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Digbeth study – Andy Munro wants your opinions!

Written by Nicky Getgood on Friday, November 20th, 2009 ( 4 responses )
Tags: andy munro, Birmingham City Council, clive dutton, digbeth study, Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Partnership, yvonne mosquito

Andy Munro, Operations Director for the Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Partnership, has contacted me about a study he is conducting on Digbeth:

I work for the Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Partnership, funded by Birmingham City Council, as Operations Director. I am supported by a small team and, before he left, Clive Dutton asked me to see if the lessons that we’ve learnt in the Jewellery Quarter and our delivery structure could be applied to Digbeth. Whilst this is an internal report, I will be recommending that its findings are publicised to organisations that I have consulted, not least as a matter of courtesy.

I replied asking what contribution he might want from DiG readers and he telephoned me and read out the following questions he’d like locals to answer.  I did email him asking him to reply with his questions to make sure nothing was lost in translation but as yet he’s not responded, so here’s what he dictated to me over the phone:

1. What area do you see as being Digbeth?  What do you feel Digbeth’s boundaries are?
2. Should there be a Digbeth brand with branded signage, etc. like the Jewellery Quarter?  Andy suggested there could be Digbeth brand sub-sections (e.g. Irish Quarter, Custard Factory, etc.).
3. Is the a shared vision working within the Digbeth community?  Do people want the same things for Digbeth?
4. What are the top three things you feel should be done for Digbeth?

Andy stressed that he is Birmingham born and bred and this study is not costing anything – it’s an informal report to get a ’snapshot’ of the area.  Andy also said he does not have a great deal of time to dedicate to it, so if he does not get responses from people, he doesn’t really have the time to be chasing them.  He told me that when he started he was given a list of 50 businesses to contact but has only had the time to contact about 10.  So speak now or forever hold your peace, as it were.

Andy seemed unsure of what the implications of the study might be – he said it is unlikely to result in a Jewellery Quarter-type team for Digbeth given the costs.

In order to help Andy get an accurate snapshot of Digbeth, I’d urge everyone to comment on this Digbeth study and respond to his questions, either through the comments box below or emailing him on andy.munro@birmingham.gov.uk.   I’ve emailed my local Councillor Yvonne Mosquito to try and get her involved in the study too.

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