Where is our Golden Mile?
Congratulations to Terry Price for another excellent book, West Bromwich Memories. The part about Madeleine Carroll is in itself a wonderful achievement.
Many of the photographs I have never seen before and they bring back memories of West Bromwich as it used to be - the "Golden Mile", High Street, one of the finest in the Black Country.
What a wonderful place it was to shop. Many businesses were owned by local well-known families. You were always met with civility and service which ever shop you went into and there were very few items that could not be obtained from the endless variety of stores.
Everywhere was clean and tidy, no need for street wardens and women never had to fear that their purse might be stolen. How I used to like to go there and wander up and down without interference or problems.
Today all that has unfortunately changed - we have two shopping centres which to me do not have any character whatsoever, the High Street as it was has almost vanished, the old established shops no longer exist, being replaced by charity shops, cheap bargain stores, fast food outlets and bingo halls.
Rubbish such as empty food and drink containers litter the street and the Kings and Queens centres seem to attract people who sit on the few seats available eating and drinking.
Some seem to spend all day there and this applies to parts of the once pleasant High Street. These people are surrounded by rubbish which in some cases they have helped to create by not using the litter bins.
During the school term both centres are plagued by hordes of children who congregate there when they come from school in the afternoon. They are to be seen running up and down shouting and generally making themselves a nuisance.
There is talk in the press about a new West Bromwich town centre and how wonderful it is going to be. I know it is impossible to turn the clock back, but I am sure many people would visit the town if it was like it used to be.
D Hickinbottom, Lewis Street, Tipton
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