Unlike most other Midlands counties West Midlands county (despite being the most populous by far) lacks a county round, or indeed any other kind of walking route celebrating the county. This however, is likely to change in the next few years as work begins on creating the proposed West Midlands County Walking Trail.
There are several likely reasons why West Midlands county lacks a proper county walk. One is quite specific: the lack of a substantial county wide administrative body to create and maintain a trail. Unlike most other Midlands counties which are covered by a unitary authority or a county council for most of its existance West Midlands has not had a central overarching local government organisation. This changed in the mid-2010s when the West Midlands Combined Authority got going, taking on a few of the functions previously performed county wide by the shortlived West Midlands County Council shutdown in 1986.
The other is the relative lack of a cohesive West Midlands county identity. At its heart the county is really three quite distinct areas albiet with close economic ties, comparable histories and similar cultures. In broadbrush terms they are Birmingham and suburbs like Solihull, the Black Country and Coventry which is offically the second largest city in the Midlands. This means that where walkers organisations, local history groups and civic societies exist they tend to be focused on their locaities rather than the county as a whole.
However, now that the Combined Authority is increasingly established thought has turned to creating a true West Midlands Walking Trail.
Based upon the work so far it is being very throughtfully and thoroighly done, with a real desire to get local people from communities across the county involved at all stages.
To this end the project team and consultants they are working with have opened a survey for residents to have their say on all manner of questions about the proposed Trail. As well as indicate ways in which they might want to get involved in the process down the line. There are also consultations due to be held over Zoom on 30th March and 4th April (18:00 – 19:30).
Do have your say…