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James
Bond and Richie Woodhall fight for Woodside
Former
WBC super middleweight champion Richie Woodhall and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire
sports presenter James Bond are to battle it out for the sake of
a Telford housing estate.
The
Big Debate, chaired by James, is part of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Voices project
on Woodside and is taking place at the local Community Centre on
Wednesday 14 May at 7.00pm.
Woodside
is currently on the cusp of a major regeneration project that will
see a £50 millon investment in the area over a ten year period.
The
purpose of the debate is to give local people a chance to have their
say on how the money should be spent.
The
area is trying hard to counter its negative public image and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Radio Shropshire is working with the community to raise its profile
and celebrate its strong community spirit.
A panel
of six people have been brought together for The Big Debate: Gerry
Dawson, Head of Regeneration with Telford and Wrekin Council; Melvin
Biddulph, Chairperson of Woodside Community Forum; Patricia Partridge,
Co-ordinator of Woodside Family Groups; Councillors Ian Baker and
Derek White, and Richie Woodhall, a Woodside lad.
Richie
says: "I'm delighted to be part of this debate. Woodside played
a crucial role in developing my career as a boxer.
"I
also think it's a really exciting time for the estate - a chance
to prove all the critics wrong, all those who said nothing good
could ever come of the place.
"This
is Woodside's chance to shine and I hope the people of the area
will take up this invitation to have their voices heard!"
Michael
Cleere, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Voices producer adds: "I see this as a way of connecting
with the Woodside community and giving it a very public voice.
"I've
been working in the area for over three months now and have become
firmly convinced that we've chosen a great location for our Voices
project."
Telford
MP David Wright has described ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire's Voices project
as "public service broadcasting at its very best".
Unfortunately,
David can't join the debate due to Westminster commitments but was
interviewed by Voices producer Michael Cleere who put some of the
residents' concerns to him. This interview will be broadcast in
June.
The
Big Debate will be broadcast on Thursday 15 May at 6.30pm on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Radio Shropshire 96FM.
Notes
to Editors
Voices
is a national ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ venture that sees ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ staff working closely with
local people giving them an opportunity to tell their own stories.
Voices
contributor is an award winner! (02.05.03)
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
raises Voices in Telford (11.03.03)
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
raises Voices across the UK (31.10.02)
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