Brierley Hill Blogger – Page 5

Il Michelangelo shows Brierley Hill can attract quality businesses

Top class Brockmoor Italian restaurant Il Michelangelo is a good illustration of an entrepreneur meeting need in an under served market.

I first came across this concept when I had the pleasure of working with Bill Boler. Bill was my chair when I worked at Brierley Hill Regeneration partnership.

Bill Boler

An American, Bill had worked in Harlem, which was in need of regeneration. Yet businesses and investors perceived the area as poor and run down and that there was no market for their services.

Harlem’s need to bid for state funds made the situation worse. To win funds had to portray themselves in a very negative light. This in turn reinforced the negative perception which was doing so much damage.

One of Bill’s achievements was to challenge that perception and turn it around:

”I was trying to show them that from a market perspective Harlem wasn’t just poor black people, and that there’s a cash economy that’s not showing up on their studies.”

The community were asked which business they would most like there. “Blockbuster” was the answer. There was nowhere they could rent videos from.

Another key request was for a bank with cashpoint facilities.

Bill and his colleagues managed to persuade Blockbusters and the bank to invest.

It was a resounding success. Blockbuster found a ready market for their business. From installing one cash machine as an experiment the bank were soon convinced for the demand for more and provided them.

Success breeds success as Bill says:

“If you can engage the business community around their core business, you can then leverage regeneration benefits.

“The benefits of the branch were not just access to the bank, but jobs in the bank, and … the use of local contractors in building the facility. By being in the community and being part of it, they started to understand it more and actually made more loans in the neighbourhood.”

The Harlem initiative became identified as an under served market

The key lesson being that markets do exist if only businesses recognise it. When the latter invest it becomes a win-win for themselves and the local community.

Eventually Bill came to England to work at Business in the Community and to try to change attitudes to investing in under-served markets in the UK.

Which brings me back to Il Michelangelo in Brockmoor.

Whoever bought the old Commercial Inn recognised that there was a market locally for a good dining facility. Think about it. Where else in Brierley Hill is a quality restaurant?

By making the investment a success he has started the process of demonstrating that there is a potential profit to be made in Brierley Hill. It is a good town to invest in.

Il Michaelangelo

Il Michelangelo isn’t the only example either. There was great mirth when plans were announced in the early nineties to build the 4 star Copthorne Hotel.

”Ah the Copthorne… “ the joke went.

“Barcelona, Miami and Broierley Hill!”

How they laughed. Yet for years the Brierley Hill Copthorne was the most successful hotel in its group.

Brierley Hill has to change with the times. But it is a town which has a business market worhty of investment. Both business and the local community can be winners.

Perceptions need to change to achieve that. We need leaders with passion, vision and commitment to argue its case.

Il Michelangelo – a gem of a restaurant in Brockmoor

IlMichelangelo

Who would have believed that Brockmoor High Street, of all places, would be home to a high class Italian restaurant? Yet that is just what Il Michelangelo is. Situated in a converted pub on the corner of Cressett Lane it is also evidence that Brierley Hill is an underserved market with opportunities for businesses to invest – if only they can see the potential.

The Restaurant

Interior

The restaurant is well fitted out. Seating is comfortable and table arrangements are well done. I have always been welcomed warmly on arrival at the restaurant by a friendly and helpful host, happy to answer any questions. The service highly professional with well trained waiters and waitresses.

The Food

Food

The menu offers a range of Italian dishes. Special offers are available at lunch time Wednesday to Saturday and for early diners. The lunch menu custs just £8.95 for two courses. The Early Bird menu offers three courses for £12.95.

My wife and I ordered two courses each from the A la Carte menue with a glass of wine and our bill came to £31 which felt was good value. The food was freshly cooked, well presented and very tasty.

I am certainly happy to recommend the restaurant.

Here is the [review](http://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2012/10/08/il-michelangelo-brierley-hill/) from the Express and Star

The Plough – why planning applications don’t necessarily lead to developments

The Plough

It was good news that there seemed to be some movement on The Plough issue. Clearly the owners are thinking about ways of finding a new use for the building whilst recognising its historic value.

