A £20million regeneration plan for Darlaston has been criticised by a local campaigner as being “a bit wishy-washy”. Alison Humpage said the recently approved 10-year plan looks like something a “Year 10 group of students would hand in for their sociology homework”.
In 2024, Darlaston was awarded £20million to be spent over 10 years as part of the government’s Pride in Place programme. A decision-making board was tasked with creating a plan to be approved by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The plan, now approved by the ministry, was formed using feedback from a survey sent out to Darlaston residents.
What the plan covers
The plan is broken down into safety and security, clean streets and a stronger town centre, green spaces and healthy living, and community and youth provision. It also covers culture and heritage, health and wellbeing, transport and safer roads, and work, productivity and skills. The plan details how the programme will be used to explore opportunities and work with partners to improve areas of concern.
'Alarmingly little detail'
Darlaston resident Alison says the lack of information for how the £20million will be spent over the next 10 years is “alarming”. She also notes that many of the issues touched on in the plan could come under the remit of the council, which residents already pay for through their taxes.
She said: “It doesn’t give us anything. It doesn’t give an overview of the 10-year plan for regenerating a town that’s been left to rot for the last 20 years. Every two years, there’s two million to be spent on projects. But it doesn’t tell us what the money will be spent on. The average resident might read the plan and think it’s great, but I think they might mix what the council can do because that’s part of the taxpayers money. People talk about the roads and cleaner streets and things like that, but that’s down to the council. It’s very alarming. It’s really concerning because it doesn’t give us anything. It doesn’t give us any information that we don’t already know.”
Call for resident representation
Alison has long been a part of a campaign group which has tried to get more residents onto the decision-making board. Of the 16 members, seven of them live in the town, the remainder are people who work in the town or who are specialists in education, housing or crime.
Alison said: “All we’re asking for is more resident representation with voting rights, and we want the board to listen to us. It’s really that simple. Other boards up and down the country have managed to do it, I don’t know what’s so different about Darlaston.” She also called for the finances to be published. Alison added: “The accounts are not published so how do we know where the money’s going and what’s being spent?”
Board chairman responds
Chairman of the board, Manjit Jhooty, said: “The Darlaston Plan for Neighbourhoods provides a 10-year investment programme focused on the priorities residents have told us matter most. We are now working with local people and partners to develop specific projects, including community grants, youth opportunities and initiatives that support local neighbourhoods, businesses and community groups. Resident involvement will remain at the heart of the programme as we turn local priorities into real improvements for Darlaston. Residents have shaped the Darlaston Plan from the start, and their views will continue to guide how this investment is used over the next 10 years. With Government approval for the Darlaston Plan for Neighbourhoods granted, our focus now is on developing projects that deliver real benefits for local people. This is a significant investment in Darlaston and residents rightly expect to see the benefit. We welcome public interest in the programme and will continue working closely with local people to develop projects that reflect community priorities and deliver lasting improvements for the area. We would also encourage residents to keep up to date with the programme and, importantly, to get involved in helping to shape its future. Further information and updates are available through both the Darlaston Plan for Neighbourhoods website and the Walsall Council website. Residents who would like to become more directly involved can also join one of our advisory groups, providing an opportunity for local people, businesses, faith groups and young people to contribute to the development of the Plan. As chair, I am keen that the programme remains open, accessible and led by those who live and work in the area. We want local people to have a meaningful voice throughout the 10-year programme and a genuine opportunity to help shape how this significant investment delivers for Darlaston.”
