News
Chuckery youth centre controversy continues
Controversial plans to build a £500,000 Youth Centre in the Chuckery area of Walsall have again come under fire from local residents. After facing overwhelming public opposition, Walsall Council abandoned plans to site the much needed building on a popular green space and have now turned their attention to a derelict bakery at the junction of Holtshill Lane and Paddock Lane.
Tory Councillor Barry Sanders, portfolio holder for Leisure and Culture, announced on Thursday that the land had been acquired by the Council from Accord Housing for an undisclosed sum.
On Friday, households close to the crumbling bakery received a letter from Bernard Moore, Interim Youth Service Manager at Walsall Council, informing residents of the proposal. The letter described a two storey building that would not have any parking facilities and that a planning application will shortly be submitted.
In a statement issued by Accord Housing, a spokesman said: “The bakery site has been on the open market for some time and at this present moment remains within our ownership.”
Funding for the project comes from the government Youth Capital Fund Plus which specifies that local young people should be part of the planning process and that the facility should be available to them on Friday and Saturday nights.
A resident of Paddock Lane who did not wish to be identified said: “We have been complaining for years about the state of the old bakery but the Council have done nothing about it. Councillor Arif knocked on my door and told me it would be a Community Centre and that the Council were only using “Youth Money” to get it built. I`ve even seen a plan of the finished building. How can they describe that as consultation?”
The bakery is situated on a blind bend that is regularly used by motorists as a “rat-run” from the Broadway to the town centre. Most drivers ignore the 20 m.p.h. speed limit in the Chuckery area and one resident described the proposal as “an accident waiting to happen.” The site is also adjacent to a pub and a general store that sells alcohol.
Shiggs Singh, landlord of the popular Spring Cottage pub on Holtshill Lane said: “Nobody from the Council has spoken to me about this and it`s just over the road from my business. I`m not at all happy about this proposal”
Shop keepers Malcolm and Debbie Hunt of the M&D Convenience Stores across the road from the bakery said that although they are fairly new to the Chuckery area, they were concerned about the plans. “A lot of our customers are worried.” said Malcolm. “They are telling us that they expect fights between rival gangs and lots of trouble.”
Following a 600 name petition against the use of the Green, a second petition is circulating the area calling for the Youth Centre to be located elsewhere in Chuckery and that the bakery land be used for affordable housing.
Glenys Russell of the newly formed Friends of Chuckery Corner Green said: “Forcing unworkable proposals onto unwilling residents is not consultation. Councillors and Council Officers need to be reminded that they are supposed to be public servants – not our masters.”
Campaigners have vowed to attend the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to register their opposition to the plans. The meeting takes place in Committee Room 2 at the Council House at 6-00pm and is open to the public.