But there is always a need for caution when deal with planning applications though. Media sources often present planning applications as a hard and fast commitment to do something. It’s a bit more complicated than that.

Planning is part of a process in delivering a scheme.

A developer might test whether a new use of a building is acceptable before commiting addition resources to test other elements of the scheme – such as financial viability.

Others may be seeking planning permission to increase the value of their land holding before selling it on.

Or they may need to seek a partner to take on and operate the project.

All of these, and more, may present stumbling blocks to a plan coming to fruition.

The Plough application may well be approved. But there will still be a long way to go before we see the solution on the ground.

20 Days to Fight the Permit – SNOW Campaign Update by Tim Lee

Clean Power

Now that the Environment Agency have sent a circular letter to 700 families, it’s important for there to be a proper public response (else the EA will think no-one cares), so we now need to move with some speed.

This is particularly important, because we think the EA’s information sheet is misleading, by continually referring to plans for an “incinerator”, and virtually ignoring the fact that the plans include an anaerobic digester.

Individual letters of comments/protest to the Environment Agency need to be in by 20 July.

To update you on campaign plans:

Still under the SNOW* banner, we are calling this part of the campaign “20 Days to Fight the Permit”.
We will launch at the Community Forum this Tuesday (notice attached) – anyone can turn up to the Forum and raise questions of local importance, so we thought SNOW* should be there and ask a number of questions, perhaps on the following lines:

a. are the Council aware that residents’ opposition to the plans for the waste site are as strong as ever?

b. will the Council be making comments and representation to the EA. If so, will residents be able to see the draft proposals and provide input?

c. SNOW is today launching its “20 Days to Fight the Permit” campaign, which includes:
* ensuring residents understand Clean Power’s plans have not changed
* collecting letters signed by local residents
* distributing posters
* a petition

can Councillors confirm they support the campaign, and what support can they provide?

d. do Councillors have any further plans to oppose this development?

I can’t make that particular meeting, but it would be really helpful if as many as possible (at such short notice) could be there – Cllr. Rachel Harris will be there – could one or two volunteer to ask the questions?

Getting signatures

I’ve drafted a letter of objection for individuals and families to sign, and Lorna has volunteered to liaise to organise the deliveries/collections of signed letters. We have a database of core supporters, and we can concentrate on those, and, perhaps, ask them to see if they could get signatures from neighbours and friends, to “cascade” the effort. We can also deliver an update newsletter, making it clear that CP’s plans have not changed.

We’ll get things under way by mid week.

Rachel will have a word with the Indoor Market to see whether they might agree to help as before.

I know that some of us are on holiday about this time, so anyone knows anyone else willing to lend a hand please email/telephone me/Lorna (01384 936 652).

Just to confirm, we need to get the letters to the EA by 20 July, so target date is Friday 18 July – time’s limited, but we’re used to that!

Tim Lee
SNOW* Spokesperson

Website: http://www.brierleyhillsnow.info/
Twitter: @BrierleyHillSNO
Facebook: BrierleyHillSnow

Lawyers Field – pedestrain access from Church Street could be reopened, although ‘no funds’ for repair

Lawyers Field
Lawyer’s field, complete with paddling pool and swing, in happier times (embedded Dudley Archives Photo)

Lawers Field today
The same view today – entrance blocked off with eyesore fencing

The ugly fencing which is preventing access to Lawyer’s Field from Church Street might be adjusted to allow pedestrian access, although council officials say there is not enough money to effect necessary repairs at the present time.

Fifteen months ago, in May 2013, Highway engineers briefed local councillors on the issue:

During a routine inspection of the highway by Highway Maintenance Inspectors it was observed that part of the footway in Church Street was collapsing into a void.

An inspection of the site by Highway Structures revealed that the stone retaining wall supporting the highway was partially collapsed and in a poor condition.

During the inspection it was observed that the brick retaining wall supporting the footpath into the playing field site was also badly cracked and in need of remedial works.

