Valencia wharf.
Losing more of the BCN heritage for parking! Valencia wharf Oldbury is part of Joseph Holloway Ltd, general freight carriers using road transport today. Previously they were a transport operator and a boat dock owner, their last boat registered in 1953 was BCN 2362 "Sally" a second hand GKN joey. The firm is one of the last examples of a waterway carrier still being in business and evolved for today's needs. The wharf not only served the needs of the firms own boats but had an active boat dock which repaired craft for many well known local operators. These included thos Clayton, T & S Element, Creswell's and many others, the dock eventually became the home of the infamous Allen bros dock building fine modern cabin craft. Since the Allen's retired the wharf has still been occupied by boats and some trade operators. The photographs are two colour stills taken from 8 mm films by Keith Christie and David Kilner and show the dock working on Thos Clayton boats, the arial view shows the dock and wharf in an area littered with boats. Today it is now under threat of being filled in by its owners! It seems unbelievable that they want to destroy their own heritage. The basin can hold around a dozen full length boats, it is yards from the town centre and three minutes away from a major motorway Jcn, surely developing the site to be a small marina will pay better dividends than a lorry park! I urge anyone who cares about the BCN heritage to write to Joseph Holloway and Sandwell council voicing their opinions, otherwise the BCN will lose another feature and a dozen moorings to "Progress". Joseph Holloway Ltd Valencia Wharf Churchbridge, Oldbury, B69 2AP 0121 552 2146 Sandwell Council, Council House, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 3DE.
