The Mayor of Dudley toured the busy Merry Hill centre and learned about its bright future.

The borough’s first citizen chatted with key figures from the centre as part of the 'Made in Dudley Borough' initiative.

The centre, which boasts more than 200 shops and restaurants and almost 10,000 free car parking spaces, supports more than 8,000 jobs in the local economy and is a major destination for shoppers from across the region. 

The Mayor, Councillor Anne Millward, toured the centre and learned about how the future is bright for Merry Hill as the centre continues to evolve for future generations. Cllr Millward said:

"This is already one of the biggest and most popular shopping destinations in the country and it is wonderful to hear about the ambition they have to build on that. People come from miles around to visit. It’s all so very positive and it was a real privilege to have a tour."

There is a project already in place to bring the West Midlands Metro to the centre as part of the extension of the rail system which will make it a major transport interchange too. Jonathan Poole, centre manager, added:

"It was an honour to show the Mayor how Merry Hill is very much open for business. Supporting the community and wider region is a major part of our long-term plan for Merry Hill."

The Made in Dudley Borough initiative aims to highlight the work of local businesses through visits from key figures at Dudley Council.

Businesses that want to apply for a tour from senior council figures and feature in the 'Made in Dudley Borough' series can get in touch via the website at dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk.

Businesses can also get the latest news and information before anyone else by signing up to the free email bulletins at dudley.gov.uk.