A large audience looked at the plans, listened to presentations and then made its feelings known about the
proposals for THAT Academy at the public meeting in the hall at Priory Primary School on 29th April.

What's "THAT" doing to Priory Park?

The day after the public meeting in Priory Primary School, concerning the proposal by DMBC/Dudley College for the Hall and Park, the headline in the local press was:

The Hall certainly will be transformed. My dictionary defines transformed as "to change radically in structure, appearance and character". This scheme will mean that the Hall and Park as we now know it will be lost forever to current and future users. Perhaps a more appropriate headline would be:

This would certainly have been more representative of the anger and total opposition to the plans expressed at the meeting, despite College and Council attempts to placate those present. The proposals obviously benefit Dudley College, but the benefit to DMBC is questionable, even in the short term. What is certain is that they have no benefit to you, the Park users.
The meeting overwhelmingly supported the various community groups opposing the proposals and endorsed the creation of a petition to oppose the building of THAT Academy in your Park.
Priory Park serves a wide area, containing 1700 pupils at Primary school plus those at Secondary school, and 4700 households in the Castle and Priory Ward alone. FoPP's area of benefit extends beyond the Ward, and encompasses nearly 7000 homes.
Dudley Council's Parks and Heritage Department must be aware that existing open space facilities within our neighbourhood fall short of the recognised national guidelines. The question must therefore be asked why they are not opposing this proposal which will obviously worsen the situation. Could the answer be that it is the Council's view that it is nothing to do with the Parks and Heritage Department as it is being dealt with by Education, Legal, Housing and European offices? Perhaps the view of the Parks and Heritage Department is not that which the prime movers of this project wish to hear.
There is a future for the Park which seeks to improve on what we have for the benefit of the Park users and the local community. Evidence of this will be made public shortly when a scheme to substantially upgrade the existing facilities is decided. FoPP are campaigning against the College proposals, and welcome support. FoPP asked for the support of the Castle & Priory Regeneration Board at its meeting on 15th May. The Board gave this support, the vote being 10 in favour, 0 against and 4 abstentions. Petitions (see page 2) will be in local shops, and we hope that volunteers will be able to make doorstep calls to ask for your support. We also hope to have the petition available for signing in the marketplace in Dudley town centre on Saturday 24th May.