect 2000

Phoenix 10

large volumes of trafﬁc through the heart of the Walsall section of the Black Country Enterprise Zone. Next steps

In 2017, we will be continuing to If successful in gaining planning work towards gaining planning approval, we will move to the ﬁnal approval and completing the detailed design of the scheme. statutory process needed for the We anticipate that construction of scheme to be built. the scheme will start in 2018, take approximately 2 years to build, and The planning process will start will be open to trafﬁc during 2020. during summer 2017. Walsall Planning Authority is required to Share your views undertake a formal period of public consultation, prior to We would like to know your views deciding the outcome of the on the preferred design for the planning application. junction and your feedback about our information events. Anyone can respond to a planning consultation. This may include Please complete the online individuals, community groups and feedback form via the Walsall special interest groups who may or Council website: may not be directly affected by a www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10 planning application. For scheme information visit the The time period for making Highways England scheme website: comments will be set out in the http://roads.highways.gov. publicity accompanying the uk/projects/m6-junction-10- planning application, which will improvement/ include publication in the local press. Contacts

Strategic Transportation M6J10 Project Team Zone 2K, 2nd Floor The Cube Civic Centre 199 Wharfside Street Darwall Street Walsall Birmingham WS1 1DG B1 1RN

Telephone: 01922 65 4771 Telephone: 0300 123 5000 Email: Email: [email protected] M6junction10improvement@ highwaysengland.co.uk

If you have any questions, please get in touch If you need help accessing this or any other Highways England information, please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you.

© Crown copyright 2017. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence: visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email [email protected].

This document is also available on our website at www.gov.uk/highways

If you have any enquiries about this publication email [email protected] or call 0300 123 5000*. Please quote the Highways England publications code PR209/16.

Highways England creative job number m160455

*Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls. These rules apply to calls from any type of line including mobile, BT, other ﬁxed line or payphone. Calls may be recorded or monitored.

Registered ofﬁce Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ Highways England Company Limited registered in England and Wales number 09346363 M6 Junction 10 Information event

Why are we developing a scheme to improve M6 junction 10?

M6 junction 10 is of strategic importance within 2. Support economic growth by: the Black Country and the wider region. The congestion at the junction affects the local Improving access to the strategic community and businesses on a daily basis, road network particularly during morning and evening peak times. attracting new business and development to the area The congestion includes not only queuing on the roundabout and the motorway slip roads, improving links to Walsall developments sites but also on the Black Country Route and given Enterprise Zone status in 2011 other roads leading to the junction. The main objectives of the M6 junction 10 scheme are to: 3. Provide a safe and maintainable network by: 1. Provide a freer flowing network by: replacing the bridge structures at M6 reducing congestion on the A454/Black junction 10, avoiding major maintenance Country Route and other roads linking to work in the near future the junction improving conditions for cyclists, pedestrians reducing ‘rat-running’ traffic on nearby routes. and other non-motorised users at the junction. reducing queuing on the motorway slip roads

Highways England – Creative m160299 M6 Junction 10 Information event

Preferred option 1b – Circular option

Reasons for choosing the option:

Most effective at reducing congestion

Offers the best value for money

Lower cost to build

Offers the best improvement in terms of road safety

Easier and safer movement for pedestrians and cyclists

Highways England – Creative m160299 M6 Junction 10 Information event

Next steps

In 2017, we will be continuing to work towards The time period for making comments will gaining planning approval and completing the be set out in the publicity accompanying statutory process needed for the scheme to the planning application, which will include be built. publication in the local press.

The planning process will start during summer If successful in gaining planning approval, we 2017. Walsall Planning Authority is required to will move to the final detailed design stage of undertake a formal period of public consultation, the scheme. We anticipate that construction of prior to deciding the outcome of the planning the scheme will start in 2018, take approximately application. 2 years to build, and will be open to traffic during 2020. Anyone can respond to a planning consultation. This may include individuals, community groups and special interest groups who may or may not be directly affected by a planning application.

