I find it hard to capture the depth of my feelings about West Bromwich Building Society’s decision to abandon the town which gives it its name.
The people in charge there should be ashamed of themselves.
They know the council offered them land and terms to build a spanking new HQ in West Bromwhich they could not have got anywhere else in the country.
And yet they are choosing to reject our offer in favour of a move to an existing building in Dudley.
I think their decision is a disgrace and a slap in the face for local people and the society’s own history.
I don’t know exactly who founded theWest Brom– but I bet they must be turning in their graves right now.
I think local people will be very upset given that the West Brom made its money on the back of there hard work and savings. And I hope the West Brom think again !
Before passing judgement, I would like to know what land and terms were offered to WBBS? I’m working with a local trader at the moment who has put 33 years worth of his trande into WB and, at the moment, is not seeing a great return on that but has to leave. Let us have the facts Leader so we can make reasoned comments and a reasoned judgement?
Democracy Rules,OK! yes it does and they’ve gone
will the last one in West Brom Turn the light out
I can’t believe Cooper blaming WBBS, they say the costs were too high to move to Providence Place. Well why was that? I would say because SMBC wanted too much money & was relying on the Society bowing to tradition to stop in the town irrespective of the cost. Cooper should have pulled out all the stops to get them relocated within West Bromwich, but greed prevailed.
It seems it’s OK for the council to save money in this economical climate we have had foisted on us, but not for bodies that need to show a profit.
I assume that the council offered the land for free to WBBS and a business rate incentive to stay? I imagine not, I imagine that they were asked to pay a significnat price when any mildy intelligent person would realise that major landlords offer incentives. If a 15 year lease is a better option than building your own HQ then the offers on the table from Sandwell MBC for land and support were obviously non commercial and unrelaistic in the current economic environment. I must applaud your maturity for blaming the WBBS instead of standing up (like a man) and saying we (the council) got it wrong
The West Brom is a Mutual Society and if you have an account you own the Society. Write to the West Brom and threaten to to move your account.Democracy Rules,OK!