Constituency profile
The Dudley South constituency stretches from the rural fringe of the West Midlands at Wall Heath, Kingswinford and Wordsley, through Brierley Hill and Pensnett and up to Netherton & Woodside.
It includes the giant Merry Hill Centre, one of Europe’s largest retail developments, and the adjoining Waterfront business area, home to major organisations like the Inland Revenue, Egg.com and the Child Support Agency.
Merry Hill, the Waterfront and Brierley Hill town centre are being integrated to form the enlarged town centre of Brierley Hill.
A major economic and political focus will see new roads, new public buildings and the planned Midland Metro extension combining to make the area one of the principal centres of the Black Country.
This work is progressing, with a planned £26.5 million health centre designed to deliver outstanding health and social care facilities, which Ian has campaigned for and helped to secure funding and a new road in Brierley Hill set to ease traffic congestion.
As traditional industries change and some jobs are lost, the Black Country is learning to capitalise on its industrial and social history, with a rapidly growing “visitor economy” – and Dudley South is playing a key part.
Wordsley, once a major world centre for glass-making, maintains strong links with its heritage, with Broadfield House Glass Museum and the award-winning Redhouse Cone acting as a magnet for visitors interested in the fascinating history of the industry. Ian was chairman of the Trust that regenerated the Cone.
Netherton, site of the last canal tunnel to be built in they heyday of Britain’s inland waterways, has a long and proud history in heavy engineering – the anchor chain for the Titanic was made at Noah Hingleys foundry in the town.
Another of Netherton’s proud boasts is that it was the the birthplace of spring-jumping champion Joe Darby, born in 1861. A statue showing the athlete in a crouched position, about to leap, stands on the junction of the Halesowen Road and Church Road.
The marvellous beer brewed at Ma Pardoe’s in Netherton and at Batham’s in Brierley Hill is another attraction…