Latest news with #Dudley
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Conservation and heritage groups have their say on historic hotel extension plan
NATIONAL conservation charities and heritage groups have had their say on a planning application submitted to Dudley Council detailing plans to extend an historic hotel in Stourbridge Town Centre, adding 10 additional rooms. The application submitted to the council to extend The Talbot Hotel in the High Street and repurpose its conference room into new bedrooms has sparked controversy since its submission on March 18. A planning, design, access and heritage statement, submitted by AP Architects on behalf of the Talbot Hotel, details plans to construct a two-story flat roof extension and a single story pitched roof extension at the back of the building, which in total would allow for seven extra bedrooms, a space for laundry storage and a boiler/plant room. The plans also request permission to divide the historic conference room to create two additional bedrooms and make internal alterations to the hotel's lobby and reception areas, the bar and its toilet facilities, including relocating the accessible toilet. The hotel was bought by Birmingham-based hospitality operators, Rosevine Ltd, at the end of 2024, with the new owners looking to revamp the hotel. The Grade II listed building dates back to the 1600s, with the application having attracted strong criticism from over 100 objectors, including the town's MP, Cat Eccles and local councillors including ward councillor, Andrew Tromans. Echoing the concerns of objectors, conservation charity The Georgian Group have submitted recommendations to the council saying the plans pose 'serious concerns'. Read more Hotel management issues statement over application to extend historic town landmark On behalf of the group, James Darwin said: 'These proposals cumulatively have the potential to cause a considerable degree of harm to the listed building. 'The proposed works are both poorly explained and justified, and thus fail to meet the minimum requirements set out by the Secretaries of State within the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework). 'The group is particularly concerned by the extremely poor standard of the information provided in support of this application and by its failure to adequately assess the impact of the proposed alterations on the significance of the listed building.' Historic England have also criticised the application, voicing concerns bout the 'level of detail' in terms of potential harm to the listed building that the applicant has included, and the degree of harm the alterations would cause overall. Benjamin Williscroft from the organisation said: 'Fenestrated with sash windows, [The Talbot] has a commanding presence within the streetscene, and makes a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the conservation area.' He continued: 'Overall, it is considered that these external and internal alterations, including two storey extensions to existing extensions and that to the conference room, would result in a significant degree of incremental alteration, and harm to the significance of the existing designated heritage asset, especially where the legibility of historic internal spaces would be compromised.' The building, which is mostly located within the Stourbridge High Street Conservation Area, has many historical features including original timber framing, red brickwork, timber sash windows and a 'good' 18th century staircase. The planning, design, access and heritage statement submitted by the application said that the proposals have been 'designed to be sympathetic and in-keeping with the character of the existing building', with the two rear extensions being designed to 'echo the aesthetic, forms and feature of the immediate host' and continue the form of the existing building, therefore 'minimising' the impact on neighbouring buildings. The Georgian Group and Historic England are both statutory consultees, whose views the council are obliged to take into account when deciding on applications to alter listed buildings. The relevant applications P25/0222 and P25/0223 are available to view on the council's planning portal and will go before Dudley Council Planners.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Campaign to tackle loneliness backed by popular comedian to return to borough
A NUMBER of benches will be given a new purpose next month, as a campaign aimed to tackle loneliness backed by a popular comedian makes it return to the borough. The 'Say Hello' benches were inspired by the work of comedian John Bishop, who launched the Say Hello campaign in 2021 as part of the Month of Community initiative. The campaign aims to combat loneliness, strengthen communities, and encourage people to just say hello to each other. People are welcome to simply drop by for a chat, get advice, or take part in activities such as chess, gardening and walking tennis. Bishop, comedian and founder of the Say Hello initiative, said: 'It's brilliant to see that Dudley Council is once again encouraging people to say hello to each other with their friendly bench initiative. 'Making that first connection with someone can lead to amazing things, from new friendships and shared ideas to people helping out neighbours who might need it. 'Thanks to Dudley's friendly benches, saying hello is easier than ever - I'm sure this fantastic project will inspire the whole community to have a seat, enjoy a natter and get to know someone new!' The 13 benches across the borough part of the initiative will be located at: Abbey Street Park, Gornal Market Place, Dudley Dudley Street, Sedgley Foster Street, Stourbridge Gornal Library, Gornal Grange Park, Dudley Hagley Street, Halesowen High Street, Brierley Hill Long Lane Library, Halesowen Silver Jubilee Park, Coseley Stevens Park, Quarry Bank The Dell Stadium, Brierley Hill Vicar Street Gardens, Sedgley From Monday 9 June to Sunday 15 June, these benches will be adopted and decorated by local community groups to raise awareness of loneliness. Councillor Andrea Goddard, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health at Dudley Council, said: 'We've been part of the Say Hello campaign for the past four years, helping to connect people across the borough and raising awareness of the mental and physical health impacts of loneliness. 'People of all ages can feel lonely, and these benches are here to help them connect. "We're extremely grateful to the community groups for getting involved, adopting the benches, and giving people the opportunity to see a friendly face.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
