7 - Firefighters get behind bid

Archived news release from 2007

 

 

If successful in the bid, which has been showcased this week on ITV, money will help reopen the vast caverns and underground canals in Dudley to create one of Europe’s largest underground attractions.

 

The Black Country Urban Park bid includes the creation of a major visitor and education attraction at Wren’s Nest National Nature Reserve. The work would include stabilising and refurbishing the Seven Sisters limestone mines and subterranean canal basin.  Visitors will travel underground by boat and rise to the surface by an inclined lift.  A new interpretation centre will explain how 420 million years of geology led to the Black Country becoming the ‘workshop of the world’.

 

A number of lucky local firefighters have had the chance to visit the Stepshaft mine to see for themselves the wonders that lie beneath Dudley and the service are right behind the bid.

 

 

“We are proud to back the Black Country Urban Park bid as it will have real benefits to the communities we serve.

 

“We would urge everyone to vote so that we can secure this valuable funding for our area and I hope we are soon celebrating a successful bid.”

 

Telephone lines are now open and all people need to do is call 0870 24 24 604 from landlines and mobiles to register their vote. Calls cost just 10p from a BT landline.

 

 

“I’m pleased to see the fire service are behind the bid and helping to spread the word. We need everyone in the borough and beyond to get on the phone and back the bid. I hope people will call from home, work and from their mobiles until voting closes next Monday.

 

“The next 72 hours are absolutely crucial and we need everyone to get on the phone and dial 0870 24 24 604.”

 

Meanwhile, volunteers will be out and about across the Black Country this weekend to spread the word and encourage people to vote.