Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
Proud area’s now ‘Chapel Trash’
Thursday 13th December 2007, 11:42AM GMT.
Dirty needles, grand old buildings reduced to play dens for yobs and businesses struggling to survive – welcome to Chapel Trash.
Actually called Chapel Ash, the area is an important gateway to Wolverhampton.
But it has been dubbed a disgrace by prominent city businessman Don Clark, who has compiled a damning dossier of pictures highlighting the “desperate decline” of the area.
The folder, entitled Chapel Trash, has been lodged with council bosses. It includes pictures of the neglected former Charles Clark Rover dealership on the junction of Merridale Road and Lord Street, which is now plastered in flyposters and blighted with broken windows.
Also featured are other once-proud buildings such as the long-closed Tile and Bathroom Centre, which forms part of Attwood House, on the left as drivers approach Tettenhall Road.
The building is owned by Sainsbury’s, which is battling with rivals Tesco to create a supermarket there.
Despite Sainsbury’s tearing down eyesore posters and installing boards to protect it from break-ins, Mr Clark is concerned about the impression it and other derelict buildings are giving to visitors.
The 49-year-old revealed today how during winter, his financial services firm Torquil Clark, based in St Mark’s Church, even employs a security guard to escort staff amid concerns about their safety.
“The value of surviving business in the area is being degraded by the decline of the area,” he said.
“It must be that 90 per cent of the buildings around this area are empty and the 10 per cent that are still in use are suffering while the supermarkets thrash it out.
“What we need now is a quick decision and some commitment from the council to this area. We need someone to bang some heads together and get these supermarkets talking to each other.”
City council officials are set to rule on which store can redevelop the Raglan Street site in the New Year. They will be forced to invoke compulsory purchase powers on the loser to allow its rival to go ahead.
Both were given outline planning consent earlier this year to develop the prime site and each is refusing to give way to the other.
The lion’s share is owned by Sainsbury’s, which has submitted plans to build a £65 million retail park, supermarket, petrol station, private flats and sheltered housing. A smaller proportion of the land is owned by Tesco, which wants to create a 10,000 sqm superstore, petrol station, 11 shops, more than 100 apartments and sheltered accommodation.
Mr Clark described the old Banks’s Brewery garage in Stephenson Street as “declining by the day”. “We saw it start within days of Banks’s moving out over the summer,” he said. “Kids stand inside and throw bricks and other things from the windows. We’ve found the boxes that heroin addicts are given to dispose of their needles safely lying in the street.”
The former Charles Clark Rover dealership has long been a source of complaints having stood derelict for six years. It was put up for sale for £2 million last month after owners, Manchester-based Greenmount, went into receivership. Council chiefs have taken legal action against Greenmount over the condition of the building, which led to a fine of more than £8,000.
Mr Clark said his company was under “increasing pressure” to relocate to Birmingham due to the state of the area.
“I think the only solution for Chapel Ash is to flatten it,” he said.
Wolverhampton City Council confirmed they had received the dossier but were unavailable for further comment.
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I lived in Lord street many years ago, It was always a bit of a building site and i remember playing on what we used to call the old buildings. I was also christened at ST Marks church, which i believe is now offices. The shops always used to look great at this time of year, but the last time i drove through i did think it has really gone down hill in the last few years. It’s a shame as i have good memories of living there.
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Some good news. The Alexandra has reopened after renovation.
Taipei Pete
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What’s this guy on about? The main road through Chapel Ash looks great. Seems like someone doesn’t like the fact that Chapel Ash isn’t as nice as leafy, mansioned Tettenhall when viewed from their BMW 5-series!
What is a disgrace is that developers and powerful supermarkets can hold local communities and planning authorities to ransom until they get there own greedy way.
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visiting Wolverhampton yearly, I find all areas are in disrepair. Dirty pavements, unkept grass, roads not swept, dog dirt everywhere. Where oh where is the pride of the people of Wolverhampton.
The answer, those that are long term unemployed should be put to work and clean the place up.
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Excellent idea. Get the work shy a broom and shovel and have a city clean up! Let’s face it, it’s long overdue.
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I used to live in wolverhampton I
got married in the town in 1966
and still married I left the town
to live abroad I came back took one look at the town then I caught
the next plane back home to TURKEY
the place was bloody filthy dirty
buildings I was digusted at the
place
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Having lived along Tettenhall Road near to Chapel Ash, I must say I can only think that the area hs improved somewhat to how it looked some 3 or 4 years ago. It is, I agree an absolute travesity that private large companies such as Sainsburys/Tesco etc can squabble among themselves whilst leaving derelict areas of this town, only, I will predict to be squatted upon by our “traveller friends”. I must say, however, that I am a dog owner, and have been responsible for having No Fouling signs erected along the Tettenhall Road, and generally speaking, people are very responsible at picking up their dog poo, unlike, I may add, down the pavements of Bantock Gardens and Richmond Road, where there are piles of unleft dog dirt, so how dare the residents of Tettenhall Road and Chapel Ash be taken to task about their behaviour. As for Mr Clark. I am sure it will be no loss for his company to depart the area, as we really do not need any more “financial advisers” anyway, however good he thinks his company is, they sit on their behinds all day pretending to “help” people with their money, they no doubt have their Mercs and BMWs parked (obviously somewhere safe) well out of this den of iniquity. amd then return home to the suberbs of Tettenhall and Finchfield, where, I may add, there is now more crime per capita than the whole of the Chapel Ash area – sorry Mr Clark but you obnviously missed the beautiful flower displays during the Summer, Bella restaurant, (which you probably do not mind visiting yourself sometime), if you don’t like the place, then please leave, I am certain no one will miss you.
