February 29th – I left work in the light, which steadily faded as I approached Walsall. Another lovely sunset was trying to grab the Black Country’s attention. The trouble with good urban sunsets is finding the right view to set them off. Just as I turned into Scarborough Road in Pleck, I glanced over the canal bridge wall. Beautiful.
December 6th – In contrast to The Butts, which I featured a few days ago, this part of Scarborough Road in Pleck, south west Walsall, is a classic interwar estate of council houses. Built well in the days when slum clearances were just starting, these were good quality homes, built to last. Few now remain in social ownership, but the wide open street lined with trees belie a social dream that endures. I cycle this road often; it provides a viable, alternative route to the busy Pleck Road that runs parallel. On this cold, winters morning, just like in The Butts, life rumbles on; in defiance of all common sense a proud owner was washing his car, music played and neighbours chatted. All of life is here.
Sadly, I left my camera at work, so this is the only photo for today, sorry.
July 18th – * bonus muppet * (actually filmed on Monday 11th of July, but forgotten) – This just defies any explanation. Scarborough Road, Walsall, about 10am. The day is clear and sunny. Visibility is good. Driver made eye contact with me initially, and just ploughed on. I think she was half asleep, or just plan stupid. Half of me laughed at her, and the other half was horrified.
May 25th – Back to Walsall. On my way into Bilston, I travel, as I often do, down Scarborough Road, Pleck. The surface of this road has been terrible for ages, and following complaints most of it has now been patched up, even though I was recently told by a Walsall Highway engineer that surveyors ’…Didn’t consider it dangerous’. I thank the council for sorting it.
Oddly, the last hundred yards or so – containing the most hazardous potholes – remains untouched, though clearly marked for repair. This loose gravel is a danger to all traffic, but to anyone on two wheels – motorised or otherwise – it’s deadly. Motorcyclists christen this loose detritus ‘marbles’ due to it’s slippery, destabilising effect, and it’s a real pain. This needs fixing. It’s time all road engineers woke up to this hazard.
Perhaps the permanently parked vehicles have been in the way, but I wish it could be sorted.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 