Great Bridge lions are roaring! Landmark statues gifted to the town

Tony Roper – who rescued the two statues and got the council to install them on the roundabout back in 2002 – said he was proud the lions would be looked after for generations to come.

Mr Roper agreed to gift the statues to the council with the late leader of the council, councillor Darren Cooper.

Mr Roper and councillor David Hosell, cabinet member for highways and environment, met at the roundabout to officially mark the gifting of the statues.

Tony said: "I've done my bit and am very proud at what's being done.

"The lions have become a real landmark and people from far and wide recognise them and associate them with Tipton and Great Bridge."

Councillor Hosell said: "Tony has done an excellent job holding onto these lion statues, which are very well known in the area and passed by thousands of motorists every day.

"We thank Tony for gifting them to the council and we will make sure we look after them now and in the future."

As chair of Great Bridge Traders Association, Mr Roper bought the statues and they were moved from their previous location by the then Burnt Tree Island.

They were situated at the entrance to Sawyers Restaurant (and the former premises of Roman Mosaic ceramics factory).

They were installed on the roundabout in Great Bridge, where Horseley Heath, Market Place, Great Western Way and New Road meet, in 2002 to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Councillor Hosell confirmed the council would be giving the statues a clean-up in the coming months.

In recent months, it was announced that plans for redevelopment within Great Bridge could also be on the cards following the sale of a former car park.

It was intended that the former market traders' 100-space car park in the town centre would have been sold by May, but after an offer fell through it was put back on the market until June.

Councillor Pete Allen, who represents the Great Bridge ward, said that after two bids had fallen through he was happy to see it sold at last.

He explained: "It has taken a while, because two companies put bids in that were below expectation. But following a follow-up offer, it's now at the contract stage.

"At the minute, no further information has been disclosed about the buyer, price or what could be built there.

"Even though a residential development would be preferred, we are open to offers, including even a mix of retail and homes. I am just happy to see the sold signs go up."