£75k chamber plan backed

Plans to splash out £75,000 to spruce up a village council chamber near Wolverhampton have been backed by an MP – despite protests.

Wombourne Parish Council bosses have earmarked the cash for the Gravel Hill chambers.

The former courtroom and toilets would be given an updated modern look to match the recently-refurbished Civic Centre foyer.

And as part of the improvements a new disabled toilet and a ramp for disabled access would be created, as well as new panelling, decoration and lighting.

The scheme has sparked outcry in the village, with 640 residents joining forces to sign a petition calling for some of the cash to be spent on youth services.

But South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack has written to parish bosses saying he was satisfied they had explained the need for the work.

Wombourne resident Jim Gogarty, who has led the petition against the scheme, said it was an "appalling" amount of cash to spend on the council chamber.

He said the petition had been collected in just three weeks by villagers who wanted more money spent on youth services.

Parish councillors have hit back, saying the money had been saved over the past two years to spend on the works, and that they had no option to fund youth services because they were paid from the county council purse. Councillor Joan Williams said it was the council's "obligation" to carry out the work.