Theatre bid for subway

A graffiti-daubed subway in Kidderminster could have a new lease of life as an amphitheatre for outdoor shows in a new regeneration blueprint for the town.

Councillors in Kidderminster have put together the new draft document to change the face of Kidderminster by improving roads, jobs and industry, shopping and housing.

Wyre Forest District Council is now considering a number of regeneration schemes and the draft plan – called Kidderminster Regeneration Plan – will be part of its proposals to breathe new life into the town.

Councillor Fran Oborski, who has helped created the plan with Liberal and Liberal Democrat councillors, said today she believed the amphitheatre could be created at very little cost and was the best solution for the much-maligned subway at the bottom of Comberton Hill.

The underpass has been the scene of a number of attacks over the years and many people are too scared to use it.

She added: "Wyre Forest District Council is leading the regeneration plans for the town. Worcestershire County Council is the highways authority and they want to do something about the Comberton Hill subway as it is generally accepted it is unpleasant and people do not like using it.

"There are two options. One is to fill it in and have a surface crossing.

"This I suspect would be too expensive. The cheaper solution would be to create the amphitheatre. It would make use of the subway and people would no longer feel intimidated using it. There would be seating with central performance space and clean public toilets."

Councillor Helen Dyke said: "Everyone working in the evenings needs to use a subway unless they live in Park Lane."

The comments come after attacks on people in Kidderminster in subways. People have been mugged for cash or their phones. Councillor Dyke added she would like to see subways phased out.