What Is That?!

Wh-wh-what! So I take it this is what they have been doing on the roundabout at the top of Brownhills High Street? I never thought I would see anything like this in Brownhills, but, and here is where I disagree with your point of view, I’m glad I can.

So obviously, this comes from somebody with an artistic background, but let me tell you why I think this is a good thing.

Firstly, yes £70,000 could be spent on other more deserving public services, but you know, as publicly commissioned sculptures go, this is cheap at half the price! When things like this usually turn up on roundabouts, they tend to have cost several million pounds (which I would agree is too much), but this seems like a fair price given it’s scale, and associated construction costs.

Let’s not forget too that this is also part of a far bigger regeneration plan in the town. New homes, a new Library and Health centre (renovating a local historic building in the process), alongside many other improvements on the High Street.

However, this is why I think this is a good thing. What is Brownhills known for? What is your first impression of Brownhills. I know my thoughts are hardly positive.

This is a way of generating interest in the town, be it local news, work of mouth etc, and get people to notice Brownhills, for more positive reasons. With that they will also find out about these other improvements and hopefully see that the town is turning a corner, and hopefully becoming the sort of town you have said your parents moved to originally.

I just hope that the current residents of the town appreciate this for what it is, and don’t try and bring the town down again. The council and local groups are obviously trying to make Brownhills a more desirable place to live (which in turn generates more local income and opportunities). It’s about bloody time!

http://www.walsall.gov.uk/news/giant_miner_sculpture_to_rise_over_brownhills.htm

Yes! Good comment.

I guess this statue could represent a new hope for the area. I really agree with your last paragraph, lets hope eh?

i agree with lloydy, hopefully this is a fresh start for brownhills, as the place (like most of walsall bar the town centre) has been run down for years, but how much do u bet within a week he’ll have grafitti up to his knees lol

Being not a brownhills child I shouldn’t really comment.. apart from the fact it looks silly in proportion with the rest of the surrounding landscape -even though you did get a good photo for this blog jon.

Saying that, I was grid locked on the car park on the day of construction (as you know there is 2 routes in to Tescos, but 1 out), so I wasn’t happy before I saw the eye sore.

Thanks Matt, wish I could take credit for it, but this was taken by John Williams

I agree with Lloydy and have to say that it looks quite good for a random piece of metal. Things like that are like mushrooms in France.
I like that it stands out. It’s made to. If it didn’t it’d have failed it’s prupose.
NB: They made it relevant to the area!
And it makes a good landmark! There won’t be 2 like it will there.
I’ve still not figured out what that weird coin thing on the Podium in Walsall is meant to be about. Hmmm.
Let’s watch and see how it weathers & ages and whether it does help Brownhills peeps lift their eyes from their usual horizons then…

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this. My only criticisms are that it should be facing down and visible from the High Street. Too late for that though!
On the whole, a positive step in the right direction - Brownhills has needed some regeneration over the last few decades and I for one admire this step forward. Who was the artist, by the way, a local person?

I think its great! Don’t ask me why, maybe because it adds what seems to be heritage to the place. I’ve lived in Brownhills for the past 19 years and now being 24, that makes it most my life.

My parents used to own the shop and post office, which meant talking to a lot of residential people. Minning was a big thing! I’m not too keen on government or councils spending a lot of money on useless things, but this I must say, its nice.

when i first saw the statue i nearley crashed the car. I thought we could not have anything as good as that in brownhills,we usually come bottom of the list for anything of importance. ithink it will put brownhills on the map.its good to see the old council offices done up, but the clock seems to have a mind of its own. I think we need more big stores to bring in the punters, and shop rates to drop so we can fill the spaces left.

I live in the brownhills area and have only heard good things said about the new statue, a lot of people are already very proud of it, there is a lot more to be done to improve the local image like better shops and tidying up of some areas. i have also heard that some surrounding towns are quite jealous of our new addition,
would it be possible to make the lamp light up?