The long awaited makeover of Stourbridge's notorious Foster Street subway could start before the end of the month (June 2005), it has been revealed.

The £70,000 revamp of the underpass will include installing eight new CCTV cameras, panic buttons, new flooring and lighting.

The project funded by Dudley Council and transport body CENTRO, will include painting the walls, painting the ceiling and improving drainage to get rid of smells. Hundreds of residents have been calling for action on the subway for years.

Stourbridge Township Chairman Margaret Scott said work on the subway, which links the town with the bus station, could start soon. "We have been told by Dudley Council that the work will start in the next few weeks. It has been a long time coming but there is a lot of money being put into the project."

The Foster Street subway became notorious after pensioner Trudy Curnin was viciously mugged there two years ago. Since then the 89-year-old has been campaigning for the subway to be closed, and for a link to the bus station with a pedestrian crossing to be installed to replace it.

This report was featured in the Express and Star, Thursday 09 June 2005.