Plans underway for new community hub in Dudley

Land in Kates Hill, Dudley, has been identified for the new site, which will be called St Thomas’s Community Hub.

Dudley North MP Marco Longhi has been working with Dudley Council, including leader Patrick Harley, and community champion Sajid Hanif to build the hub.

MP for Dudley North, Marco Longhi, said: "Every area has it own challenges and we can see from the Government's levelling up agenda that Dudley is benefitting substantially – over £1 billion in capital spending is coming to our town.

"Having worked closely with community figures in St Thomas’s, I felt it was missing a modern complex that could act as a resource to benefit the whole community.

"I have previously co-ordinated the building of a similar facility during my time as a councillor, which has been a tremendous success.

"I envisage a hub where people can learn new skills and interact with one another.

"It may be possible for the council to relocate key services there and possibly other services such as GP and/or dentistry practice.

Excited

"The next stage is for our steering group to finalise the business plan for submission to the council, I am really excited about this proposal."

The project's steering has identified council-owned land in the St Thomas's ward for the site.

The land not currently in use but is administered by the Dudley Council’s leisure department.

The grounds will need remediation work which could be funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

Initial discussions have been held with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street

Councillor Harley added: "Marco has put a lot of effort into this, including looking for a suitable site that would benefit one of the most deprived areas in the borough.

"This proposal coupled with the capital spending on Porters Field, with the new interchange will bring a huge, needed boost to St Thomas’s.

"I look forward to working a long side the new steering group to bring this project to completion – Dudley really is an exciting place to be."