Sandwell Council Leader hits out at West Brom Building Society's decision to leave town
Published on 28th September 2012
Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Darren Cooper today hit out at West Bromwich’s Building Society’s “disgraceful” decision to quit its namesake town.
The society is moving its head office to neighbouring Dudley.
Councillor Cooper said: "I believe the society is treating the people of West Bromwich and Sandwell appallingly.
"It has built its business on the back of hard working people in the area over many years, and now it is abandoning them and its own history.
"This decision is an utter disgrace.
"I hope local people will consider the society's decision to move when deciding what to do with their money."
Cllr Cooper added: "We could not have done more to keep the West Brom in the town which gave it its name.
"We bent over backwards. We offered land for both new offices and car parking at a premium location at the heart of the new town centre which is growing day by day.
"We also offered financial terms which we believe the society could not have got anywhere else.
"It has, however, decided to move to an existing building outside the borough.
"We are shocked and deeply disappointed by that decision.
"Despite it, we remain confident that the drive to regenerate the town centre - which is attracting some £400 million-worth of development, mostly from the private sector - is still on track to deliver new facilities, a 21st century environment and thousands of jobs to the people of Sandwell."