Bromsgrove is ‘on its knees’ and some urgency needs to be injected into regeneration plans, say two councillors.

The district council have been accused of ‘papering over the cracks’ and lacking vision.

The joint call for action came from Sidemoor Councillor Sue Douglas and the leader of the independents on the council, Councillor Steve Colella.

Councillor Douglas said: “I‘m growing more and more frustrated with the lack of vision for Bromsgrove and, in particular, the future of the town.

“I’ve been a long-time supporter of the Artrix and have been extremely disappointed by its closure and apparent bleak future.:

She said she had been saddened when watching a meeting of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny board meeting and its discussions about the market update and the ‘Covid recovery framework.’

She complained of a lack of involvement by the ward councillors directly connected to the town wards.”

Councillor Colella called on the council to ensure town centre ward councillors were directly involved by the Economic Development team.

Cllr Colella said: “My amendment was designed to try and instil some urgency into any plans that would see the re-generation of Bromsgrove Town.

“Like all other towns of similar size, Bromsgrove is on its knees. This has been coming for years with consumer behaviour switching from direct shopping trips to the couch.

“Now, with Covid and the further demise of major high street brands the traditional shopper trips are a part of the past.

“There is no longer needed to invest in expensive high street rents to sell all types of goods and services. My amendment was to stop papering over the cracks, involve the Town centre ward councillors and bring forward its regeneration.”

The amendment was rejected.