Saddling up to move with the times
The royal family's official saddle maker is uprooting its 40 strong workforce from a Black Country town centre to a brand new facility just a few miles away – to help it move with the times.
The royal family's official saddle maker is uprooting its 40 strong workforce from a Black Country town centre to a brand new facility just a few miles away – to help it move with the times.
Walsall's Jabez Cliff and Company Ltd, which has the royal warrant, is currently based on Lower Forster Street. Bosses want to open their new factory on Aldridge Road, Aldridge.
It is hoped the new site will give customers with horse boxes somewhere to park, which has proved difficult at the firm's current facilities.
The semi-rural location will include a hi-tech manufacturing area and a "ride in" custom-made saddle fitting service.
The site Jabez Cliff and Company Ltd wants to adapt for its new base is near the Dilke pub. It already features 25 stables, a workshop and a store in a disused single storey property. There is also an open barn building at the site.
Under the firm's plans, bosses will change the main building into a saddlery and bridle work manufacturing plant.
Stables would be used for the company's own horses and customers' horses. A total of 34 parking spaces would be created and new vehicle access would be provided on Aldridge Road.
The company says it needs a new semi-rural location to move with the times and trial and test new products.
Its Walsall base will be refurbished by the council, bosses understand.
Cliff Kirby Tibbits, a director at the company said the current building had served its time. He said: "Trade has changed and we have to adapt with it. The move will mean we are out in the country where people can bring their horses. After all where can people park with a horse box in Walsall town centre?"
"The old building will be rejuvenated and that's what it deserves."
A report to Walsall Council's development control committee states: "The new location and facilities for horses on site would enhance the company's research and help develop programmes through the ability to trial and test new products on different-shaped horses and over jumps."
Planning permission looks set to be given at tomorrow's meeting but will be dependant on certain conditions such as adequate means to drain the site.
