Page 6 - RNT-C02

The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

1970 Halfords relocates its offices & distribution depot to Washford area.
New Town contract - Car Park 1 extension, Contract E 206.

New Town contract – Car Park 4, 1970 – 1971, Contract E 112.

New Town contract – Coventry Highway, 1970 – 1972.

New Town contract – Shopping Centre Phase 1, 1970 – 1972, Contract 20/516.

1971 First house occupied at Matchborough.

Board approved plans for Transport Interchange and public transport routes.

Southcrest Hotel opened.

Title ''Kingfisher'' adopted for new Shopping Centre.

Declaration of intent by Serck Services to build £500,000 factory at Washford.

Government directive on ''Sale on Rented Housing'' issued.

Government White Paper on “A fair Deal for Housing'' issued.

Peter Walker, Secretary of State for the Environment, re-opens Palace Theatre.

Leys High School opened. Headmaster G. M. Anstis, J.P.

Redditch MP, Terry Davis, opens link to western distributor road.

First multi-storey car park opened.

New Town contract – Transport Interchange 1, 1971- 1973, Contract E 52.

New Town contract – Transport Interchange 2, 1975 – 1976.

1972 Arrow Valley lake, 27 acre man-made site completed.

Board approved visits to Germany, Japan and U.S.A. to attract overseas firms.

First Ugandan Asian families settled in Redditch.

Reginald Eyre, Parliamentary Under-sec. of State, opened £1.5m Coventry Highway.

1973 Visit of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Edward Heath.

First phase of Kingfisher Shopping centre opened.

Approval of Ecumenical Centre project.

100th Board meeting.

Visit to Japan by Jim Cheshire and Norman More.

Proposals received for expansion of designated area.

Sidney Chapman, MP, plants millionth tree in the ''Plant a tree for 1973 campaign".

Page: 30