Cast-iron guarantee for gates restoration

Campaigners battling to restore historic entrance gates at Stourbridge's Mary Stevens Park have been given a cast-iron guarantee the work will go-ahead – even if lottery cash fails to emerge.

Dudley Council is to submit an application for the £300,000 needed to repair the grade-II listed gates, and other works, to the Heritage Lottery Fund in February. But if the bid is not successful a separate plan has been drawn-up and agreed to ensure cash is available for the gates scheme to go ahead by 2013.

Under the back-up plan, cash from the Ernest Stevens Fund, a total of £18,000 each year, will be put aside solely for the restoration scheme over the next five years.

Along with this, £10,000 from Stourbridge area committee's annual £50,000 capital allocation would be added to the pot over the same period.

This means over five years a funding pot of £140,000 would be built-up for the restoration project to at least get underway. Ways would then be found to make up the shortfall.

Provisions have been put in place for cash to be taken from the Ernest Stevens Trust for other projects in the park – but these would be for emergency works only.

Councillor Angus Adams, who is chairman of Stourbridge area committee, said it was vital provisions were made for the gates.

"Of course we are still hoping the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund will be successful and we will have the money for the gate restoration that way," he said.

"However it is vital we have a back-up plan if the bid should not be successful and this will allow us to put a significant amount of money in place for the work.

"It seems the most sensible option."

Vice-chairman of Stourbridge township council John Shepherd said it was a very positive step.

"We on the township have been campaigning for the gates to be restored for the past 11 years and this is welcome news," he said.

"We were pleased when we heard about the bid being submitted to the lottery fund but there has been some concern especially when the bid for nearby Lye and Wollescote Cemetery chapel failed. At least we now know when it comes to the gates there will be money available."