I am writing to provide formal priority support to Dudley Council’s bid for Lye in Round Two of the Levelling Up Fund.
The bid, if successful, would be truly transformative. As someone said to me when they saw the bid “If this isn’t levelling up, I don’t know what is”. I could not agree more.
Lye is currently not in a good place; it is run down and neglected due to years of under investment. Many residents have long given up on the town as they do not see any future or opportunity for their children or grandchildren, they do not see it as destination of choice.
But this bid creates opportunity. It puts people at its very heart. It puts in the building blocks that will create a sense of place and instil local pride in the area. Both will act as a catalyst for change and bring the much-needed long term private investment into the area.
The submission’s proposals are designed to radically change local transport, revitalise Lye and make Lye a more attractive area to live, work, and visit.
Furthermore, the proposed housing developments can reinvigorate the area by attracting new people to live in Lye and encouraging residents, particularly young people, to stay in the area.
The bid’s proposal to remediate brownfield sites and deliver new homes is sustainable and ensures that the local green spaces are protected. This new housing offer will help foster a sense of pride among the people of Lye in their community. There is no doubt in my mind this will have a snowball effect by invigorating the area and, crucially, the high street.
Importantly, the transport improvements have the scope to improve Lye’s connectivity with the wider West Midlands, bringing residents closer to work opportunities across the region. Local businesses are sure to benefit and there will be a boost to the local economy.
The bid contains the much-needed high impact plan to make the bypass in the town two-way and improve junctions along the A4036. This will put right the previous planning mistake to build the by-pass in the first instance. A by-pass which has blighted the area and contributed significantly to the decline of this historic town.
I end as I began, if this is bid is not levelling up, then I do not know what is.
I therefore give it my full endorsement.
