Withdrawal or delay of Metro extension likely

THE Metro line extension between Dudley Town Centre and Brierley Hill could be in trouble as Dudley Council scrambles to secure funding to continue the project.

A delay or withdrawal of the scheme is now “very likely”– according to the latest council risk report.

The report also says that there will be “significant implications” for a number of plans and investment strategies as well as “huge consequences” for the regeneration of the borough.

Councillors say ballooning costs and difficulties in securing additional funding have meant that there is now an “extreme likelihood” that the metro project could be delayed or scrapped.

The news mirrors fears raised by Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council who said “the truth is the council does not have the money” to continue the project.

But Dudley Council has said it is determined to finish the project as it scrambles to identify alternative funding sources which will be presented to the WMCA in January 2023.

Cllr Simon Phipps Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise said: “We remain committed to seeing the extension of the metro through to Brierley Hill. It’s been our ambition from the start and we will continue to work with the WMCA on securing the necessary funding to see this project through to completion.”

Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority said construction of phase one of the scheme, connecting Dudley town centre to Wednesbury, is already under way.

But to find extra money to complete the project, Mr Street outlined three potential funding options for the scheme.

He said: “The funding that was originally granted by the government is still there and that, plus some local funding, is sufficient to build the line from Wednesbury to Dudley.

“It is happening and it should open in 2024, our message to the contractor is full steam ahead, the quicker we go the less the thing will cost.

“Where the challenge exists is the Dudley to Brierley Hill section. Obviously, there has been inflation in the cost of building the line but the primary issue is that the total project was funded against the fares we were expecting in the future, and more importantly, the profit we were expecting in the future.

“If the profit is likely to be less, we have got less money to invest in the building.”