A new memorial bench has been unveiled at Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre to pay tribute to the generations of miners who once worked at the former West Cannock No.5 Colliery.

The unveiling marked 40 years since the site began a new chapter as an enterprise centre, following the closure of the colliery in 1982. Opened through a partnership between Staffordshire County Council and British Coal, the centre was created to support former mining communities by providing space for new businesses to grow.

The steel bench was designed and built by tenant Lee James, owner of James Metal Design and Fabrication, whose own family has strong ties to the area's mining past. His late grandfather worked in the local pits, making the project particularly meaningful.

Today, Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre is home to a thriving community of businesses and remains fully occupied, continuing to play an important role in the local economy while preserving the site's rich industrial heritage.

Former miner and local historian Alan Dean, who spent 20 years working at West Cannock No.5, joined Staffordshire County Council Leader Martin Murray to unveil the bench, which now serves as a lasting reminder of the people who helped shape the area's history.