Music club now faces bulldozer
Moves to erase an eyesore landmark that was once at the heart of the Black Country music scene from the skyline are gathering pace after powers were granted for the council to buy it from its owners.
Moves to erase an eyesore landmark that was once at the heart of the Black Country music scene from the skyline are gathering pace after powers were granted for the council to buy it from its owners.
Former top music venue The Overstrand, built above Digbeth, Walsall, in the 1960s, hosted one of The Charlatans first gigs in 1988. It is set to be acquired by Walsall Council under a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) which will enable it to go ahead with its long-awaited demolition.
Calls have been made for more than 12 years for the empty venue to be removed, opening up a view of St Matthew's Church from the town.
But owners Threadneedle, which also owns the Old Square Shopping Centre, have failed to take any action.
Walsall Council chiefs have now agreed powers to enable officers to put in an offer for The Overstrand to ensure it does not hold up plans to redevelop St Matthew's Quarter.
The area is set to be transformed with a new street market, with stronger links with the nearby former Shannon's Mill site, which expected to be converted into a retail centre once plans are submitted.
Councillor John O'Hare said today: "Negotiations are still going on with Threadneedle but we have now agreed a CPO can be made on The Overstrand if required, this will free planning officers up to work on ideas for that area.
"We do not want to still be talking about what we are going to do with The Overstrand this time next year."
The empty building, also formerly a restaurant, has been out of use for more than a decade. The future of The Overstrand is not the first dispute between Walsall Council and Threadneedle.
A row over temporarily relocating Walsall Market from Digbeth to The Bridge while work is being carried out has been stalled after Threadneedle objected claiming it would draw shoppers away from the neighbouring Old Square Shopping Centre.
It was agreed yesterday the market will now be jointly run between the council and developers Norton & Profitt and St Modwen, which are responsible for re-designing fire-hit Shannon's Mill.
