Page 7 - RNT-C02

The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

1973 Japanese company, Marubeni Komatsu decided to settle at Moons Moat.
New Town contract – Royal Square Shops and Market, 1973 – 1975.

Spanish Palm Trees planted in the Kingfisher Centre.

1974 The RDC visited by Mr. John Silkin, Minister for Planning and Local Government.

Local Government re-organization came into effect.

Sir Edward Thompson, Chairman of the RDC, announces his retirement.

Mr. James Cheshire, appointed new Chairman of the RDC.

Southcrest primary road opened at a cost of £1.4 million.

Moons Moat (east & south) industrial estate started.

New Town contract - Car Park 2, 1974 – 1976, Contract E 31.

1975 Church Hill housing estate starts on farmland to the north east of the town centre.

Town Centre Phase III approved.

French company, "Groupe Maison Familiale'', building French type homes at Ipsley.

Consultations with County Council and District Council on Community Land Bill.

John Fraser, Under-Secretary of Employment, discusses industry and jobs on visit.

Phase 11 of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre opened.

(Ecumenical Centre, Worcester Square, F.W. Woolworth and W.H. Smith etc.)

Dr. David Owen, Minister for Health, inspected the Woodrow Hospital site.

New Town contract – Redditch Ringway Phase 1, 1975 – 1977, Contract E 88.

New Town contract – Shopping Centre Phase 2, 1975 – 1976.

First house occupied at Church Hill.

1976 British Leyland withdrew option on Redditch sites for production of new "Metros".

Avon Medicals Ltd., opened its £1.4 million site at Moons Moat.

''Reddibus' starts, giving effect to radical restructuring of public transport routes.

Retirement of Mr. A.M. Grier, C.M.G. as General Manager of RDC.

Retirement of Alderman Harry Watton and Sir Joseph Hunt.

Bill Evans, appointed as General Manager of RDC.

Visit of the Rt. Hon. James Callaghan, Prime Minister, to open Worcester Square.

The Rt. Hon. James Callaghan, visits the Leys High School.

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