New political party launched in Black Country
A new "community-led" political party has been launched in Black Country Party was formed by six borough councillors who currently make up the Dudley Independent Group, known as 'the Diggers'. They said they will aim to focus on local issues that affect working class people in the area at its launch on Friday. The party includes councillors Karen Westwood, Steve Edwards, Matt Cook, Peter Drake, Karl Denning and Pete Lowe. Wards Lye and Stourbridge North, Brierley Hill and Wordsley South, Brockmoor and Pensnett, Castle and Priory, and Coseley will now be represented by the Black Country Party on Dudley elected leader is Lowe, with Westwood elected as deputy who resigned from the Labour Party in January after being a member for 41 years, said: "To say I am proud to launch The Black Country Party is an understatement. "We have six working class councillors who have had enough of a failed party system which puts Westminster and personal ambition before people. "We believe politics needs to change and ordinary people need to have their voices heard."Both councillors said they had previously left the Labour Party due to cuts to the winter fuel allowance and "removal of support for vulnerable people".Westwood said: "I knew we had to be the voice for local people and offer something different. That is why we are launching the Black Country Party."A joint statement from the councillors said the government should be investing in local communities. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Crews tackle fire in derelict Netherton pub, The Crown Inn
Fire crews are tackling a "severe" blaze in a derelict Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) was called to the former Crown Inn on Simms Lane in Netherton, Dudley, at 00:37 BST on service said at the height of the fire - to the ground floor of the venue which closed in 2018 - five appliances were in attendance. One crew remained as of 08:00 added there were no known casualties. The road is closed in both directions. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Victims outraged after Ohio judge releases man charged in multiple Cleveland assaults
At least two victims of an Ohio man who pleaded guilty to carrying out a series of brutal attacks in Cleveland voiced their outrage after a judge recently released him — again. Serus Walters, 20, pleaded guilty on May 19 to assaulting three men, according to Cuyahoga County court records. Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams reduced Walters' felony charge to a misdemeanor and released him on time served after his plea. One of the victims, Los Angeles-based attorney David Dudley, 64, who was visiting Cleveland on business when Walters attacked him on May 29, 2024, told WOIO that he is baffled by the judge's decision to release Walters on Monday. "I was fairly certain he was trying to kill me," Dudley told the outlet. Ohio Man Accused Of Killing Deputy Denied Bond As Chaos Disrupts Packed Courtroom Walters targeted Dudley at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Cleveland when he kicked the victim in the ribs, shoulder and repeatedly in the back of the head, WOIO reported. Read On The Fox News App Dudley said he has "been in front of over one thousand judges," and Collier-Williams' decision Monday left him shocked. Six Ohio Suspects Accused Of Torturing Man In Weeklong Hotel Kidnapping: 'Extremely Disturbing' "Judge Williams didn't even put him on any kind of supervision. [The] prosecutor was shocked at that," Dudley told WOIO. "He neither apologized to me nor any of the other victims he acknowledged to attacking." Another victim, who identified himself only as "Tony" to WOIO, said Walters attacked him in Tower City on March 11, 2024. Officials arrested Walters and released him the next day. Watch: Most Outrageous Courtroom Moments And Police Encounters That Went Viral In 2024 Walters was also previously arrested and released in connection with an assault near Whiskey Island that left a man in need of stitches, WOIO reported. Court records show that a grand jury indicted Walters in the three separate assaults in May 2024. His defense attorney, Frank Triozzi, filed a motion seeking reduced bond in May 2024, citing the fact that Walters was 19 years old with a two-year-old child and one on the way at the time. Nyc Councilman Demands Judge's Resignation For Freeing Career Criminal Who Later Shot Cop: 'Lack Of Judgment' "Despite the severity of the offense, counsel submits that GPS monitoring would be sufficient to ensure the safety of the public and of the alleged victims," the defense attorney wrote. Walters was most recently arrested again on Wednesday, just two days after his release, for a minor offense in Garfield Heights. Fox News Digital has reached out to Triozzi, Collier-Williams' office and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office for article source: Victims outraged after Ohio judge releases man charged in multiple Cleveland assaults