As an emergency measure the section of footpath, affected by the wall, in Church Street was fenced off and the pedestrian access to the playing fields was closed to safeguard the public whilst the problem is rectified.

When asked about progress last week engineers said:

A preliminary design has been looked at however at this stage funds for any remedial works are not yet available and therefore we are monitoring the safety related protective works until a decision is made on how to correct this situation.

Of course to establish whether funds being available requires looking at what else is on the ‘priorities’ list and assessing the scheme against that. Hopefully councillors will press to get this eyesore addressed and restore this important access point to the park.

On which point there is some potential good news. Following on from the email the parks department have requensted that on the next scheduled inspection the engineer will consider if there is scope to open up for pedestrian use only. At least this would be a step forward.

Litter strewn eyesore

Litter strewn, ugly and no public access from Church Street – Lawyer’s Field as it is today

What future for the Moor Centre as another store pulls out?

Moor Centre

I heard on the Brierley Hill grapevine yesterday that Greggs is to pull out of the Moor Centre, and that Superdrug are considering a move too.

This appears to be another in a long line of blows to the centre.

Of course there are some things the Moor Centre owners have no control over – such as the closure of Woolworths and Peacocks.

But earlier this year Boots announced they were moving from their unit and establishing a presence in Albion Street.

The Post Office has moved onto the High Street. One reason given was that they couldn’t persuade the owners to give them a longer term lease.

Then the former bowling alley, long on the market as available for short term rent, is now being marketed for sale.

The Old New Inn, part of the conservation area, remains empty and boarded up. The Red Lion is on the market.

Old New Inn

So what is going on?

The baseline study for Brierley Hill’s Area Action Plan published in November 2009, extracts of which are given below, described the then intentions of the owners, Brierley Hill Estates, to develop a Tesco store on the site together with housing. Land assembly, essential for the success of the scheme, was taking place.

Since then Tesco have changed their strategy and the Moor Centre proposal fell through two years ago. Hence the bowling alley appearing to be for sale.

It would seem that the plan may still be to redevelop the Moor Centre with a smaller scheme (hence the refusal to offer longer term leases), and to dispose of the other buildings in the area.

However, whilst all of this is going on Brierley Hill continues to suffer.

The Brierley Hill Area Action Plan baseline evidence on the Moor Centre – November 2009:

16.9 This site currently houses the Moor Centre (shopping centre), shops and other A2-A5 premises on the High Street frontage, a Mecca Bingo, Megabowl and surface level car parking

16.10 A representation was received at Issues and Options stage on behalf of Brierley Hill Estates Limited who own this site. The representation sought the recognition and allocation of this site for 6,500m2 gross comparison retail, 10,000m2 gross convenience retail, housing, leisure and multi-level car parking. A supplementary representation was subsequently received confirming the deliverability of this allocation and the site owners commitment to it. The following points were made within that representation:

Brierley Hill Estates Limited have owned the centre for 3 years, and have invested their own cash, to improve the retail offer in the centre. This includes the investment of over £250,000 to facilitate the introduction of a new Woolworths store to anchor the northeast corner of the centre.

Brierley Hill Estates Limited believe that an extension to the Moor Centre is economically viable and deliverable in the short term and that it will greatly improve the shopping facilities and the regeneration of Brierley Hill town centre.

Brierley Hill Estates Limited own a large part of the site on which the extension would be developed. They require only 2 other freehold ownerships in order to acquire a site large enough for a substantial redevelopment and discussions are ongoing with the owners of those 2 sites. It is most unlikely that either of those 2 parties would have the commercial incentive to undertake a development themselves, and they have not shown any intention to do so.

In the absence of a redevelopment of the site, it is likely that the Megabowl unit will remain vacant, leaving a 1980’s eyesore to continue to blight Brierley Hill town centre. A major opportunity to regenerate this sector of Brierley Hill town centre will have been missed.

