THE FORMER site of the Redditch Trades and Labour Club, has been transformed into 40 new high-quality apartments all available for a social rent and reserved for local residents.
The new development has been built by GreenSquareAccord (GSA), and has been named ‘Passingham Place’ in honour of two late Redditch Councillors Betty and Ron Passingham.
The husband-and-wife duo clocked up more than half a century of service between them as councillors representing wards in Redditch at both county and district levels.
Mrs Passingham served as the first Labour mayor of Redditch in 1983, when she welcomed the Queen to the borough for the official opening of the town hall.
Both Betty and Ron remained active in the community and supported a wide range of local groups until they passed away in 2008 and 2012 respectively.
Ron and Betty’s relatives and Labour Party colleagues were recently given a tour of Passingham Place.
Sue Yeng, Betty and Ron’s daughter, said: “ As a family, we are honoured to see that the Trades and Labour Club, where my mum and dad spent many evenings, has been converted into affordable housing and named after them.
“Although they never sought the limelight, both my parents would definitely approve of the new use for the Labour Club as they dedicated their lives to the people of Redditch and would be pleased to know that some of those most in need are being given a roof over their heads.
“Passingham Place will bring a smile to my face every time I walk past as it will for the many others whose lives my mum and dad touched during their decades of public service and community involvement in Redditch.”
Coun Bill Harnett, who represents Church Hill Ward on Redditch Borough Council, said: “Betty and Ron were old friends of mine and spent their time together working for a better Redditch.
“Their focus was always on our community and improving local people’s quality of life.
“Both Redditch and the local Labour Party were fortunate to have Betty and Ron and their legacy lives on in the town through the many projects they fought for.”
