Area Committee: Council and Centro investigating new bus routes on Venture Way

From Brierley Hill Area Committee: In response to a written question in relation to the accessibility from the Brierley Hill Town Centre to the Health and Adult Social Care Centre in Venture Way, Brierley Hill, the Area Liaison Officer indicated that an investigation would be undertaken in conjunction with Centro in relation to the possibility of providing a bus service to service the above location and would respond direct to the questioner and Members. Continue reading Area Committee: Council and Centro investigating new bus routes on Venture Way

Russells Hall parking: new controls to ease problems for residents

From Brierley Hill Area Committee: Concerns have been raised about the amount of both patients and hospital staff members choosing to park on the carriageway and footway in streets around Russells Hall Hospital. This parking obstructs the movement of both motorists and pedestrians, and prevents vehicle access to driveways. It also causes great difficulties for bus services in the area.

The following Traffic Regulations Orders (TROs) have been publicly advertised to seek observation: (plans shown in Appendix A). Continue reading Russells Hall parking: new controls to ease problems for residents

Brierley Hill Library to close for five weeks

Brierley Hill Library is expected to close for five weeks from early April to allow for physical alterations and improvements to take place.

Local councillor Rachel Harris told a meeting of the town’s Civic Society that the council’s housing advice service together with the local Citizens Advice Bureau would be sharing the High Street Building.  Alterations to allow this to take place will also mean a new lift will be installed.  Library users will also be able to use a self service checking in and out service when the building reopens.

“Hopefully this will be a positive move which will help to increase the footfall to the shops in the town”

Planning inspector’s report on Brierley Hill published

The report of the planning inspector, Vincent Maher, has been published and is overwhelmingly supportive of the Brierley Hill Area Action Plan, but deletes references to ‘strategic wildlife corridors’ to replace them with ‘wildlife corridors’ in order to make the policy easier to understand and adds in a paragraph that developers must take account of the possible potential of coal extraction as part of their plans.

Key tasks prior to major development remain the introduction of a car park charging regime at Merry Hill and the introduction of improvements in public transport and surely the focus will now shift to moving ahead on these initiatives now.

You can read the inspectors report below. Continue reading Planning inspector’s report on Brierley Hill published

After 17 years…Brierley Hill Area Action Plan approved!

Dudley Council’s Brierley Hill Area Action Plan, which will help steer investment into the town and shape future planning applications through th 2026, has now won the approval of the Secretary of State.

The 15-year plan sets out proposals for nearly 3,000 new homes and 65,000 square metres of extra retail space in the town centre.

It also promotes the development of office space in the area and includes proposals to integrate it with a new improved public transport system.

Councillor Les Jones, Dudley’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “This is a huge step in the right direction to seeing our vision for Brierley Hill come to fruition.

“We are very excited about the action plan as it is essentially a £1.5 billion investment plan for the area. It will guide future investment and help determine planning applications in the Brierley Hill area over the next 15 years.

“These ambitious development plans will create new homes, shops and office space in Brierley Hill and will also ensure a strong environmental link to development by opening up and providing green spaces in the area.

“Now that the plan has been approved we will look to adopt it formally through the council’s cabinet and full council meetings in June.”

The plan went out to the public before going to the Planning Inspectorate in December.

It will now form part of the council’s development plans.

Meanwhile area action plans for Stourbridge and Halesowen are currently being developed by the council’s planning policy team.

 

Remembering Round Oak Steelworks

Thursday 10th March saw a coming together of former Round Oak workers to share memories, listen to poetry and stories and to view the Round Oak exhibition at the Artspace shop in Mill Street Brierley Hill.

Brendan Hawthorne, Black Country poet read inspiring, moving and humorous poetry based around work, life and characters in the Black Country over the last fifty years.

The attendees were the treated to some recorded stories (to be archived for future generations to hear what it was like to work in the area) from ex workers at the large steel making plant.

The Blue Brick, Tandys, The Miners were all well frequented by the steel workers – and beer had been brought in daily to quench the thirst of those working in the dust, grime and heat of the furnances.  A queue of lorries would be forever waiting to deliver or pick up steel at the works (see congestion even then!) but ‘…the queue of wives on a Friday waiting to pick up their husbands wages was even longer’.

Nick names were the norm and many friendships were remembered…”…it was like being part of one big family where everyone looked out for each other.”  Humour was everywhere and there were tales of mischief amongst the staff.  I wonder if the management ever knew about the cricket playing in the company’s laboratory (sorry about the broken door)?

Borough artist Steve Field talked about the proposed Round Oak memorial.  His project proposals were warmly received and some suggestions to make it even better – by including reference to the rolling mills – were made.

Thanks to Suzanne Cartwright from English Heritage, Brendan Hawthorne, Steve Field and the workers from Round Oak for a tremendous evening.  Thanks too to Tata steel for sponsoring the event.

Mill Street ‘No Entry’ signs taken down

Following a review of the one way system along Mill Street from Venture Way to the town centre, the ‘no entry’ signs are being removed.  Motorists were confused that they were allowed into the first few metres of Mill Street from this junction, but then had to turn into the car park when the road turned to a bus lane.  They will now be able to drive through to the High Street.

Invitation to historic foundry workers

Former workers from a famous Brierley Hill steel plant are invited to a reunion and exhibition celebrating the firm’s history.

Dudley Council has organised the Round Oak Remembered event at Dudley Museum and Art Gallery, St. Jamess Road, on December 11, from 11.30am.

The event is open to anyone who worked at the Round Oak Steel Works before it closed in 1982, and will include an exhibition of paintings by Ray Jones and Philip Adams, a unique 1960s film made by David Vale and also photographs, historical documents and memorabilia.

There will also be sketches for a proposed memorial. Guests will also have an opportunity to see the 80th anniversary exhibition of the Dudley Society of Artists.

Councillor David Stanley, cabinet member for environment and culture, said: “There is so much history to the Round Oak Steel Works and the generations of families who worked there. This event is about celebrating the work and the impact on the Dudley borough as well as giving workers the chance to catch up.”

The event is sponsored by Tata Steel Distribution Round Oak Rail who still occupy a part of the site. Former workers are asked to call 01384 815575 to confirm attendance. Parking is available in Priory Road.

via Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council – 1 – Invite to historic foundry workers.