Birmingham’s Highways Maintenance and Management Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme got underway last month. The scheme, delivered by Amey, who won the contract after a protracted bidding competition, will see major investment in Birmingham’s roads, footways, kerbs, street lights, traffic signals, bridges, tunnels, highway trees, road signs and subway pumping stations over the next 5 years. For most of us the most noticeable part of this will be the investment in the roads, all of which will be brought up to a good standard with the priority given to those in the worst condition.

 As part of the scheme, Amey will appoint 6 Highway Stewards – one for every two Constituencies (and one for Strategic Routes and the City Centre). Their job will be to get to know their locality and its needs. One issue that will be decided locally is the colour of the new street lights – there will be a choice between six colours (black, red, light green, grey, dark blue and dark green). We will even be able to specify other colours if we pick up the bill for the extra cost; I would find it hard to believe and constituency will see that as a priority for spending in the current environment. Personally I would prefer either dark or light green, but it will be interesting to see what others think.

The first part of the programme will run from now until 31 October and, for Acocks Green Ward, will deliver the resurfacing of the Warwick Road all the way from the Percy Road junction to the City boundary at its junction with Gospel Lane. In addition the following footways will be renewed:

• Haybrook Drive
• Hazeltree Croft
• Heathcliff Road
• Knight’s Road
• Oxford Road
• Rye Grove