MP backs Black Country bid

9:48am Thursday 22nd November 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

MP Lynda Waltho is urging Stourbridge people to Stand Up for the Black Country by voting for the Black Country Urban Park, one of only four nationally short-listed for The People's £50m contest.

The proposed ambitious Urban Park project will regenerate the Black Country over the next 30 years if it wins a TV vote, due to be screened next week.

If successful, it will see Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve transformed and Dudley's Seven Sisters Mine opened-up to the public, borough canal networks improved, and 3,700 acres of green space opened up across the Black Country.

Stourbridge Labour MP Lynda said: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the people of the Black Country to win £50m of lottery funding which will help transform the lives of one million people living, playing and working throughout our region. It will also bring economic and social benefits to the people of Stourbridge.

"I am encouraging as many people to vote as possible, and have tabled an Early Day Motion congratulating the Black Country Consortium in their work.

"I am promoting the Black Country Urban Park bid wherever I can and every letter to constituents leaving my office has a Vote Black Country sticker on it."

Dudley and the Black Country will battle against Cornwall's Eden Project, Nottingham's Sherwood Forest and the nationwide Connect2 Sustrans project on a series of ITV1 shows in the week beginning Monday December 3.

Voting on-line starts on Monday November 26 - but people need to register first by going to www.thepeoples50million.org.uk The Black Country bid will be televised on Thursday December 6 and phone line voting will be open from Friday December 7 to Monday December 10.