Noddy backing £50m lottery bid

Former Slade frontman Noddy Holder today threw his weight behind the Black Country’s bid for £50 million in lottery cash to turn the region into an urban park.

The flamboyant pop star pledged his support for the bid as it was announced he would be the third person to be honoured in the Midlands Walk of Stars at Brindleyplace in Birmingham.

Walsall-born Noddy, who now lives in Manchester, spoke of his affection for the region, and said it was important more was done to make people recognise the Midlands’ role in art and culture.

He said he was well aware of the lottery plans, which includes the creation of an underground tourist attraction in the limestone caverns at Dudley’s Wrens Nest nature reserve, improvements to the canals around Wolverhampton, and “green bridge” linking Walsall and West Bromwich town centres.

The bid will be broadcast on ITV tonight, and tomorrow morning the phone number for people to call and vote will be published in the Express & Star. It is up against schemes to expand the Eden Project in Cornwall, create more cycleways nationally and improve facilities in Sherwood Forest.

Noddy said he would be casting his vote for the Black Country bid, adding: “I hope it is successful, it would be very good for the area.”

The singer will be taking to the canals himself on Sunday when he appears on a glam-rock influenced narrowboat during the Broad Street Canal Boat Light Parade in Birmingham.

His vessel will be one of 20 illuminated boats winding their way from the city’s National Indoor to the Mailbox.

Other groups represented include the Rep and Crescent theatres, Girl Guides and businesses from the city.

Noddy will officially be awarded his star at 6pm on Sunday from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Randall Brew at the Brindleyplace canalside where the Hollywood-style walk is being created.

He follows in the footsteps of Black Sabbath wildman Ozzy Osbourne and comic Jasper Carrott, who were the first two Midlanders to be honoured at the attraction. Noddy is the first of the stars to come from outside Birmingham.

He said he was delighted with the honour. 

“I’m really chuffed to be getting a star,” said Noddy. “I’m in good company, Ozzy got the first, Jasper got the second, and they are great people.

“I think this walk is not just good for me, but it is good for the Midlands. Birmingham and the Midlands gets overlooked, they always mention London, Liverpool or Manchester, saying they have made the greatest contribution but that’s nonsense, the Midlands has always had the best, and that applies to any decade.”

Noddy was today joined by former EastEnders’ actress Michelle Collins in backing the Black Country, after being told about it by her friend Michael Cashman, also a former EastEnder and now a local Euro MP.

She said “All these projects are very worthy, but the Black Country Urban Park will get my vote for two big reasons.

“Firstly it will mean that 800,000 people will be a 15-minute walk away from safe and attractive green spaces, as a mother I know how important that is . 

“Secondly it will save one of the world’s most important geological features, the limestone caverns at Wren’s Nest, allowing 400 million years of geology to be explained.”