July 24, 1953

THE recent news that the Government was prepared to sanction a loan for the purpose of developing the Birmingham Road playing fields, Redditch, more properly known as the Plymouth Playing Field, gives real promise that there will be a happy ending to a story which began just 20 years ago.

For the aim to construct a playing field at the northern entrance to the town is no new thing.

The land was given to the town by the Earl of Plymouth many years ago and on March 11, 1933 this newspaper published a plan drawn up by the Redditch Social Service Council.

Although little enough evidence can be seen today, work was actually started in 1933 but one difficulty after another cropped up and two years later the scheme was dropped.

Then there was no further trace of the matter until last year, when the present scheme was drawn up.

Its cost was then estimated to be about £22,000.