Brierley Hill Estates Limited are in discussion with a major anchor tenant, have appointed architects and a professional team and have submitted representations to the Issues and Options Report for the Brierley Hill Area Action Plan, again underlining their commitment to the site.

16.11 An initial set of plans were prepared for the site demonstrating how the proposed floorspace could be accommodated and the agents acting on behalf of Brierley Hill Estates Limited sought pre-application advice from the Council in meetings in 2007 to address issues such as urban design, parking and access.

16.12 Brierley Hill Estates continued discussions with the Council through 2008 and 2009. In 2009, discussions were also held with Tesco in relation to this site. The latest correspondence from Brierley Hill Estates reaffirms their commitment to the redevelopment of the site and clarifies that they require 3000m2 net convenience floorspace to make a comprehensive redevelopment scheme viable.

16.13 The Council agree that a redevelopment scheme here would improve the vitality and viability of the High Street. It will provide a shopping anchor at the south of the High Street which will complement the development of Block BR20 which will provide the retail anchor at the north of the High Street. The Moor Centre also benefits from a good position near to the proposed Metro terminus and Brierley Place.

Plan submitted to turn The Plough into flats. What do you think?

The Plough

The owners of the locally listed Plough, Church Street, Brierley Hill have submitted a planning application to convert the nearly derelict building into four flats.

The building’s owners, Danbury Associates Ltd, Co Fermanagh, Ireland, submitted the application on 23rd May and it was registered on 13th June. The Planning Application Reference is P14/0789 and you can view it by clicking the link.

From a heritage point of view the plan would see the building renovated with its historic frontage remaining as it is now (see plan below).

This would seem to be a positive step to find a new use for a historic building whilst preserving some of its features. What do you think?

The Plour Proposal

@MikeCrannage – Brierley Hill’s own Crocodile Dundee gets me thinking about the flats

Mike Crannage

It was good to bump into Mike Crannage at last night’s Dudley Voice for Choices launch. Mike is the mayor’s attendant and so I know him from my Dudley Council days. You may have read about Mike before for such activities as shrugging off venomous snake bites and scaling volcanos whilst crossing the Costa Rican jungle or racing 155 miles through the Sahara desert or braving “driving winds and temperatures of minus 30 degrees celsius hiking across the frozen wastelands of the Arctic.”

But what I hadn’t realised about this contemporary Crocodile Dundee is that he is a Brierley Hill man: born in the Delph. So inevitably we fell into conversation of Mike’s childhood.

Mike remembers seeing the Chapel Street flats being built in the mid-sixties and his family were the first occupants of a third floor flat at Chapel Court.

Over the years I’ve heard many negative comments about Chapel Street. Even from the beginning they were controversial – with the decision to build flats rather than houses being taken on the casting vote of the then chairman of Brierley Hill Council, Tommy Wells.

Mike had a different perspective:

“We were really looking forward to moving. The flats were much better than what we were living in.”

and added

“It was interesting when the ice cream van came though. We’d shout up to mum for some money. By the time the coin she threw down landed it was going as fast as a bullet!”

The conversaton with Mike got me thinking.

I’ve heard other positive stories about living in the flats too.

Cllr Margaret Wilson lived in Burnham Court and then for many years at the top of Chapel Court. She loved living in the flats and would wax lyrical on the expcetional and breathtaking views she enjoyed.

This isn’t to be naïve on the issue. Of course there are problems with High Rise living.

But I wonder how many of these are attitudinal, and not just amongst tenants either.

When I was elected as a councillor (in 1983) I wanted to promote more engagement between the local authority and the local community. It was therefore a pleasure to be involved with was the forming of Nine Locks Community Association.

The residents were keen to improve the estate. They made a suggestion. Would it be possible to have maps erected so visitors could find the address they were looking for instead of having to go from block to block searching for the right one?

When I put this highly reasonable and, I felt, sensible request to the housing manager he was unequivocal.

“No. They will just be vandalised.”

To my horror he then continued:

“I tell you what I am willing to do though. Put steel doors on the entrances.”

