Stourbridge summit hailed a success (From Stourbridge News)

Stourbridge summit hailed a success

12:39pm Monday 2nd March 2009

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SHOPPERS, residents, traders and councillors turned out in force to an emergency summit called by Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho to help breathe life back into the depleted town.

Lynda organised the meeting at St Thomas’s Church Hall after being contacted by concerned News reader David Cox, who made a desperate plea for help to revive struggling Stourbridge in the wake of the closures of Woolies and Adams and a host of smaller shops.

Up to around 80 people turned out to the first summit - on Saturday February 28 - and the MP and Mr Cox have hailed it a positive step forward.

Mr Cox, a Stourbridge based deputy headteacher, said: “It was an excellent turnout, we covered a wide range of issues and this is a good opportunity to get the green shoots growing.”

Lynda said: "It was a fantastic turn out of townspeople, stakeholders and business people all with something to say and something to contribute - and it was very obvious there is a great love and commitment from locals for the future of the town.

“There were some excellent ideas and practical solutions suggested for some age-old problems in Stourbridge.”

The meeting heard the number of empty units in Stourbridge has rocketed to 16 per cent - while neighbouring Wollaston village has just six per cent of empty outlets.

But ideas by Stourbridge College principal Lynette Cutting to turn some of the empty shops into display units for arty college students to exhibit their work in - or even host college courses in - was greeted positively.

As were transport plans - talked about by businessman John Parry, who ultimately wants to see his revolutionary gas-powered tram ferrying passengers from Stourbridge Junction directly into the town.

Moves by newly-formed environmental group Transition Stourbridge to encourage people to become more eco-aware were also well received, as was Centro’s project to revamp the town’s bus and train station over the next 18 months.

A follow-up meeting is now on the cards to decide how to advance some of the ideas discussed.

Lynda added: “For my own part, I have committed to taking on some of the funding issues that were raised.

“I do hope he town centre manager will be able to work alongside my constituents to incorporate some of their ideas and help feed them into local plans and policies.

“And I hope the council will be able to assist my constituents in their aims, but I have the feeling this is an unstoppable tide anyway as the strength of feeling from the packed meeting was quite overwhelming."

Anyone wishing to find out more can call Lynda Waltho’s office on 01384 374356 or email lynda@lyndawaltho.org.uk or David Cox at oneheartoneway@hotmail.co.uk

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