19 March 2008
The developer behind the West Midlands' largest regeneration project, St Modwen, went back to school to give pupils at the nearby St Columba's Catholic Primary School in Rednal a lesson on the history of Longbridge and an insight into how the former MG Rover works will be transformed.
Located on Lickey Road, St Columba's is just a short distance from St Modwen's office at Longbridge Technology Park, from where the developer is coordinating the £750 million regeneration of the area. Mike Murray, senior development manager for St Modwen, visited the school along with Colin Corke, vicar of Longbridge and local history enthusiast.
Together Mike and Colin presented to a class of Year Five children. Their talk included information on the site’s world renowned car manufacturing heritage and little known facts such as how the Thomas The Tank Engine stories have their origins in Longbridge. The pupils were also given an overview of how the area is set to undergo massive changes over forthcoming years and how they will see this transformation take place around them.
Mike Murray said: "St Modwen recognises the importance of building strong community links within the areas in which it has a presence, and takes very seriously its corporate social responsibility obligations. With the level of local interest surrounding the regeneration of Longbridge and the long term commitment St Modwen has made to the future of the area, we have looked to forge relationships with key community groups from the outset.
"St Columba's has previously shown an interest in progress at Longbridge and the school is keen to be engaged with any future plans for the area. Last summer the pupils sat across the road from the site and watched as diggers demolished the buildings that formed the South Works. However on this occasion Colin Corke and I visited the school to talk to the pupils about how the area has changed throughout the years, its former uses and how the regeneration is gathering pace as Longbridge enters a new era.
"When this group of nine year old children reaches school leaving age, the regeneration of Longbridge will be well on its way to creating 10,000 jobs and thousands of new homes across this key site. The prospect of this makes school visits and presentations such as this a very worthwhile and rewarding experience for all parties."
Just minutes from St Columba's school, the next phase of preparation work is under way at Longbridge, with an extensive investigation and ground clearing programme in progress. At Longbridge West, fronting the A38 Bristol Road South, remediation works are preparing the ground for the proposed new regional investment site, new homes and parks planned by developer St Modwen and joint land owner Advantage West Midlands.
Carol Laverty, teacher at St Columba's, said: "With the school being located in the heart of Longbridge, there is little doubt that the lives of our pupils and their families stand to be touched by progress at the development. It was therefore a great coup for us to host a presentation from two people so closely linked to the area’s past and its future. Both Mike and Colin captured the imagination of the Year Five pupils and as a school we see this as great step towards building a long term relationship with St Modwen."
