A multi-million pound project to transform derelict underground caverns in Dudley into a top-class tourist attraction is of “international significance,” a government minister said today.
Tourism minister Shaun Woodward MP said there was a “compelling” case for lottery funding to be allocated to the £50 million project around Wrens Nest and the Seven Sisters caves.
The minister was in Dudley at the request of town MP Ian Austin and took a boat trip into caves known as the Singing Caverns while has was told all about the plans.
After the trip, the minister told the Express & Star he would be giving his full backing to the plans with a ringing endorsement. He said: “This site is not just of local importance, not even just of national importance, but of international significance.
“When you realise that Wrens Nest is one of the five most important geological sites in the world, it makes you realise how important it is for this project to succeed.
“To call it just an attraction is to massively understate its importance.
“It is compelling historically, educationally and scientifically. I would urge anyone to come and see this because it is so exciting and interesting. The case for funding is compelling.”
The visit follows a parliamentary question asked by Dudley North MP Mr Austin, who invited the minister for tourism to come to the town to see the contribution the attractions were making to the regeneration of the town.
The scheme is competing against projects, including a desert dome at The Eden Project and a visitor attraction at Sherwood Forest for lottery cash.
3 Comments
It has happened in TUNISIA and SPAIN - why not Dudley ?
Yes Dudley once again grabing the lions share of any money coming into the Black Country, Shame on them as they have totaly forgoten & deliberatly ignored the rest of the Bouroughs towns & there needs for Tourism.
Dudley is Not the one town that claims it’s Black Country Heritage but you would think it. Brierley Hill, Cradley Heath,Qurry Bank, Lye , Netherton, Stourbridge, I could go on with many of the areas that have been neglected by Dudleys Me! Me! Me! attitude.
So stop being selfish and share the tourism, you won’t loose out as you will get your council taxes & all the benefits of Tourism in the Bourough as a whole.
Just to mention Stourbridges Historic Town ! What the Glass was taken away from the town and any other place of Intrest has been shuned i.e.- The “Stourbridge Lion” how much time has been wasted by not looking after the factory site this most Historic Train was built on, the first Train to run in America. For Gods sake pull your finger out & build an engineering Training Centre & Visitors Centre there with a full size replica of the “Stourbridge Lion”.
Also talking about Amazing Caves & Tunnels let the people of Stourbridge decide if they want a Tourist attraction and open up the
miles & miles of tunnels that run all under Stourbridge & beyond these Tunnels are at least 400 yrs old & amazingly in very good condition, very similar to Notinghams Caves & Tunnels in Sandstone and are used for Tourism every day.
So the Tourism Minister Mr Shaun Woodward MP, I would request a meeting and I would be Glad to show you around the Historic sights & places of Stourbridge.
Yours
Christopher R Armfield
Great idea to promote true black country, but most areas included in it, aren’t part of it.
The region as a whole needs supporting ie Birmingham region, so lets come together and stop squabbling over the scraps.
The south east and north west seem to be able to come together as one, but people here seem to never move on and continue to live in the 1700’s.
face facts birmingham is the brand for the region and anything other would be futile due to size and limited history. No wonder we miss out on so much when we may have civic pride but urban divide.