Women’s Design Group Out and About At Bilston Urban Village 

On Thursday 27 June, the Women Design Group uprooted from their regular meeting place in Wolverhampton to hold their monthly meeting at Bilston Town Hall.  Once in the meeting room sounds vibrated from the wooden floor above where people were practising tea dancing.  It was business as usual.  Chris Irvine, WOW Coordinator introduced Simon Lucas from Bilston Urban Village and Jeff Phelps from Wolverhampton City Council Property Services who had been specially invited to provide the group with an insight on the developments taking place in Bilston.

 

Simon Lucas kick started the presentations and pointed out the main developments which falls under the umbrella of ‘Bilston Urban Village’.

 

1.       Bilston Leisure Centre due to open October 2011

2.       South Bilston Academy (secondary school) due to open September 2012

3.       Primary Community Care Centre (aims to encourage a healthy living lifestyle) due to open 2012

4.       Bilston High Street infrastructure (links the Town Centre)

 

Jeff Phelps showed the group the detailed map of Bilston Leisure Centre and went onto explain that the Leisure Centre will become a focal point in the town which will be three storeys high.  There will be two swimming pools built by Sheppard’s Constructions who are renowned for their designs and reputation in this area. It will have a distinctive glass front on the ground floor of the 25 metre swimming pool, a crèche and array of sport facilities to attract a wide interest from the community including a cafe which is to have a local franchise – yet to be identified.

 

The presentations both by Simon and Jeff resembled a new collation which the group thoroughly enjoyed.  The Women’s Design Group is keen to contribute to new built design to ensure that new buildings is fit for purpose for women and their families in the first instance.  Taking into account disability, security, transportation links, and location etc including affordability to encourage local people to stay in the area and attract wider investment.

 

As part of the meeting the Women’s Design group were taken on a walkabout of the town to see at firsthand the location of Bilston Urban Village through the eyes of the local community.  On the way there was an opportunity for Simon to point out the planned redevelopment for some of the shops and discuss that impact of the £45 million project.

 

PICTURED:

 

Thanks to Simon Lucas and Jeff Phelps for attending our meeting.

  Photos and article by: CJ White, WOW Publicity and Research Officer

 

 

Jeff Phelps Consultation with group on the streets of bilston.

 

Bilston Urban Village site

Wolverhampton Women's Design Group.

If you are interested in the built environment and making our City safer and more user friendly for women please contact Chris on 01902 572122 or chris.irvine@wowonline.org.uk