WORK to create a ‘vital’ pedestrian link off Brierley Hill High Street to the forthcoming Metro line has got underway.

The walkway, which will be called Lions Way, will create a new link between the High Street and Little Cottage Street, the site of the planned Midland Metro terminus.

As well as connecting the High Street to Little Cottage Street, and to the planned Metro extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, it will turn an unsightly vacant gap site into positive use.

The site, between shops, is currently overgrown after demolition around 24 years ago, and has since become a target for fly-tipping.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “This is the latest in a list of investments we have made in Brierley Hill and we are starting to see the positive benefits of that.

“Lions Way is a vital connection between two important areas of the high street which will be opened up for the first time in years. When it is complete the linkway will provide a huge boost to local businesses, students, residents and shoppers accessing vital transport links in the future.”

West Midlands Combined Authority provided £145,000 to fund the acquisition of the land and demolition on site. Dudley Council, through the Future High Street Fund, is providing the remaining £350,000 to lay out new permeable paving, erection of new boundary treatment, installation of planters and lighting.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chairperson, said: “The future is looking bright for Brierley Hill High Street with funding now secured to bring Metro trams to its doorstep as well as the council’s ongoing £5m regeneration scheme.

“I’m pleased we have also been able to make money available for this convenient and quick walking route between the forthcoming Metro stop and the High Street. It’s great news for visitors and traders alike.”

The name Lions Way is nod to the Brierley Hill Alliance football club ground which used to be in Little Cottage Street which has a lion as its club emblem. The club played on the site (which is now the Asda car park) from 1888 to 1977.

The walkway is expected to open in the summer.

More than £5million has been invested in Brierley Hill through the Future High Street Fund and Brierley Hill High Street Heritage Action Zone to help fund improvements to the Civic Hall Green, Brierley Hill War Memorial, Brierley Hill Library and to help re-open public toilets in Little Cottage Street.

Work to revamp the High Street is now nearing completion with new bus shelters, planters, paving, bins, benches and street trees added in recent weeks and proposed road resurfacing, signing, lining and signal loop replacement scheduled to take place in early April.

There has also been work taking place on neighbouring streets to improve access to the town centre.

Work to give two important heritage assets - Brierley Hill Institute in Moor Street and Brierley Hill indoor market - a major overhaul has also got underway.