A £2 Million scheme to tackle parking problems near Stourbridge Junction have been delayed and have left nearby residents fuming. Residents living in Brook Road, Chawn Park Drive, Castle Grove and Lutley Road have complained for improvements on parking at Stourbridge Junction. Residents say that commuters continually park all day outside their homes, and claim that lives are being put at risk, as emergency service vehicles are unable to get into nearby streets, as they are clogged with parked cars and even residents driveways are constantly blocked.

CENTRO have purchased the nearby scrap yard, which was owned by Hewitt's, for development last year, and work was due to start on the Rufford Road site this month to build a 400-space car park and connecting footbridge to the station. The work has been delayed by months because CENTRO are still waiting for final permission to be agreed with Network Rail.

Residents have stated that cars are constantly parking over driveways, making it difficult to get out of, due to the little space they leave, and it has also been stated that both the nearby fire and ambulance stations use these nearby roads to get to jobs and are having a hard time getting through the parked traffic.

CENTRO spokesman, Mick Barton, said that while preliminary work would be taking place as planned, the main project would not begin until the summer.

Source: Express and Star, Monday 8 March 2004.