A new pedestrian walkway connecting Brierley Hill High Street to the planned Midland Metro terminus in the town will open this week.

The linkway, which is called Lions Way, will lead from the High Street through to Little Cottage Street.

It brings back into use an eyesore gap which has lain derelict and overgrown since the historic buildings on the site were demolished 25 years ago. It will be open to the public at around lunchtime on Tuesday.

More than £9 million has already been invested in Brierley Hill through the Future High Street Fund and Brierley Hill High Street Heritage Action Zone.

There have been major improvements to the Civic Hall Green, Brierley Hill War Memorial, Brierley Hill Market and significant refurbishment work to Brierley Hill Library and the recently re-opened public toilets in Little Cottage Street.

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.

“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 £225,000 to fund the acquisition of the land and demolition on site.  Dudley Council, through the Future High Street Fund, provided the remaining £350,000 to lay out new natural stone paving and install planters, lighting and CCTV cameras at either end.

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

For more information on the regeneration projects in Brierley Hill, you can visit regeneratingdudley.org.uk.