We're still at the heart

I agree entirely with the comments made by Peter Wilkes. Not only did the Black Country bid miss the point, it completely missed the target audience.

While I have no doubt that it stirred feelings of pride among Black Country folk, the purpose was to attract support from around the UK, which it singularly failed to do. However, I propose it should be nominated for two prizes; The Worst Sales Pitch Ever and the Second Worst Sales Pitch Ever.

Would anyone expect to sell a British car to a Frenchman on the basis that we speak English? Of course not! So why was our opening gambit "We spake proper"? With the inevitable inference "We do, but you don't".

Every region rightly takes pride in its heritage, part of which is inevitably local accent. The rest of Britain was alienated from that moment on. Then, to end it with an aim to improve such facilities for the under-privileged in the Black Country just about killed it off.

A plea for helping people living in abject poverty in the developing countries as part of an international effort is acceptable as a generous act, but to plea to the rest of Britain for the under privileged of the Black Country is, to say the least, naive.

I know the time allocated for advertising each bit was strictly limited, but why weren't some of the modern achievements of the area blended in with our rich heritage to emphasise the unique position of the Black Country. Rebuilding town centres, the Waterfront and Merry Hill Centre, the Black Country Museum, Dudley Castle, the Metro system. All could have been emphasised better.

Finally, why didn't the producers see one of our most important features that remains as true now as it was in the Industrial Revolution? The simple fact that we are situated slap bang in the middle of the country.

We were at the centre of the canal network 150 years ago. We then became the centre of the rail network as the railways followed the routes already drawn by the canals, and now we are at the centre of the motorway system.

It was this easy access to all parts of the kingdom that allowed our products and raw materials to be so widely used. It is that single issue that gave our area a massive advantage.

We are easily accessible to everyone, not just the people of the Black Country, and we should have used the fact to our advantage again.

Michael Cliff, Holcroft Road, Wall Heath.