Councillors have met in Burntwood to discuss how to accelerate regeneration in the town.
The elected representatives visited Sankey’s Corner amid calls to “level up” the area.
Cllr Sue Woodward, leader of Burntwood Town Council, said efforts to regenerate the town centre had hit the buffers after suffering from a lack of investment for a number of years.
She said the meeting with the deputy leaders of Lichfield District Council and Staffordshire County Council – Cllr Iain Eadie and Cllr Philip White – had been a chance to examine the opportunities available.
“With Government grants being promised to improve high streets and recover from the impacts of the pandemic, we have redoubled our efforts to bring public grants to Burntwood.
“I was pleased that Philip and Iain accepted our invitation to look at both the current challenges and the opportunities to make a real difference here.
“We are continuing to press them on investing in Sankey’s Corner initially, but also to bring forward a proper action plan for the whole of the town – a Blueprint for Burntwood – which the district council has now promised as an Area Action Plan flowing from the new Local Plan.”
Cllr Sue Woodward, Burntwood Town Council
Cllr Darren Ennis, deputy leader of the town council, said the investment spotlight needed to be shone on Burntwood rather than just Lichfield.
“For too long, the district council’s focus has been on investing in the city of Lichfield with millions of pounds having been poured into the failed Friarsgate scheme – a fraction of that money would have transformed Sankey’s Corner for a start.
“While we recognise that they need now to bring forward a scheme for the Birmingham Road Site and for a replacement leisure centre in Lichfield, we don’t want Burntwood to be forgotten again.
“I think the councillors and officers were all interested in what we were suggesting and I just hope they’ll come up with the goods.”
Cllr Darren Ennis, Burntwood Town Council
