Express & Star

Wolverhampton housing estate memorial to Lancaster crew

A new housing estate in Wolverhampton will pay tribute to the crew of a Lancaster bomber plane that crashed near the site in 1945 – by naming each of its roads after the crewmen killed in the disaster.

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The site of the new housing development planned along Lakefield Road in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton

The plane, operating out of East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, came down on Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, on the evening of May 17, 1945, killing all seven men on board.

Now a new 266-home development being built by WV Living on nearby Lakefield Road is set to commemorate those who lost their lives in the crash by naming the new streets after them.

Pilot Bernard Hall, flight engineer Ronald James O’Donnell, navigator Reginald Henry Smith, air bomber Victor Francis Dobell Meade, wireless operator Gordon Leonard Rabbetts and air gunners Vincent Reginald Woodburn and John Alfred Sills all died in the crash in what is thought to be the only death of servicemen in Wolverhampton throughout the war.

The land, adjacent to Wednesfield High School, is currently being cleared ready for work to begin. The new development follows the completion of a number of other houses that have already been built in the area in the past few years.

Councillor Greg Brackenridge, who represents Wednesfield South, said: “The local councillors in Wednesfield South ensured a wide public consultation was held prior to the formal consultation period for the site.

“More than 100 residents attended four public meetings and gave their views and concerns were mainly about school provisions, the risk of flooding and traffic management.

“These homes are much needed locally and this is a fitting tribute to those heroes who defended our nation.

“Local schools are in contact with the developers and contractors who, in partnership with Wolverhampton College, are offering local youngsters valuable work experience and skills to boost the local economy.

“We’ve also had a lot of requests for prices on homes from a considerable number of people. There will also be trees planted and various other memorials on the estate.”

The nearby former Albion pub also changed its name to The Lancaster several years ago in honour of the crewmen killed.

WV Living is planning to build a mixture of two, three and four-bedroomed homes on the site – formerly part of Wednesfield High School – along with a selection of apartments.

Councillor Brackenridge added: “The homes will be private and affordable housing schemes. Local councillors were very keen to ensure that the residents in the surrounding area had robust consultation on this development before it got under way.

“The main issues raised were concerns over a lack of local medical provisions in the area, the pressure of school places – particularly at primary level, flooding issues, the privacy of residents in nearby March End Road and the overall impact of traffic on Lakefield Road itself.

“Discussions have been held with various agencies as a result and the medical practice in Alfred Squire Road has just had a planning application granted to expand.

“There are also plans for a new ‘attenuation basin’ – which is similar to a pond – near the sub-station on March End Road, which will help add to the wildlife corridor along the local canal.

“New trees will be planted as privacy screens in between existing homes and the new homes, and the former village primary school site on Lichfield Road is also being earmarked for a new primary school development.

“Demand for housing is increasing right across the UK and local councillors, working in conjunction with public agencies, have sought to resolve all the issues raised by local residents with success in many areas resulting in an increase in local services provision,” he added.

“I welcome the new housing development as it will inject further life into our already very vibrant village,” he added.