Share your views

We would like to know your views on the preferred design for the junction and your feedback about our information events. Please complete the online feedback form via the Walsall Council website: www.walsall.gov.uk/m6j10. For scheme information visit the Highways England scheme website: http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m6-junction-10-improvement/

You can also request a printed copy of the form from either Walsall Council or Highways England, using the contact details below.

Strategic Transportation M6J10 Project Team Zone 2K, 2nd Floor The Cube Civic Centre 199 Wharfside Street Darwall Street Birmingham Walsall B1 1RN WS1 1DG Telephone: 0300 123 5000 Telephone: 01922 65 4771 Email: M6junction10improvement@ Email: [email protected] highwaysengland.co.uk

If you have any questions, please get in touch

Highways England – Creative m160299

Headline New Design for Junction 10 gets go ahead Release Body This is an artist’s impression of what the new M6 junction 10 will look like from 2020.

The new design for the £64.5m scheme has been chosen by Walsall Council and Highways England to reduce congestion, increase safety and improve links for businesses in the area.

Two new bridges will be constructed, increasing the junction’s number of lanes from two to four. The Black Country Route (A454), a vital arterial carriageway which connects Walsall to Wolverhampton will be widened from Junction 10 to the Bentley Mill Way bridge, with enhancements made to the Wolverhampton Road and Bloxwich Lane junction.

Improvements will also be carried out to pedestrian and cycle facilities at the junction.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to see the design in person at 3 information events this month:

1. Village Hotel, Tempus Ten, Walsall, WS2 8TJ - Wednesday 15 Feb, 14:00 – 20:00

2. Holiday Inn, W’ton Road West, Walsall, WS2 0BS - Monday 20 Feb, 12:00 – 16:00

3. Boundary Mill, Bentley Mill Way, Walsall WS2 0LE - Saturday 25 Feb, 11:00 – 14:00

Councillor Lee Jeavons, deputy leader and portfolio holder for transport and regeneration at Walsall Council said: "Of the two, this chosen design is seen as the most effective at reducing congestion, offers the best value for money and will improve safety for all road users.

"Changes to the roundabout will not only cut travel time for motorists but encourage businesses and jobs to stay in the region and not move elsewhere.

“Improving the road network in the area will support the Darlaston area of the Black Country Enterprise Zone, which totals around 45 hectares of land.”

The current roundabout, built in the 1960s will be replaced to avoid the need for extensive maintenance. Around 8,000 vehicles pass through the junction every hour during peak periods but this new design will increase its capacity to 10,500 vehicles per hour.

The project is being jointly funded by Highways England and Walsall Council via the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.

David Reed, Project Manager at Highways England, said: “Highways England and Walsall Council are both committed to cutting congestion and improving safety at M6 Junction 10.

“Working in partnership we have developed a design that will deliver more reliable journey times and, at the same time, provide a significant boost to the Midlands economy.”

Subject to receiving planning permission and completing further preparatory work prior to construction, building work is expected to start on site late 2018 and completed in around 2 years.

ENDS

Appendix D

Appendix 8.3

Statement of Community Involvement

M6 J10 Public Art Statement

M6 Junction 10 Improvements

July 2017

FINAL Version 1.0

Author Donna Cattell

Senior Transport Planner

Walsall MBC Strategic Transportation, Economy and Environment Civic Centre, Darwall Street, WS1 1 DG

Contents Page

1.0 Introduction 3

2.0 Proposals for the final art piece 4

3.0 School Workshops 8

4.0 Summary 10

1.0 Introduction

Walsall Council’s Local Planning promotes the provision of individual public art works in appropriate locations throughout the Borough, to enhance the quality and individuality of spaces in prominent locations.

