Charity wants activity centre at Dudley Waterfront
A charity has unveiled plans for an activity centre for elderly people at a business and leisure complex in Dudley.
Age UK wants to open the centre out of a closed retail unit at The Waterfront in Brierley Hill.
The charity is in advanced negotiations with the Westfield, the owners of the outlet in Level Street, and hopes to move in shortly.
It currently runs activity provision from Brierley Hill Methodist Church, Merry Hill Activity Centre and its Dudley borough headquarters in Cradley Road, Netherton.
Christine Szygowski, senior manager at Dudley Age UK, said: "Nothing has been signed and sealed yet, but we are really happy with the new location and hope we can move in soon. The location makes it easily accessible for people and it is in a central location in the borough."
The charity offers a range of activities from Monday to Friday to between 300 to 350 people aged 60 and above every week.
Activities on offer include Zumba, coffee meets and cycling.
Under the plan, the charity would continue to use its base in Netherton and the Merry Hill Activity Centre. The centre would be next to cafe Harry @ The Waterfront.
Co-owner Tammy Richardson said: "The more the units are filled up around here the better. We were pleased to hear the centre could be opening here."
She added: "Since opening we have found this area sometimes very quiet, but in recent months firms have been moving in here and we're finding the place busier."
Dudley Council has been developing a scheme to encourage more businesses to come to the site over the past two years.
Councillor Judy Foster, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "Creating an enterprise zone-type initiative will hopefully create a major boom in jobs and investment for the borough, and so the foundations of this project have to be right.
"The work involved is extremely complex because we have to make sure whatever scheme we introduce benefits those investing and the wider waterfront area, and attracts the right sort of business to the area.
"We are currently working with the private sector and the owners at the Waterfront to make sure the quality of the scheme is right and is properly managed.
"We will be looking to bring an update to cabinet as soon as is practical."
