Bumble Hole, Netherton
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12 - The Strata vision will live on
Archived news release from 2007
Passions are still very much alive to open vast caverns and underground canals in Dudley, despite the region losing out on a £50 million lottery jackpot.
Project leaders today spoke of their disappointment after the Black Country Urban Park bid lost out in the final vote of the biggest ever TV payout from the People’s £50 Million Contest.
But they vowed the ambitious proposals for a £100 million environmental ‘revolution’ across Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell, will still become reality, albeit over a longer period of time.
And they have thanked the tens of thousands of people across the region for their fantastic support, for getting behind the bid and voting for the Black Country.
Penny Russell, project manager for Dudley’s Strata element, said:
"This is a major disappointment to us all. But the vision of Strata will stay alive as long as people believe it is a good idea. It may take longer to achieve, but we will get there.
“The enthusiasm of the general public when we have been out and about has been truly amazing. It has demonstrated to us that the Black Country people will get behind something they truly believe in. All of us at Dudley are really proud of being involved in this project.
Project leaders today spoke of their disappointment after the Black Country Urban Park bid lost out in the final vote of the biggest ever TV payout from the People’s £50 Million Contest.
But they vowed the ambitious proposals for a £100 million environmental ‘revolution’ across Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell, will still become reality, albeit over a longer period of time.
And they have thanked the tens of thousands of people across the region for their fantastic support, for getting behind the bid and voting for the Black Country.
Penny Russell, project manager for Dudley’s Strata element, said:
"This is a major disappointment to us all. But the vision of Strata will stay alive as long as people believe it is a good idea. It may take longer to achieve, but we will get there.
“The enthusiasm of the general public when we have been out and about has been truly amazing. It has demonstrated to us that the Black Country people will get behind something they truly believe in. All of us at Dudley are really proud of being involved in this project.
“We’d like to send our congratulations to Sustrans and wish them well.”
In Dudley, funding will continue to be sought to make the Strata vision to stabilise and refurbish the Seven Sisters limestone mines and subterranean canal basin to create one of Europe’s largest underground attractions, a reality.
In the meantime, focus will turn to creating an educational centre and improved access around Wrens Nest National Nature Reserve, as well as developing an educational and interpretation programme for the reserve, a geological site of exceptional international importance.
In Dudley, funding will continue to be sought to make the Strata vision to stabilise and refurbish the Seven Sisters limestone mines and subterranean canal basin to create one of Europe’s largest underground attractions, a reality.
In the meantime, focus will turn to creating an educational centre and improved access around Wrens Nest National Nature Reserve, as well as developing an educational and interpretation programme for the reserve, a geological site of exceptional international importance.
The Urban Park will enrich the lives of more than one million people and as well as unveiling of forgotten underground caverns beneath Dudley, will create a 12-mile ‘green bridge’ park linking Walsall and West Bromwich town centres, an inspirational visitors centre at Barr Beacon and widespread regeneration of Wolverhampton’s canal network.
More than 800,000 people will become within a 15 minute walk of safe and attractive green space.
The partners are the Black Country Consortium, Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell councils and The Wildlife Trust of Birmingham and the Black Country.
The £50 million of Lottery funding would have supported the first five to ten years of up to 30 years of activity.
Councillor David Caunt, leader of Dudley Council and chair of Black Country Consortium, added:
“This decision does not change the fact the Black Country has a heritage of world importance and we and our partners remain firmly committed to driving this programme through, with the support of the community, to be enjoyed by people today and generations to come.”
He said each of the local authorities is already committing significant resources to support the creation of the Urban Park, and the Consortium is working closely with potential major funders including the Heritage Lottery Fund and Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency.
© 2005 - 2008 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Council House, Priory Road, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 1HF