Gornal News & Goings On

NEWS

Taxi Building demolition goes ahead Update 14/4/03 site levelled already! Looks better already! Twelve years after Avril and Gerry's home was compulsorily purchased by the Council for 'imminent' demolition, and then left to fall into disrepair until it became a tumbledown blot on the Gornal landscape, the building is finally being pulled down. Dudley Council's belated decision to remove the eyesore followed pressure from residents, local councillors, and for the last six months the Yampy web site; we have regularly featured the issue, and have questioned Council officers at every North Dudley Area Committee meeting until they agreed to make a fresh assessment of the cost of repair or demolition. Gradually the Council's position shifted, from envisaging a 'lick of paint' at best to recommending demolition, and on the 14th November 2002 a Planning Committee notice was posted on the front door of the building. The work was scheduled to begin in January, and inactivity led to rumours in the village that asylum seekers would be housed there (we have since learned that these began when some wag told a local pub that they would have to prepare cooked breakfasts for the occupants!). More recently asbestos was discovered inside, and there were concerns that the additional cost of disposal would be used as a reason to postpone demolition. However, it is now underway and scheduled to be complete before the end of the month - we even saw workers there last Sunday. Above all else, this success demonstrates that concerted community action can deliver results, and we urge Gornal people to attend Committee meetings and their Councillors' and MP's advice surgeries when they have a concern. Don't give up, keep making a nuisance of yourselves, involve the local press and Yampy, embarrass those in power who let us down, and remind elected officials of the influence you hold at the ballot box. Update 14th April 2003 This photograph was taken on Saturday 12th April 2003. After twelve years, Dudley Council finally carried out their intention to demolish - and the site was levelled within a week.

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