MP calls town summit (From Stourbridge News)

MP calls town summit

2:00pm Tuesday 17th February 2009

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TOWN MP Lynda Waltho is inviting traders, residents and shoppers to an emergency summit to help get struggling Stourbridge back on track.

With the demise of Woolies and Adams having left a huge hole in The Ryemarket shopping centre and other businesses deciding to pull out of the town - the MP last month described Stourbridge as being in “terminal decline”.

So, together with the help of concerned News reader David Cox, she has decided to call a meeting for all the town’s key and interested stakeholders.

She said: “Problems have been steadily developing since long before I became the town’s MP in 2005, but there does seem to have been a marked deterioration in recent times - further highlighted by the economic downturn.

“There are, however, are many townspeople who have a tremendous pride in the town and are anxious to bring the heart back into it.”

The MP and Mr Cox, an assistant headteacher, are now hoping anyone concerned about the fate of Stourbridge will attend the meeting at St Thomas’s Church Hall, Market Street, Stourbridge, on Saturday February 28 (running from midday until 1.30pm) to air their views and help kick-start a positive turnabout for the town.

Lynda, whose own office at the now closed Stourbridge Labour Club in Hagley Road has also fallen victim to the credit crunch, added: “In a recent letter in the Stourbridge News, David Cox very eloquently expressed the thoughts and concerns of many townspeople. I happily give him my support for this very positive first step of a community initiative and would urge those who value Stourbridge to respond in a similar manner.”

David Cox said Stourbridge should be looking to thriving towns such as Ludlow for inspiration, encouraging more specialist shops to move in and working hard to improve the welcome it affords visitors.

Anyone wishing to get involved but unable to attend the meeting can call Lynda Waltho’s office on 01384 374356 or email lynda.waltho.org.uk or David Cox at oneheartoneway@hotmail.co.uk

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