Object

Representation ID: 16031

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr David Fisher

Site Assessment Reference SA-0066-SAN
To whom it may concern. My name is David Fisher, I live in the Charlemont with Grove Vale Ward
and I’m also an elected member of Sandwell Council that represents Charlemont with Grove Vale.
I would like to put forward my case for the refusal of the loss of Charlemont Community Centre
under the Black Country Plan. Charlemont itself is a deprived area with no community assets except
for Charlemont community centre. The community centre has been neglected by Sandwell Council
for many years. This I feel has caused the decline in numbers using the facility. Since being elected in
May 2021 I have been promoting the centre and I have been contacted by 3 local community groups
who are interested in using this facility.
SMBC have agreed to invest money in the centre to redecorate rooms that are being used and this
will only improve the facility and encourage more groups interested in hiring the community centre.
Charlemont community centre currently has a group “Dynamic Kids” that uses this centre during the
daytime offering childcare and holiday clubs. The community centre has a good history with offering
children a place to participate in activities after school. The current local football team that uses the
football pitches adjacent to the community centre have shown an interest in using it for them to
meet and offer refreshments during match days.
The centre plays a vital part in the local community and if this is taken away, I feel the area will be
worse off.
The access road in not “un-adopted as per the report states but owned by the lease holder of
Briarley House. SMBC and I have had ongoing discussions about the poor state of the access road
with the lease holder to no avail.
I just want to state that loosing this community asset for a single unit is not going to help the local
deprived area and will only cause more deprivation and increase the levels of ASBO and crime in a
highly populated area.
Nicola Richards MP who represents West Bromwich East has also raised a petition to save
Charlemont Community Centre.
Regards
Cllr David Fisher
Charlemont With Grove Vale