CONTROVERSIAL regeneration plans for Kidderminster will go ahead after receiving the backing from Wyre Forest District Council cabinet.

At a recent meeting, cabinet members of the district council backed the ambitious five-year blueprints which the council has been working on with its partners through the ReWyre regeneration programme.

The programme will see the council and its partners spend the next five years carrying out various large scale initiatives including:

Completing the first phase of a £2 million public realm improvement of Kidderminster town centre, due to start in early 2015;

Expanding Weavers Wharf Retail Park and demolishing Crown House to create a new public space at the bull ring;

Making improvements to Kidderminster Railway Interchange by linking the public transport links around the district to the train station;

Starting work on the second phase of the Hoo Brook Link Road to “unlock the full potential” of the former British Sugar site;

Developing an interactive Music Heritage Trail around Kidderminster town centre; and

Re-imagining the Worcester Street and Bromsgrove Street areas by re-opening Worcester Street to traffic and using vacant properties for “meanwhile space”.

Conservative district councillor John Campion, cabinet member for planning and regeneration, said: “I’m very much looking forward to continuing the delivery of real benefits to the residents and businesses of Wyre Forest for the next five years.

“The council is absolutely committed to delivering on its existing commitments such as the £2 million public realm improvement scheme in Kidderminster town centre, but also to finding long term solutions to some of the most challenging and complex sites within the district such as Worcester Street and Bromsgrove Street, rather than applying short term fixes.

“There are always going to be difficulties, whether its CPOing a shop or changing the use of a certain area to a different activity.

“My late great-grandfather said ‘the only thing worse than doing the wrong thing, is doing nothing at all’.”

There are also council plans to deliver the next phase of the Churchfields urban village and further work to attract new businesses to the district, as well as provide support for existing businesses that have plans for growth under an economic gardening idea.

Speaking at the meeting when the plans were agreed upon by cabinet, Liberal and Independent councillor Fran Oborski gave her backing to “exciting” initiative.

“I’m delighted with the report,” she said.

“Everyone is looking forward to the demolition of Crown House and the sooner we are given a demolition date, the sooner the celebrations can start.”

Conservative councillor Marcus Hart, district council leader, said: “We will continue to surge ahead with our regeneration work.

“We will continue to work positively with the two local enterprise partnerships and with our other partners in this crucial work on regenerating the district.”