Final fair for Rowley Regis village green as super school bulldozers move in (From Halesowen News)

Final fair for Rowley Regis village green as super school bulldozers move in

12:30pm Thursday 9th July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

THE last of the summer fairs on Rowley Regis village green after 25 years will leave a bitter taste as the bulldozers get ready to tear up the community site.

Despite their disappointment, parishoners of St Giles Church hope the final fair this Saturday (July 11) will “go with a bang” as they pull out all the stops to make it a memorable event.

Most of the village green, off Hawes Lane, is to be torn up to make an access into the new £42 million super school which is to be built on the former Rowley Regis Collage site, leaving an area too small to host the community event.

Parochial Church Council secretary Cheryl Attwood said: “There’s been quite a lot of upset about this and we did try to get the council to change its mind but the plans have been drawn up.

“It’s not only the summer fair but the green is used for dog walking and children play on it.”

The annual fun event raises about £1,500 and Cheryl predicted vital church income would be lost as future scaled-down fairs in the church hall would not raise as much money.

It is hoped Saturday’s fair – from noon until 3pm – will attract a big crowd to enjoy a host of stalls, games, sideshows, a bouncy castle and refreshments including a barbecue.

There will also be performances of song and dance by Phoenix Productions in the arena and a flower festival in the church, opposite the green, following the theme of popular hymns, plus the chance to sponsor the organist to play a favourite hymn or piece of music.

A start date on the building of the super school – made up of St Michael’s Secondary, Westminster Special School and the Whiteheath Pupil Referral Unit – is due next week with completion expected in 2011.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)