Walsall’s Unitary Development Plan saved policy ENV 34 states; The Council will require the provision of public art to enhance the quality and individually of existing buildings, spaces or new development especially in the following locations:

I. In public spaces and buildings II. In important and prominent locations III. In larger scale developments or refurbishments

The M6 Junction 10 project is considered a larger scale project in an important and prominent location, with public art serving to enhance the quality and individuality of the space.

The development of the Public Art will have community engagement at its core. The project team have appointed an artist, Valeria Osment to engage with local school children during autumn 2017 in the creation of the art piece. It is intended that the results of working with the schools will be visibly seen in the final art work.

In total seven of the nearest local schools to junction 10 were invited to take part in the design of the public art, of which five have confirmed they would like to take part. These schools are:

1. Alumwell Infant School, Primley Avenue, Walsall 2. King Charles Primary School, Wilkes Avenue, Walsall 3. Alumwell Junior School, Primley Avenue, Walsall 4. Reedswood E-ACT Primary Academy, Bentley Drive, Walsall 5. Bentley West Primary School, Monmouth Rd, Walsall

The public art project will be based on the theme that M6 J10 is a ‘Gateway’ to Walsall and what Walsall means to the school children. Inspiration will come from Walsall’s rich industrial heritage, canals, leatherworking, the refurbished Arboretum and The Art Gallery.

2.0 Proposals for the final art piece

There are currently three options being developed for the proposed art piece. The first is a 3D sculpture of a tree which could be located at the junction of Bloxwich Lane and Wolverhampton Road.

This is an artists impression of what the final design maybe

The second is series of pavement plaques which could be incorporated into the shared footway through junction 10 for cyclists and pedestrians. The shared footway is part of an improved route for cyclists and pedestrians.

This is an artists impression of what the final design maybe

The plaques will represent four elements of Walsall’s heritage.

This is an artists impression of what the final design maybe

The third are 3D arrow cog arches which could be sited to mark the beginning of the improved none motorised user route.

This is an artists impression of what the final design maybe

The plan below shows the possible public art locations.

3.0 The School Workshops

The artist’s role will include working at the schools in five workshops with the children. The activity for each school is set out below:

Alumwell Infant School, Primley Avenue, Walsall

Inspired by Walsall Arboretum - 'Draw & make a vinyl leaf design’

The workshop is inspired by the present day nature and environment of Walsall Arboretum, a 170 acre Victorian public park located close to Walsall town centre.

Artwork produced by the children will be used to inform the design of a public art piece for incorporation into the M6 J10 Improvement Scheme. This could potentially be a lifesize 3D metal tree sculpture (subject to planning & manufacture requirement), manufactured in steel, with laser cut image/typographic detail. A synopsis of the Arboretum’s history will also be incorporated into the tree’s design in pictorial form by the project artist (Valerie Osment).

Pupils with design, draw and make ‘vinyl leaves’ to feature the many different elements that can be seen, heard and enjoyed on a visit to the Arboretum.

King Charles Primary School, Wilkes Avenue, Walsall

Inspired by The New Art Gallery Walsall - 'Design & Print a Circular Gallery Plaque’

The workshop is inspired by one of Walsall’s contemporary assets, “The New Art Gallery” Walsall & its environs.

Artwork produced by the children will be used to inform the design of a public art piece for incorporation into the M6 J10 Improvement Scheme. This is likely to be a set of relief sculpture pavement plaques, manufactured in a hard wearing material & installed into the new pedestrian/cycle route at a location to give the most visual impact (subject to planning & manufacture requirement).

Pupils will create, draw & print designs for a set of nine ‘Circular Gallery Plaques’. These will feature the many different elements about The New Art Gallery as well as the environment where it’s located, i.e. on ‘Gallery Square’ and overlooking Walsall Waterfront.

Alumwell Junior School, Primley Avenue, Walsall

Inspired by Walsall’s Leather Industry - 'Design & Illustrate a Ceramic Leatherworking Plaque’

The workshop is inspired by Walsall’s renowned leather industry, from its historical beginnings up to the present day.

