Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, is appealing to local residents and businesses to submit their suggestions for the future of the Bratch Pumping Station, in Wombourne.
The Bratch Pumping Station and pumping equipment, which are owned Severn Trent, are Grade 2* Listed. However, the pumping station has fallen into a state of disrepair following years of neglect.
Gavin met, this week, with representatives of Severn Trent, English Heritage, the Black Country Group and the District Council, to discuss the future of the site.
The group went on a tour of the site, before attending a sit down meeting at the nearby Wombourne Civic Centre. The agenda was to establish a long term solution that will safeguard the operational needs of the site, as well as enabling the building to be repaired so it can once again be opened to the public.
Since Gavin first raised the issue, Severn Trent has paid for immediate repairs to be made to the building. Furthermore, the District Council - along with support from Gavin and English Heritage - is setting up a working group to look at what it can do to support the site.
A sustainable solution is now being sought for the Bratch Pumping Station and Gavin is appealing to local residents to submit their suggestions and urging any local businesses that might be interested in the site to come forward.
Gavin said: “The Bratch Pumping Station, at Wombourne, is one of only 50 remaining steam pumping stations in England and forms an important part of our local heritage. We need to find a sustainable solution, where the Bratch Pumping Station can support itself and still remain accessible to the general public.
“Any suggestions from local residents and businesses would be extremely welcome, as we seek to ensure that this rare building remains available to our community for generations to come.”
The Bratch Pumping Station was built in 1895 by Bilston Urban District Council. The provision of clean drinking water became a requirement in the mid 19th century under the Public Health Act 1848 following a number of major cholera outbreaks.
For some 60 years, from 1897 to 1960, the twin vertical triple expansion steam engines pumped water through brick-lined wells from the Bunter sandstone about 160 feet below ground. It was then pumped to a purpose built reservoir some 3 ¾ miles away and 345 feet higher on the Wolverhampton/Bilston border whence it was distributed by gravity to Bilston.
Steam pumping ceased in 1960, as electric pumps, backed up by emergency diesel engines, were introduced to continue the work. The elegant, ornate Italianate square section chimney stack was demolished around the same time. Water is still extracted from the site by Severn Trent and pumped along the same pipes to the Wolverhampton Reservoir at Goldthorn Hill.