 When the present Madeley shopping centre was opened about forty years ago, it was seen by some as the beginning of a new age – a state-of-the-art construct which would soon revitalise a run-down area. Sadly the 1960s planning was flawed and other new shopping ventures to the north soon attracted customers away, rendering the period of success transitory.
It became clear that a new concept was needed for Madeley and over the last fifteen years we have travelled a fairly rocky road of plans, objections, false dawns and controversy. At last we now see work in progress on a new centre, to include a substantial Tesco supermarket, car parking, retail and residential units and the return of the through-road from the High Street to Park Avenue past the Anstice Hall. Whilst this will inevitably mean a period of construction, disruption and inconvenience, in the longer term it will provide a sustainable future for our Centre, serving Madeley people and the wider communities of South Telford. Many more families will soon have the option of a weekly shop here in Madeley, rather than travelling the five miles each way north to Telford Centre or its retail parks – a benefit for the environment as well as for everyone’s bank balance as food and fuel prices spiral upwards.
Madeley Parish Council’s job is now two-fold.
 Firstly, during the period of construction, we need to talk to the developers and act as a channel of communication, passing information from them out to local businesses and the community, and getting answers to the inevitable questions and concerns that will arise. We are already making arrangements to do this, making use of Jubilee House and Madeley Matters.
Secondly we need to develop a vision and a plan for the rest of Madeley Centre – a plan which will complement the new development but retain the character of Madeley’s rich history. And we need to do this in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council, with the local businesses and other organisations, but most of all with the people of Madeley who deserve something better after years of neglect.
Bring it on!
Dave Davies – Chair, Madeley Parish Council
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Madeley Partnership - force for change
 Madeley Partnership is a group of local traders, residents and workers who meet every six weeks.
The group initially got together in October 2008 to apply for funding from Telford & Wrekin’s ‘Borough Towns Initiative Fund’. It has successfully bid for the money for the hanging baskets which have brightened up the High Street, Court Street, Church Street and parts of Park Street. Half the cost of the baskets was paid for by the shops where they are displayed and the remaining cost and the brackets were paid for from the grant.
Thanks go to everybody for supporting this scheme, we hope that next year we will have even more businesses taking part.
Other ideas that the partnership is looking into are pedestrian safety rails. We think that the pedestrian guard rails on High Street and Court Street are ugly, and are not in keeping with the status of a ‘World Heritage Site’. We will be submitting a funding bid to replace them with a more attractive design.
We are also intending (with the help of a consultant) to put together a ‘Regeneration Plan’ for a variety of improvements to the area, in question, which is the retail part of Madeley that is outside the new development at Madeley Centre.
It’s still early days but if you have ideas for us to consider please contact Kath on 01952 567284 or
kath@madeleyparishcouncil.gov.uk
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