'Our town is the greatest anywhere' - Bilston traders rally after Town of Culture contest blow

Bilston was among 37 entries from across the West Midlands which submitted an entry in the competition to find Britain’s first town of culture, alongside Dudley, Smethwick, Stafford, Stourbridge, Halesowen, Brierley Hill and Burntwood.

However, the town and, indeed, the rest of the West Midlands was left off the 15 town shortlist announced by the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on Thursday, with only Corby in the East Midlands making the list.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, leader of Wolverhampton Council and deputy regional mayor for the West Midlands, had backed his home town of Bilston for the competition.

He said he was amazed that no town at all in the West Midlands had made the cut, but pledged to carry on fighting for Bilston.

He said: “It’s an absolute disgrace, we have got so much to offer, we’re a gateway to Wales and to the North as well.

“We will carry on regardless, our town is the greatest town anywhere, it’s full of culture.

“It’s a shame we didn’t continue to the shortlist, Bilston and Wolverhampton have got more to offer than any other towns in the country.”

Bilston is a town which has enjoyed a recent lift, with the opening of the brand new outdoor market and the relaunch of the Bilston Carnival among some of the most recent achievements.

Both the outdoor and indoor markets were busy with people looking for bargains and traders selling their wares.

Among those working in the new outdoor market was Nigel Smart, the owner of Chain Store Clothing, who said that he wasn’t overly bothered about any perceived snub as he was happy with the new place he worked in.

He said: “It’s one of those and, to be honest, it’s normal for us, but while it would have been nice to have been considered, we’re not bothered.

“We’re all happy with this new build as it’ll regenerate Bilston and it’s working well as my family have stood here for 52 years, and I’ve been here for more than 30 years, so I think this is all good and positive.

“Being town of culture might have had some benefits, but we’ll go again, try again, and Bilston will continue to build up its reputation.”

Another established trader in the outdoor market, Julie Emery, was happily welcoming people to her stall, JD Produce.

She said Bilston was a great place and said it deserved to be on the shortlist.

She said: “Bilston is a town of culture and is just wonderful, because of the people as I was born in Bilston and the people are just amazing.

“Surely, it can’t be a snub that we’re not on the list, but it is a bad thing as we need to be on the list because Bilston has got so much going for it.

“That includes this new market, which was absolutely packed on the day it opened and we’re still having good days now.”

The indoor market in Bilston also has a lot on offer, with shoppers able to enjoy the air conditioning on a hot day and browse the different stalls.

At GR Pritchard and Son, Andrew Pritchard said it was disappointing to not be on the shortlist, speaking about the highlights of the town.

He said: “It’s very disappointing as Bilston has got a lot going on at the moment and it would have just enhanced it alongside the new market and given it a lift.

“There’s lots going on and it’s a shame it hasn’t succeeded in getting on the list, although I wouldn’t say that we got snubbed.

“It would have been a nice bow to everything that is going on, but the outdoor market is beautiful and has certainly enhanced things around here.”