PREPARATORY work to progress the long proposed extension of the Midland Metro from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill was getting underway this week.

Working on behalf of the new West Midlands Combined Authority, the Midland Metro Alliance is beginning to clear vegetation from overgrown areas of the disused former South Staffordshire Railway line to carry out comprehensive structural and environmental surveys for the route which will be 6.8 miles long.

The extension, which will have 17 stops, will branch off from the east of the existing depot at Wednesbury and go via Dudley town centre and Merry Hill - terminating at Brierley Hill.

Clearing the vegetation in Wednesbury and Tipton is expected to take two weeks and all residents and businesses likely to be directly affected by the works have been informed they are taking place.

Construction of the route itself is not expected to start until 2019 - opening for passenger services in 2023.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, lead member for transport for the combined authority which owns the Midland Metro, said: “Whilst this is not the formal start of work on the extension it is the first step towards it.

"There is a lot of work still to be done but once it is complete the Black Country and wider region will reap the economic rewards of having an extended modern tram system running through it.”

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley's cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: “We’ve been working hard with partners to make this project happen as we are set to benefit significantly when the Metro rolls in.

"The improved transport links will create huge opportunities for jobs and tourism in the area. Therefore it’s great to see the project moving in the right direction and a commitment from all involved.”

Alejandro Moreno, director Midland Metro Alliance - which is a team of planning, design and construction specialists building a number of tram extensions, said: “We are very excited to begin work on this key route but before we can begin construction we do need to carry out some preparatory work to decide what further works are required to prepare for construction.”

Dudley South MP Mike Wood, who lobbied George Osborne to included government funding for the extension as part of the West Midlands devolution deal, said it was "fantastic news" that work was getting underway and he added: "People in Dudley have been waiting 30 years for this tram line.

"It will make a big difference for local residents and businesses, connecting Brierley Hill and the Waterfront to Dudley and to Birmingham, and will help to attract further jobs and investment to our community.

"I was delighted the then-Chancellor met with me and agreed to fund this extension and am now pushing the new Chancellor to 'complete the loop' by continuing the line through to Stourbridge Junction train station."