RESIDENTS and organisations are invited to get behind a new Community Vision for Dudley to help forge a bright future for the borough.

Community leaders including council bosses, college students and youth council representatives today (Monday) launched the Dudley borough Community Vision (CV) to showcase the borough’s story so far and set about defining a clear direction for Dudley.

At a public launch event - Dudley’s civic leaders called on people to be proud of the borough’s past and to get involved in forging the area’s future.

Councillor Patrick Harley (Conservative), leader of Dudley Council, said: “We have so much to be proud of in Dudley borough and we also have plenty to be excited about as we look to forge a positive future.

"No matter what the political landscape of the borough is at any time, we need to have a clear vision for our community which remains consistent as we look to ensure Dudley borough is a great place to live, work and play.”

Councillor Pete Lowe, leader of the borough's Labour Party, added: "By coming together we are confident we can overcome challenges by creating one clear vision for our borough.”

Councillor Paul Brothwood, leader of Dudley’s UKIP group, said: “Setting a vision for Dudley borough, which all of our 318,000 residents can truly be part of, will be a big step in the right direction. By working together we can shout loud and proud about the great attributes the borough has to offer.”

The Community Vision references Dudley’s past from its inclusion in the Domesday Book of 1086 to the pivotal role the area played in the industrial revolution - as well as highlighting new projects which aim to lead the borough to a bright future such as the creation of the new DY5 Enterprise Zone in Brierley Hill which it is hoped will generate 7,000 new jobs.

Cllr Harley said the council will be engaging with young people, schools and colleges as part of the vision to "ensure we develop a future workforce within the borough that will directly benefit from exciting projects which will create thousands of jobs such as the Enterprise Zone”.