£70k earmarked to improve Barr Beacon beauty spot
Making tens of thousands of pounds worth of improvements at a beauty spot in Walsall will encourage more people to enjoy it, Walsall's council leader has said.
More than £70,000 of improvements have been earmarked for Barr Beacon under plans being drawn up by the council.
Improved footpaths are being considered for the landmark site in Walsall between Aldridge and Pheasey.
Walsall Council chiefs are looking at investing £60,000 on the Barr Beacon quarry bridle path.
They are also looking at footpath and access improvements.
Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said the nature reserve was a popular place and welcomed any investment that could be made.
He said: "There are quite a lot of people who use the bridle path in and around Barr Beacon.
"It is a growing pastime for people.
"We try to encourage people to enjoy the open space.
"Any investment we put into leisure facilities has got to be good for the heath of the nation."
Work will be subject to securing funding and a report to the council states that none is currently earmarked at the present moment.
The authority is considering projects including new outdoor gyms as part of investment in green spaces.
Barr Beacon also hosts the popular Bands On The Beacon music event which attracts thousands of visitors every year.
This year, the event ran across the weekend rather than one day in June.
There were performances by musicians from the area along with headliners including Esther Turner who closed the event on June 27 evening, followed by The Sherlocks the next day.
Barr Beacon is three miles from Walsall town centre and its one of the highest points in the West Midlands.
It offers spectacular panoramic views, and from the top people can see surrounding landmarks including the Wrekin, Cannock Chase, Lichfield Cathedral, Birmingham city centre and the Lickey Hills.
The war memorial is a main focus point of Barr Beacon and is one of Walsall's most recognisable landmarks.
It dates back to 1933 and is made of Portland stone.
The roof used to be made of copper, but after spates of theft and vandalism, the dome was restored with zinc.
Inside the memorial is a pedestal which used to house a mounted 'direction-finder' or topographic disk.
The original 1920 disk was destroyed during the war, and there have been several versions since.