Artwork produced by the children will be used to inform the design of a public art piece for incorporation into the M6 J10 Improvement Scheme. This is likely to be a set of relief sculpture pavement plaques manufactured in a hard wearing material & installed into the new pedestrian/cycle route at a location to give the most visual impact (subject to planning & manufacture requirement).

Pupils will design & illustrate a set of ‘Ceramic Leatherworking Plaques’. These will feature the many different aspects of Walsall’s Leather Industry.

Reedswood E-ACT Primary Academy, Bentley Drive, Walsall

Inspired by Walsall Canal and Sister Dora - 'Design & Paint a Walsall Canal Ware Art Plaque and Monoprint an Illustrative Sister Dora Plaque’

The workshop will be inspired by two themes:

Walsall’s Historic Canal: A narrow seven mile canal running through the industrial centre of the Black Country (Ryders Green Junction to Walsall Town Wharf. Part of Birmingham Canal Navigations). Opened in 1799, the canal’s history along with its recent restoration and revival will be included.

Sister Dora: 1832 (d.1878) Yorkshire born Dorothy Pattison was a 19th century Anglican nun who moved to Walsall in 1865 becoming the town’s nursing heroine. A contemporary of Florence Nightingale’s, she was Walsall’s own ‘lady with the lamp’ & remains a household name today, her legacy in the town visually prominent.

Artwork produced by the children will be used to inform the design of a public art piece for incorporation into the M6 J10 Improvement Scheme. This is intended to be two sets (one per theme above) of relief hard wearing material cast sculpture pavement plaques installed into the new pedestrian/cycle route at a location to give the most visual impact (subject to planning & manufacture requirement). Cast in a duo coloured hard wearing material combination for the canal & Sister Dora plaques.

Pupils will design & illustrate two sets of pavement plaques per theme above. The first set, ‘Walsall Canal Ware Art Plaques’ will be created in the traditional style of canal art featuring historic & contemporary aspects of Walsall Canal. The second set of ‘Illustrative Sister Dora Plaques’ will be realised in the style of a Victorian engraving to reflect the era of when Sister Dora lived & nursed in Walsall.

Bentley West Primary School, Monmouth Rd, Walsall

Inspired by ‘Walsall Trades Past and Present” - “Sculpt a ‘Made in Walsall Tool, Product or Image”

The workshop is inspired by Walsall’s history, from medieval times up to the present day, as a great manufacturing centre.

As well as the original mining industries of coal, limestone, ironstone & dolerite, Walsall has been home to a myriad of other industries over the last seven centuries giving it the nickname of ‘the town of one hundred trades’. These include: brick making; ironwork & other metalwork; leatherwork; lorinery; buckle-making; brewing; stainless steel manufacture; lithographic printing; clothing manufacture; brush making; electrical switch, socket and plug making as well as rope and tent making to name but a few of the well over ‘one hundred trades’.

Some have been then gone but many have diversified with the changing times of the 20th century and have continued to succeed.

Artwork produced by the children will be used to inform the design of a public art piece for incorporation into the M6 J10 Improvement Scheme. This is intended to be a series of connected/interlocking arrowed semi-circles (parodying a roundabout) cast in a hard wearing material that would emerge from and disappear into the ground.

To reflect the notion of ‘the cogs of industry’ and how industries work off one another especially when existing in the same locality, the edge of each semi-circle would be given a brief cog style patterning.

The surface of the arrow will feature raised relief images of tools and products relating to Walsall industries or trades. The names of the manufacturing companies along with where they are/were located will also be incorporated, portrayed in a traditional street name sign style.

4.0 Summary

The workshops with the schools are planned to take place in autumn 2017. The artist will then incorporate the children’s creations to further progress the designs for the art pieces.

If planning consent is granted for M6 Junction 10, the next step will be to investigate how the art pieces could be manufactured. Then the viability of each art piece will be investigated in line with the detailed design for the overall project.