The Merry Hill effect

I don't share the view of Dudley councillor Malcolm Knowles that the designation of Brierley Hill as the strategic centre of the borough will benefit Dudley town centre.

I had occasion to visit Dudley last week for the first time in several years. What a depressing experience.

Retailing is dominated by charity shops; the market is half empty and dead on its feet; many of the buildings in the Wolverhampton Street area are empty, if not derelict.

We all know this has been caused by more than 10 years of the "Merry Hill effect".

So how can further enhancing Brierley Hill possibly help Dudley?

Tom Dent, Wolverhampton