Councillors told Stourbridge being left ‘deserted’

A senior Dudley councillor told regeneration officials Stourbridge has been left without investment by the authority and is deserted.

Former mayor Cllr Ian Kettle, who represents the Pedmore and Stourbridge East ward, gave a damning assessment of Stourbridge town centre regeneration at a meeting of Dudley’s Communities and Growth Scrutiny Committee on February 9.

Among items on the agenda was a report on a hyper-local policy for town centre regeneration and a debate on the document prompted the blistering assault.

Cllr Kettle said: “In the 35 years I have been a councillor I can’t remember any major investment from the authority in Stourbridge.

“It appears the only thing we see from the council in the town centre is street cleaning, litter picking and the removal of beggars.

“If you want to understand how badly Stourbridge feels about regeneration, the perception in Stourbridge is that the only outcome Dudley wants for Stourbridge is its dereliction.

“It has been left deserted for years and that is the perception of people on the streets.”

The outspoken councillor, who has previously served as the council’s cabinet member for regeneration, attacked the West Midlands Combined Authority for spending big in city centres while towns like Stourbridge suffered.

Cllr Kettle added: “We can’t hide it any more, the perception on the streets is dereliction and if we don’t do something about it, who knows what will happen?”

A report signed by Anne Boyd, Dudley’s director of economy and infrastructure, outlined the council’s plans for increasing its focus by basing council officers in town centres and providing increased engagement and support for ward councillors.

Cllr Simon Phipps, Dudley cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said: “The whole reason for looking more for a place-based strategy, looking at town centres and having people based in those town centres, is because it will result in a more fair and equitable settlement for all parts of the borough.”

He added in the past there had been a need for large scale infrastructure investment in Dudley and Brierley Hill but the council had to work for investment in all parts of the borough.