Coal merchants hunts for home

One of the region's only remaining coal merchants fears he may be forced to move to Worcestershire after 60 years because the land he uses has been sold for homes.

Phil Rush, director of Charlton Whitehouse fuels at The Old Coal Yard, Rowley Regis, wants help finding a new home for his business but fears that despite lots of loyal customers and coal now being "in vogue" the York Road business will struggle to find a new home locally and may have to move from Sandwell as there is so little open land available there.

Former business partner John Jeffrey decided to sell the land soon after retiring.

Ravencroft Developments has applied for planning permission for five three bed and nine two bed homes.

Mr Rush said that although he had been looking for a base for at least 18 months there were very few suitable ones in an urban area like Sandwell.

He said: "We have a lot of loyal customers and we are doing pretty well. Coal is in vogue. We are one of only coal merchants left of our size in the Sandwell and Birmingham area.

"However, it's not easy to find a new home. We have a lot of customers in Sandwell and the West Midlands but we may have to move further afield such as Worcestershire where there's more land."

The yard was formerly called Whitehouse brothers owned by three brothers Geoff, Jack and Howard. They took it over in 1957 but Mr Rush says it was a coal yard before then, having started in 1947.

Howard Whitehouse served on Sandwell Council until the mid 1990s and was later an honorary alderman. Mr Rush employs six people at the site and said that the yard is a viable business.

He said: "More and more people are opening up old fireplaces and putting in multi-fuel stoves,

"Of course business is very seasonal. We aren't expecting people to have fires burning 12 months a year, but we are seeing an increase in the number of people using coal, and November to February are very busy times.

Anyone who has land that may be suitable should call 0121 559 1253.

by Rebecca Jones