I have some really good stuff planned in the next few weeks here on the blog, and I offer this remarkable newspaper clipping as a foretaste of the fascinating stuff to come. This article ties in with recent themes, and will also lay the ground for some upcoming material.

The young David Evans has been doing sterling work of late, talking to the Proffitt family about Councillor William Henry Proffitt, who was a highly respected member of Brownhills Urban District Council for many years. William was part of the Hyla John Holland era of the authority, believing in good social housing, health, sanitation, slum clearance and open spaces for all.

The Proffitt family have offered some stunning material, like the news clipping below, detailing the plans for Chasewater, newly renamed from Norton Pool. They are clearly ambitious, and didn’t quite come to fruition. In these cynical days it’s easy to knock – but these were optimistic people in an enlightened time when public spending was perceived to be for the public good.

I’d like to thank David and the Proffitt family for their generosity and hard work that has enabled some remarkable history to be uncovered. Please stay tuned for more.

I have not information as to the date or source paper for this, but I suspect early 1960s Wasall Observer or Express & Star. Clipping from the Proffitt family collection. Click for a larger version.

The council in session

By William V. Jolly,
our municipal correspondent 

NOT content with the valuable. contributions which its rich coal seams have made to the county’s wealth in the past, Brownhills urban district has far-reaching plans for welfare and recreational facilities for the people of South Staffordshire.

Breaking ambitiously into the field of public enterprise, members of the council have obtained control of one of the largest stretches of water in the Midlands area and aim to turn it into a pleasure centre for the young and old.

The scheme, estimated to cost £54,000 in its initial stages, would transform Chasewater (formerly known as Nor­ton Pool) into a Mecca for sailing, rowing and motor boating, swimming and paddling – not to mention the tennis courts and putting greens, against a background of embank­ment and ornamental gardens.

Within a very few years the council considers there would be days on which something in the region of 50,000 people would seek pleasure and recreation there.

Council ownership would pre­vent trashy and undesirable fea­tures, such as merry-go-rounds, sideshows and skittle alleys.

The scheme has already captured the imagination of many sporting organisations, who are bound to back the council’s request to Staf­fordshire County Council for financial support.

OPEN SPACES

Parks and recreation grounds, however, have always had a prominent place in the plans of this urban district council and the area, happily, is now well served by open spaces.

This has proved to be an important asset in the council’s development plans – plans which include dwellings to house overspill families from Walsall and Birmingham.

In 1931 the council embarked on direct labour scheme policy and to date more than 1,145 homes ihave been erected by the department.

The council now owns 2,280 houses, 877 of which have been built… [Last line of clip missing] …Walsall overspill scheme 112 houses have been completed already, and and building will continue at the rate of 55 houses a year. Starting next year, there will also be 50 houses a year for the people from the congested areas of Birmingham.

New industries are being attracted to the area, the council having developed 26 acres for this purpose since the war. Another site of 26 acres is being prepared.

Brownhills U.D.C. seal, as described in the article.

Meanwhile, the council is pressing ahead with slum clearance schemes which, in the next five years, will add 600 houses to the total of 189 already demolished. More than 1,000 people living in slum dwellings have already been rehoused.

CIVIC CENTRE

When the credit squeeze is relaxed the council hopes to put in hand redevelopment plans for the High-street area which will include a new civic centre.

Improvements have been carried out to the district’s sewage disposal works and new plans ‘on the drawing board’ include one for the Clayhanger area, estimated to cost up to £40,000.

The council is responsible for 50 miles of roads and the majority of these have been improved by the installation of new lighting systems.

I found the council’s intricate seal particularly intriguing. It depicts the Saxon chieftain Cutha, who was buried after being killed in battle at Shire Oak. The Staf­fordshire knot is incorporated, and the figure 1894 denotes the year of inauguration of the urban district council, which adopted the seal in 1930. Aptly the motto reads, ‘No turning aside.’

There are 14 members on the council, the longest serving coun­cillor being Mr. S. T. Breeze, who was first elected in 1928. The chairman  Councillor William Henry Proffitt, is also a county councillor.

Mr. Norman Waine, clerk to the council since 1929, was formerly at Sandown, Isle of Wight.