MPs have spoken of their disappointment that Dudley has missed out on Levelling Up funding that could have seen four of the borough’s towns allocated £20million each for regeneration projects.

Bids were submitted to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) last year in the hope of securing £20m each for improvements in Lye, Brierley Hill, Dudley and Halesowen.

The borough’s MPs worked with Dudley Council to submit what were thought to be strong bids to make improvements in the towns but none of Dudley’s plans were among the successful 100-plus projects awarded a share of £2.1 billion in Round 2 of the government’s Levelling Up Fund, it was confirmed today (Thursday January 19).

There was dismay from Dudley’s MPs at the news although hope remains that further applications can be made for the next round of funding.

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Dudley South MP Mike Wood said he was “extremely disappointed” that Brierley Hill’s bid to create a new transport technologies education centre and new cycling and pedestrian links in the town, which had made the shortlist, was unsuccessful this time round.

But he said: “I will continue to work with the council and the Government to look at where the bid fell short this time, and make sure that our bid in the next round is as strong as it can be to give us the best possible chance of securing the money for these exciting projects.

“We have previously been successful in getting Towns Fund money for Dudley, Future High Streets Fund and heritage funding for Brierley Hill and £200million towards the Midlands Metro tram extension and the Levelling-Up Fund bids would help multiply the benefits from those projects.”

Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb was also upset at news to hear the bid to boost Lye’s fortunes had not been chosen.

It had included plans to make Lye Bypass two-way to reduce traffic in the High Street to improve air quality and pave the way for more footways and cycle routes including a better pedestrian connection from the train station to the High Street.

Ms Webb said: “It is very disappointing we have not secured this funding. It would have done a great deal to regenerate Lye.

“The challenge now is for the council and businesses to work together with my support to look at what can be done to improve Lye either through other funding streams, private/public partnerships, the West Midlands Mayor or by another application to the Levelling Up Fund.

“I stand ready to do all I can to make progress in any way that will help. I will be writing to the council to ask it to look at its bid and what can be improved with the ambition of applying to round 3 of the fund while looking at other options.”

Separate bids for regeneration projects in Dudley and Halesowen had included plans to redevelop long-standing vacant buildings in Dudley and revamp the town’s Inhedge Gardens, while in Halesowen there was a proposal to demolish the old Pool Road multi-storey car park and build a new state-of-the-art college campus to bring students into the town.