Sylvia Heal

Labour Party | Halesowen and Rowley Regis

Dudley MPs Pledge to Support Black Country as an Urban Park

Sylvia Heal MP today pledged her support for the Black Country’s bid for £50 million of the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions programme. 

Standing outside Big Ben in London, MPs, Sylvia Heal, Lynda Waltho, Ian Pearson and Ian Austin, representing the Dudley Borough, agreed that this is a one off opportunity for the Black Country to be recognised at a national level. £50 million of Lottery funding would kick start a major redevelopment of the Black Country region and would help to environmentally transform the region into an Urban Park.

The exciting plans outlined in the bid will see the creation of major landmarks at sites across the Black Country, together with other more local examples of environmental transformation. Widespread regeneration of the Black Country’s canal network and surrounding environment is proposed, including freeing up canal-side access to existing and new parks and green spaces and creating opportunities to design landmark buildings and features to enhance the natural environment and historic landscape.

The Black Country will be competing for the final single grant of up to £50 million against 6 other national bids. By mid October all contestants will know whether they go through to the national vote on ITV during December.

Local MP Sylvia Heal said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for my constituency and the Black Country as a whole. I’m really pleased that my colleagues in Dudley are equally enthusiastic about our bid.”