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I moved to Wolverhampton 35 years ago and have lived within a stone’s throw of Chapel Ash for the last 6 years. Yes, maybe it is a bit of a mess at the present time, but it’s no worse than anywhere else in this city. ALL of Wolverhampton could do with a face-lift I suppose. Come to think of it, so could Dudley and Walsall and most other places around this area. So let’s stop being so pessimistic and try looking on the bright side. The Combermere Arms got its name back after someone new to the area decided to change it. The Clarendon is a warm welcoming pub with excellent (and cheap) food always available, and the Alexandra has re-opened just in time for the Christmas festivities. (The brewery sign says “Alexandria” – can’t even spell the name right, shame on you!) There are still plenty of shops and businesses and happy people in the Chapel Ash area, so my message to the doom-and-gloom merchants is “Cheer up and stop being so miserable – it’s Christmas!”
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Well said Mr Kirby !
A place full of characters. Happy Xmas to all of ‘em.
The ringroad was a huge mistake all those years ago. The powers that be should knock down the eyesores previously mentioned and put the rubble in the ring road and landscape it.
Build family friendly restaurants,Youth clubs and an art and music centre and a live music venue, make it the entertainment quarter of W-ton.
Those purveyors of classic architecture,(joke) Bank’s Brewery should also chip in and improve the area. Or do they really mean,”unspoilt by progress.”
As for “prominent business man”,Don Clark he should move to Birmingham, renown for its aesthetic qualities, I don’t think.
Long live The ‘Ash.
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I agree it’s taking too long to re-develop Chapel Ash – but look how many squillions of years it’s taken to get the Low-Level under way. Despite everything, the flower displays are always lovely in Chapel Ash. Well done Geoff for spotting the ‘Alexandria’. I thought it was my beer-goggles!
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Chapel Ash is a lovely area – so why oh why do we need more apartments there. The old eye infirmary is being developed into apartments, there are already two high rises in the area, so why the need for more. I am looking to buy my first home and would love to move into the area but i am unable to buy a 1/2 bed apartment because i have 2 children, a boy and girl so would benefit from a three bed house. No such luck for me because i am penalised for having children. Everywhere you go apartments – cater for family living not just the single or couple living !
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Sharon: the reason they are being made into flats is that it’s more cost effective to convert existing buildings than demolish and build new. Can’t see why you’d want to move so close to the City Centre as your Council Tax bill will be massive.
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Chaple Ash will never make the chocolate box cover it could have years ago.
but it will always be a gate way to Wolverhampton.
If you dont like it then take the same road out!!!
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I think you are all missing the point. Read the article. Mr Clark is talking about dumped heroin needles, disused buildings being left to rack and ruin, smashed glass windows, dumped dirty matressess. Yes the main road through Chapel Ash does look ok, but what lurks behind these buildings is the problem. It is a waste of prime land, it’s a poor representation of the city. At least someone is standing up and saying it’s not good enough. To all those who think the area is fine, feel free to live in the squalor, I personally wish more for this city. Well done Mr Clark for saying what so many people around here actually think.
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I lived in wolverhampton four years from 1985 – 1989 I cameback to libya my country 1989 , I was studing at the wolverhampton polytechnic.I made a lot of friends during my stay I lived in bath road in chapelash , iuse to go to the alex pub for drinking , I lost contact with the friends I made , the pub landlord name was terry watson if any body knows him or got his contact details please send them to my Email, also it would absloutly great to see some photos of the place to see what it looks like after all those years . At the moment Ican not afford to go and visit the place I the kabbab house still exists ( please please please sende me few photos of chapelash , bath road ,westland avenue , the alex pub I would be so greatful) the lads use to call me nash or ali ) .
nagmeldeen from Libya
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I lived in wolverhampton four years from 1985 – 1989 I cameback to libya my country 1989 , I was studing at the wolverhampton polytechnic.I made a lot of friends during my stay I lived in bath road in chapelash , iuse to go to the alex pub for drinking , I lost contact with the friends I made , the pub landlord name was terry watson if any body knows him or got his contact details please send them to my Email, also it would absloutly great to see some photos of the place to see what it looks like after all those years . At the moment Ican not afford to go and visit the place I the kabbab house still exists ( please please please sende me few photos of chapelash , bath road ,westland avenue , the alex pub I would be so greatful) the lads use to call me nash or ali ) .
nagmeldeen from Libya
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