Historic Willenhall buildings to be restored to their former glory
Historic buildings are being restored to their former glory with additional funding now available to include more properties in the project.
The sites in Willenhall are undergoing work after £1.5 million funding was secured.
The overall funding pot for the Townscape Heritage Initiative has been raised from £1 million to £1.5 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Walsall Council is responsible for the scheme and wants to hear from property owners or long-term lease holders in Willenhall town centre who feel their properties would benefit from restoration and repair work.Work has recently been completed at 77 and 77a Stafford Street (Pizza Power and Alice's Beauty Salon), 22 Market Place (Golden Girl), 90-91 Stafford Street (Square Deal Carpets) and 45 Market Place (Scissors Hair Design).
Works at 22 Market Place include a new traditional-style shopfront, timber windows based on the original historic design and brickwork repairs. Locally listed building 90-91 Stafford Street is having a traditional sign reinstated and sash windows installed based on photos of the building from the early 20th century.
Roof repairs, re-painting of brickwork and replacing the windows to match the building's original design has been carried out to 45 Market Place, which is home to Scissors Hair Design.
Other shops which have previously been enhanced under the scheme are Fibbersley Park, American Nails and The Sandwich Shop at 87-89 Stafford Street, Blunts Shoes in Market Place, JR Holyhead in Cross Street, RS News in Wolverhampton Street and 58 Wolverhampton Street. Work is also currently underway at The Bell, Market Place. Councillor Adrian Andrew, portfolio holder for transport and regeneration in the Walsall Council coalition, said: "Willenhall has a lot of historic buildings dating back centuries and it's great to see character features such as sash windows being reinstated, which really enhance the appearance of the town centre."
Councillor Ian Shires, chairman of Willenhall Area Partnership, said: "The Townscape Heritage Initiative scheme has allowed Willenhall town centre to receive much-needed investment.
"The impact it has had on the appearance of the buildings has been significant and can only have a positive knock on impact in terms of how people view the town and their desire to visit.
Councillor Sean Coughlan, Chair of Willenhall THI Grants Panel, said: "It is pleasing that the Heritage Lottery Fund has recognised the good work we have been doing and I look forward to more buildings being brought up to a standard acceptable to the town."
Anyone interested in applying for funding should email Mandy Hall, Walsall Council regeneration officer, at hallamanda@walsall.gov.uk or call 01922 654757.
Building owners can apply for up to 70 per cent of the cost of repairs to their properties.
