HELLO! And welcome to the possible future of Stourbridge, a future that cares about the town and its community.

Here are some sensible ideas with the people of Stourbridge in mind; lets use our resources that have been neglected: - 1) The Old Library/Art College (Should be photographed for prosperity) Not a bad idea apartments, shame it couldn't have staged part of the Art College.

2) The Old General Post Office A classic post office for over 100 years, now an empty shell, if there is something we need is a place for all the students to meet to unwind, a communication centre be fitting for such a building.

3) The Old Bank/Yorkshire Bank Central to the town, this classic and historic building should be Stourbridge's own Museum & Art Gallery. Other towns have museums & art galleries. So why not Stourbridge.

After all Stourbridge has a great Creative History with Glass, Fine Arts etc, and the Bank itself is of great Historic importance, as in the 17th Century it became the site where a document for the price of iron was signed for the whole of the country.

Oh what a history our town has. Yet not many people know what treasures we have under our feet. Our ancestors would be turning in their graves. If you have any ideas or think these ideas are good, write to your MPs, newspapers and council and make a difference, a better one for Stourbridge's community and their future.

PS - We once had five cinemas at one time, and now we have none. Let's have at least one cinema back in the town.

We all agree Stourbridge needs to have a better shopping centre on the site of the Crown Centre.

My concerns are, for such a small town thanks to planners who allowed the Ring Road years ago, how much chaos it will cause in its demolition and construction. Being near the ring road and the problems it will cause for parking in town, wont it put visitors & shoppers off, causing a knock on effect to the small traders with foot fall, will the local authorities aid those shops when their income is strangled by the cause and effect of the Crown Centre's rebirth and chaos to the town centre?

Why, when you actually take a good look at the town centre are there over 26 premises empty making Stourbridge look like a ghost town. Lets hope the powers that be know what there planning and that the New Crown Centre isn't going to be a "Big White Elephant" at the cost of the smaller businesses loosing trade due to its resurrection.

Also why oh why do architects and planners design buildings that don't really fit into original town's building styles. At least one building company who designed and built the Apartments in Lower High Street had the perfect approach and their buildings were aesthetically pleasing to the eye and complimented Stourbridge's classic building styles.

Unlike the abomination that has been drafted up for the Crown Centre, it looks like a sterile version of a 60's institution. I thought we had got past the bad designs of the 60s and 70s.

And its really bad idea to build luxury apartments on top of a shopping centre/car park. Just use your noggin and think about it.

C. Armfield Stourbridge