At this June’s Civic Society we heard Dudley Council’s conservation officer Jayne Pilkington and planning policy officer Dave Piper talk about proposed changes for the local listing of buildings. Concern was expressed about trees being damaged in Marsh Park and news was received regarding Brierley Hill in Bloom and the Christmas Festival.
A ‘STRIKING’ Brierley Hill war memorial has been given a prestigious Grade II listed heritage status.
I will be unlocking the secrets of Brierley Hill’s war memorial, telling the stories of some of the soldiers who never came home, and looking at the home front including recruitment, rationing, women’s employment, aliens and spies, the Quarry Bank riot and how to protect against Zeppelin attacks.
I’ve been to Symphony Hall, the NEC, The Albert Hall, West End theatres…all at great cost. Yet a £5 Black Country Folk, Food and Fun evening at St John’s Church Brockmoor gave me as much pleasure and enjoyment. I do hope these evening become a regular event.
Jayne Pilkington, Dudley Borough’s conservationist (a species in danger of extinction itself in this age of austerity) will be giving her perspective on the conservation of the borough’s heritage assets – a key concern in Brierley Hill area where several buildings are under threat. The meeting starts at 5.30pm on Monday 16th June at the grade 2 listed St Michael’s Church in Bell Street South. As always all are welcome to attend this event.
In 1944 Brierley Hill UDC published its ‘master plan’ for the future of the town. It gave the first recorded mention of the ‘new’ road for Brierley Hill – opened 64 years later as Venture Way, set out plans for new homes and a new Civic Centre. One has to wonder how influential the plan was in the development of the area, but followers of the current Brierley Hill Area Action Plan might feel that the picture of the plan does look strangely familiar!
Brierley Hill Community Forum was set up in 2003 to bring groups and individuals together to engage with the regeneration plans for the area and to add value to the splendid work already being undertaken for the benefit of Brierley Hill. After a successful period the Forum is now calling a meeting to consider its future.
Ten years of from acquiring Merry Hill from Chelsield, Westfield have sold their interest on to Intu. The centre will now be rebranded as Intu Merry Hill. It remains to be seen how this will impact on the regeneration plans for the area.
Brierley Hill Civic Society has unanimously backed local residents objecting to the Clean Power proposals for a waste to energy plant at Moor Street Brierley Hill. Amongst the reasons it gives are a large increase in heavy vehicles in the area, an over intensification of the site for waste management purposes (the area has already been blighted by the RDF wast mountain) and loss of amenity for residents living close to the site.
LABOUR Party members have selected Natasha Millward as their best chance of unseating Dudley South Tory MP Chris Kelly at the next General Election.