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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town
The purpose built local district centres in Winyates, Woodrow, Church Hill have all failed
to inspire communities and become the “heart” of their new “village”.
Vandalism has led to the need for security shutters in the evenings and graffiti is a constant
problem. Ornamental features like the pond in Church Hill was soon filled in and the local
public houses gained bad reputations. A sad case of the optimistic vision of the planners
not being realised in reality.
In 2013/2014 we are seeing a re-thinking with the demolition of the old “new” centre in
Church Hill and its rebuilding.
A new medical centre, dental practice, pharmacy and other retail units have already been
completed and the former centre is now being razed to the ground in preparation for new
housing. We await the fate of the other centres.
It will be interesting to look back in another 50 years to see if these second generation
community centres withstood the test of time.
But even as we complete preparation for this exhibition the development is coming under
criticism for lack of parking spaces.
The first phase of the new Church Hill centre opened in late 2013.
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