Express and Star 25 June 2009 

Campaigners against the latest site to be earmarked for a £500,000 youth centre in Walsall today accused the council of putting property and cash ahead of opportunities for young people.

Hundreds of people oppose the plans for the children’s complex to be based on the old Jones’ Bakery site in Chuckery but Walsall Council’s cabinet last night approved the idea. Furious residents today said the council had ignored the views of the community. They added that they had not had chance to suggest several alternative sites, the front runner of which is the old Chuckery Neighbourhood Office.After withdrawing plans to put the centre on Chuckery Corner Green following opposition by residents, the council now wants to build it on the corner of Holtshill Lane and Paddock Lane.

Campaigner Alan McDevitt, of Charlotte Street, said: “I think we humble campaigners have scratched the surface of something deeper.“This proposal, along with many others, now comes under the regeneration portfolio, not children and young people. “It seems that property and money take precedence over the life chances of kids.”

Paddock Lane resident Paul Bettan, aged 41, said: “They have done no proper consultation and have not done proper research. I just don’t think they have thought about it at all. It sits on a dangerous bend and there is no room for parking. I think they just want to spend the money quickly and it doesn’t matter what is said.”

Beckie Newman, who lives next door to the bakery, said: “Our street is a little cul-de-sac. It is thoroughfare from The Broadway to Ablewell Street and we already get a lot of drinkers and at weekends drug dealing at the bottom of the road and I think the difficulties and disturbance we have already got will increase ten fold.”

Around £450,000 funding for the centre has been secure from the Government’s Youth Capital Fund.