A ROW has broken out after a bid to reopen the Bridge Street car park led to an accusation Stourport was being ignored by Wyre Forest District Council.
John Caldwell claimed on social media an email he sent to Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Coun Dan Morehead, calling for the re-opening of the car park was met with ‘total silence.’
The council is working on plans to create a building with a large and open flexible space suitable for markets, dining, exhibitions, and community events and reconnect the town centre with the historic canal basin.
Mr Caldwell, a prominent Wyre Forest Liberal Democrats member, said he recognised long-term planning and design stages were necessary for the redevelopment but re-opening the car park would be a pragmatic, short-term solution and generate revenue for the council.
He added it would offer a vital lifeline to Bridge Street traders and ease pressure on businesses which had seen a drop in revenue and footfall since its closure.
“This lack of response reinforces the growing sense that Wyre Forest District Council and its elected members simply ignore Stourport and its people.
“The council should not be happy to let this land sit vacant and unproductive for the next year while our local businesses – some who are only one ‘wet summer’ away from closure – are left to struggle.
“If these businesses fail in the coming 12 to 18 months, no shiny new building will make up for the commercial desert that will appear in the heart of our tourism area, and a key bridge to bring visitors up to the top of the town.
“If this were Kidderminster, I wonder if I would have even had to ask.”
Coun Moorhead responded to this claim by saying he had received the email but was waiting for the officer concerned to return from holiday before responding.
He added: “To say Stourport is completely ignored when millions will be invested into this site, and Wyre Forest District Council have been supporting the Town Council with the High Street Task Force, and Stourport Vision is a very interesting comment to make.
“There are legal processes to follow to make land car parks that require time and consultations, and then to remove that same car park to change use requires the same process, and in turn, by doing this, would actually slow down the redevelopment of this site.”
