AN ambitious long term vision for the future of Bromsgrove has been set out by a leading resident.

Graham Reddie, president of the Bromsgrove Society, has put forward his own views on how he thinks the town should move forward.

These include a landing strip for small private aircraft, residential use of the upper floors to High Street shops and replacing the High Street by creating two squares.

Mr Reddie, a retired architect and town planner, said that unless there was a vision the town could become a mere dormitory where most people drive elsewhere to work, to shop and for entertainment, a town with no heart and little future.

“Only a long term plan for 20-25 years ahead has any hope of successful completion in stages to ensure satisfactory development,” said Mr Reddie.

“The principal problems are first finding and agreeing to a suitable vision, arranging the finance and creating the will to see it through.”

Mr Reddie said that as Bromsgrove sits astride the Advantage West Midlands high technology corridor it could achieve fame by creating a real transport interchange with a landing strip for small private aircraft on flat land south of the proposed new railway station in Aston Fields.

He said that this proposal would add much stature to Bromsgrove’s place in north Worcestershire and increase the desirability of the town as a work place and residential area.

A frequent, reliable and quick bus service should then connect the transport centre with the town centre. Mr Reddie also suggests replacing the High Street by creating two squares, a small covered one and a larger open one.

The dividing line could be a new two-storey building near the Housman statue retaining the best of the listed buildings to the south, including the former Baylis store and the Golden Cross pub.

The area could be paved and covered with long-life polycarbonate sheet supported on wires stretched across the square, which could be open and closed to suit the weather conditions.

The larger square could have a grass strip beside Spadesbourne Brook with trees and shrubs where shoppers and office workers could relax and another paved area with concrete seats so people can watch films and sport on a large screen wall to the proposed ice-rink building.

Mr Reddie also thinks that in the short term the council should encourage the residential use of the upper floors to the High Street shops to bring some vitality back to the centre after the shoppers and shopkeepers have gone home.