Official Black Country Thread

[DBadger]

Even if it's not so good in the short term, two big authorities are easier to merge into one than lots of little ones, I see it as a step on the ladder really.

[morestoreysplease]

I see Sandwell as being the link to bringing the BC into a full working conurbation with Brum / Solihull because of the natural merging. Solihull and Sandwell are already reaping the benefits of adjoining the dominant city so if there was any kind of back-turning it would be madness. I think the BC is clinging onto 3 boroughs trying to compete against Brum.

[van heckler]

This half decent building in Old Hill/Halesowen is currently being demolished.



It will be replaced with this fire station.



http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/...tion_revealed/

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2...tion-revealed/

I get stuck at the traffic lights outside nearly every day, so I will enjoy watching this one go up.

[ReissOmari]

That's a shame, its a really nice building hidden behind a load of trees.

[DBadger]

Huge blow to the Black Country as Tata are closing Cradley, Dudley, Kingswinford and Wombourne sites.

[DBadger]

West Bromwich Building Society are to remain in West Bromwich after declining the terms of the Waterfront. This means there'll be a new build.

[twilight_2008]

First look at hotel planned for Stourbridge

Developers today released a computer generated image showing how a new £6 million hotel development on a main route into Stourbridge could look.
Premier Inn has lodged plans for an 80-bed hotel and Brewers Fayre restaurant.

If planning permission is granted, 65 jobs would be created and the complex would open in spring 2014. Bosses say the hotel would provide a boost for local business and tourism.

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2...r-stourbridge/

[Butterfield]

Cox Hire Ltd is moving to a new site in Netherton.

Looks like this is the site where the hotel would go, so just outside of Stourbridge ring road to the east of the town centre.

[Benjyt]

Does anyone have a picture of the Toby Carvery at Burnt Tree island before it became that? I remember that building being a lot different. Also, who used to occupy the building originally?

[SimonTheSoundMan]

I believe it was a Beefeater, might be wrong. I remember the old murals on the outside too.

[Butterfield]

I just typed Burnt Tree Island into Google Images and although I didn't find any pictures of
the Toby Carvery I did find this:




That'll be where Tesco is on the left. I wonder what that brick building was.

And what do the bottom two signposts say?

[i_like_concrete]

Originally Posted by SimonTheSoundMan

I believe it was a Beefeater, might be wrong. I remember the old murals on the outside too.

Gosh I totally forgot about that! Can't believe they got rid of them, was a real eye catcher!

[Key_In_Dudley]

Before it was the Toby Carvery it was Sawyers Restaurant and before that it was the headquarters of a Tile Manufacturer called Roman Mosaic. They had a mosaic on the front of the building which they covered over for some bizarre reason when it was turned into a Toby

[Butterfield]

Originally Posted by Key_In_Dudley

Before it was the Toby Carvery it was Sawyers Restaurant and before that it was the headquarters of a Tile Manufacturer called Roman Mosaic. They had a mosaic on the front of the building which they covered over for some bizarre reason when it was turned into a Toby

I remember the mosaic on the building but I'm not sure if I remember it being the manfacturer Roman Mosaic, of which there's one in nearby Bloomfield Road in Tipton, complete with mosaic barges on the front.

Click me!

EDIT: You can see the individual tiles if you get close enough.

[Key_In_Dudley]

I think they moved to Bloomfield Road after they left Burnt Tree, though I'm not sure they still exist.

Mind you we are talking over 20 years ago now

[Nacho]

Possible 10-storey apartment block for Bilston: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2...rhampton-site/

[DBadger]

So the King Arthur pub, which they want to knock down but which a 1914 heritage group wanted saved, has magically suffered an unexplained arson attack.

What a surprise.

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2...pub-in-dudley/

[Butterfield]

Originally Posted by DBadger

So the King Arthur pub, which they want to knock down but which a 1914 heritage group wanted saved, has magically suffered an unexplained arson attack.

What a surprise.

Well, conspiracies aside, it IS right next to two of the most notorious housing estates in the area.

[sefton66]

Surely this could have operated as a successful pub, especially with the new housing that's being built around it

The building looks great

[DBadger]

They used to do a fantastic carvery, I think it's only recently closed. Always had a tree growing out the chimney though.