The glorious 12th…12th of June that is. The day that the Brierley Hill in Bloom flowers were planted in their containers on the High Street. The sun shone, people smiled, traders took photos, students prided in their work- quite right too. One admirer said: “…it looks like someone cares…”. Other comments made me think: we are also a town which needs to believe in itself, both as individuals and as a community.
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.
Brierley Hill’s Neighbourhood Learning Centre has come up with another cracking event for everyone who loves Brierley Hill. From 6 until 8pm on Wednesday 18th June at Insight House, Pearson Street, you are invited to join in an evening of reminiscence and memory sharing. Bring along any information and stories of living in Brierley Hill. The evening includes an audio visual presentation on historical aspects of Brierley Hill.
The Storehouse, a new community venue, is holding an open day on Saturday 21st June 2014. Visitors will be able to view the Albion Street facility and take part in fund activities.
Although they have withdrawn from the Planning Inquiry it appears that Clean Power have not given up their attempt to develop a waste disposal site on Moor Street but are now trying a different route…including hazardous waste.
The loan of a photograph has prompted Terry Church to recall the accession of Queen Elizabeth in 1952. The photographs shows children from Brierley Hill Grammar School in front of the old town hall. Terry recognises one or two of the characters in the photograph. Can you help identify the others?
A second painting, given to the people of Brierley Hill in memory of one of its fallen in the Great War, is now in a perilous state in the town’s library.
A painting of Brierley Hill war hero Sgt William Jordan rescuing a wounded colleague has gone missing from Brierley Hill library. Sgt Jordan lived in Campbell Street, Brockmoor, an area of which he was hugely proud. He killed on the opening day of the Battle of Loos on 25th September 1915 and the painting, by award winning artist Francis Gibbons, was presented to Brierley Hill Council in 1917. Archivists in Dudley are now being asked to help find the irreplaceable work of art.
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!
On 17th June the planning inspectorate will be conducting an appeal hearing into ‘Clean Power’ proposals to build a further waste site in Brierley Hill. Local environmental group SNOW are calling a public meeting on 4th June at 7pm at Hawbush School to update residents and plan for the appeal.