I was horrified. This would be the very worst thing to do.

Fortunately the director of housing, Mike Summerfield was much more enlightened and, over the years. a lot of good work was done to involve tenants and improve the area. But the bad attitude and perception displayed by the housing manager could have resulted in a catasrophic no-go area being created.

Postcript

There’s something about blogging about Brierley Hill.

After writing that first paragraph about Mike’s tremendous and amazing achievements in the Sahara, the jungle and the artic – which have raised thousands of pounds for charity – I started the second paragraph with:

“But the interesting thing is Mike was born in Brierley Hill and brought up in the flats…”

What? As if being born in Brierley Hill was more interesting than Mike’s achievements!!!!

Sometimes I feel I need to get a life 🙂

Dudley Voices for Choice – giving people with learning diabilities a voice – #DVClaunch

Launch Event

Last night I went to the ‘launch’ event of Dudley Voices for Choice at the David Lloyd Centre, Brierley Hill. I put ‘launch’ in inverted commas as they have actually been around for over a decade now. But last night was a celebration of the next stage of their development – the award of charitable status.

I had been invited by Rachael and Tina who I had met at the WeLoveCarers awards a week or so back.

Once again it was an inspiration.

DVC work with people with learning disabilities to give make sure their voice is heard when decisions are being made which affect them. Importantly they also employ people with learning disabilities and autism to deliver their training too – making sure they get paid for their work.

What made the launch special was that it was, fittingly, the users of the service themselves who told the story of the evolution of Dudley Voices for Choice. DVC has supported them in getting involved in many fora where their voice can get heard. It had helped them too when they had wanted to demonstrate against the closure of day centres in the borough.

On a individual perspective, Rachael told her story of having a total lack of confidence, how she had turned up at DVC sessions and how now she was lecturing herself, helping others to understand the challenges faced by those with learning disabilities. It was a shining example of success, and it was almost impossible to believe, listening to her, that Rachael had ever lacked in confidence.

The event made me appreciate four things in particular:

How much potential there is in every person if only a route can be found to release it.
How much we should appreciate and support organisations, like this one, that can change lives for the better.
Those with learning needs are people too. Of course they are. They have the same emotions, the same needs, the same hopes and the same dreams as we all do. They should have the right to have a say on decisions which affect them too. All credit to DVC for giving them the means to have that voice.
How much courage it takes to stand up and address an audience of well over a hundred. Particularly when you have learning difficulties. Yet the young service users of DVC did this highly effectively and with determination.

It was very kind of Rachel and Tina to invite me to the event. I do hope that DVC goes from strength to strength. It a valuable service which deserves success.

Postscript

Lacking in confidence? After the formalities Rachael asked me to dance. I NEVER dance. Yet I couldn’t resist her request so charmingly put was it.

Lacking in confidence? Nah!

Brierley Hill listed ghost pub facing dereliction crisis

Pushing open the unsecured door of The Plough in Church Street highlighted the sad state of this locally listed building. Despite its dereliction the rooms were still atmospheric as if haunted by the ghosts of past drinkers who still haunt their favourite venue. I remember it as a popular Simpkiss pub with a roaring fire. The local authority are pursuing the owners who are located in Ireland to persuade them to repair this historic building.

The sales cataloge from 1926 has this description:

“PLOUGH INN, Church Street ….. beerhouse on. Under management. A well erected double fronted property immediately adjoining the brewery, conveniently arranged for the trade, in a good class district on the main road just off the centre of town. The accommodation includes :- Smoke Room (front), Tap Room (front), Kitchen: Private Sitting Room. Two Cellars. Three Bedrooms. Bath Room. WC and Club Room. In a fully paved enclosed yard, with separate approach from Derry Street, is Scullery, Coal Place, Urinal and WC. The property is entirely self-contained and Electric Light is installed. Licence £13. Compensation Fund Levy £3. Rated with brewery”

Sale catalogue 23rd March 1926 – courtesy Hitchmoughs Black Country Pubs.

The Bar

Entry door to bar