A former employee at a demolished Lichfield factory has spoken of his disappointment that a historic feature of the site was not kept.
The buildings that previously housed GKN have been cleared from the land at Trent Valley.
The site has been earmarked for redevelopment for a number of years, with suggestions it could house a new retail scheme.
But Mick Edmunds, who once worked at the site, told Lichfield Live he was disappointed that a sandstone facade was not saved.
“I went to see what has become of my old workplace now the demolition contractors have moved in.
“I’d contacted local councillors and Lichfield District Council in November to see if the red sandstone facade that was originally over the front entrance to the original building before being moved to the car park could be incorporated somehow into the new development.
“Over the 60 years it was used, lots of families worked there from across the area.
“Keeping the facade would have been a fitting tribute to all their hard work over the years.
“I and lots of other ex-workers would have appreciated the council backing this idea.”
Mick Edmunds
Mr Edmunds started at GKN in 1979, working in the toolroom and as a union official before he was made redundant in 2006.
“It was a great place to work back in those days – there was a football team, gardening club, bowling teams and good Christmas parties for the kids.
“We had some bad times like most people working for the car industry, but we made lots of things for other industries too such as mesh filters, locking fixtures for fencing to keep kangaroos out of land in Australia and washing machine parts.”
But despite his pleas, the sandstone facade has bitten the dust along with the rest of the buildings.
“It’s a pity that some people didn’t take more interest in this idea for the people that worked at the former GKN Bound Brook site.”
Mick Edmunds
I was really hopeful that they would keep the dated archway that stood at the front but sadly it was not to be!!
Sadly Mr Edmunds it is not only the facade that has bittern the dust. That part of Lichfield had a good few light engineering factories and employed many local people. You might have thought the council would have encourage them!? Retail units (and housing) seem to be the height of planning imagination now.
Did he have a reply from the council and a reason for not retaining it. Seems like a reasonable request to me.
Don’t be too upset Mick because the best bits ( the stones with the names Bound Brook and the leaping Deer ) were sent to Bound Brook Italy when they were removed from the original office building facade many years ago and as far as I know are still treasured ?
The lone fir tree was still standing last time I passed over the weekend; I wonder howong that will survive?
Adam I remember helping to plant those trees . there were 25 of them to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Anniversary for her reign so it must have been 1978 ? Ron Neville was the bloke in charge of us peasants !!!
They could do with demolishing more of that area. Rebuild the roundabout. Hide the industrial units somehow. It’s a really ugly entrance to Lichfield.
It’s no surprise the council didn’t respond or take ideas on board, it means work!
@Dean, never mind replacing the existing ugly entrances to Lichfield, the Council recently approved a new one! At Birmingham Road, were distribution sheds will be built. Until we get the current incompetent set out of Lichfield decision-making roles nothing will change.
Makes you wonder whether our decision-makers care very much about local history.
@Simon… Lichfield Council has managed to turn a silk purse into a pigs ear. No mean feat.
I visited Hereford last week end; admittedly a larger city but with similar characteristics. A Cathedral (with an excellent cafe), a super market square and abundant shops. I know you can see other places through rose tinted glasses but our council could clearly learn from them.
To be balanced… lt is the proximity of other and larger shopping places that holds Lichfield back. It really needs some imaginative thinking to raise its profile. The present policies are risible.
Couldn’t agree more Philip. Hereford is one example, there are many more. Lichfield is being left behind as usual. The height of their imagination is high density 2/3 bed housing estates.