Written by Nicky Getgood on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 ( Start discussion )
Tags: bigcityplan, ikoneastside, links, toblog
Digbeth: Past, Present & Future :: Ikon Gallery – Audio recording from the discussion at Ikon Eastside recently.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Monday, September 14th, 2009 ( Start discussion )
Tags: bigcityplan, ikoneastside, links, toblog
Digbeth: Past, Present & Future :: Ikon Gallery – at 6.30–8.30pm on 6th Oct at Ikon Eastside, 183 Fazeley Street. I tried (and failed) to get a bit of a discussion going around this. Ikon Eastside are holding what should be an evening of lively discussion around Big City Plans and future developments for Eastside and Digbeth, kicking things off with a look back to yesteryear:
Found news footage flmed in Digbeth and Deritend between 1956 and 1978 forms the backdrop to a public discussion about the area’s future development. As a range of possible scenarios are proposed for the district, we ask what those who live and work in the area would wish for the future and how a variety of agendas might fruitfully co-exist. Hosted by the Eastside Arts Consortium. Places are free but should be reserved by calling Ikon on 0121 248 0708.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Friday, September 4th, 2009 ( 2 responses )
Tags: bigcityplan, birminghamcitycouncil, digital digbeth, ikoneastside
Pete Ashton taking the p***
I’ve been contacted by a lovely lady called Helen from Ikon Eastside, who are planning to stage a public event based around the Big City Plan’s proposals for Eastside around October time.
To do this they would like to hear from you, to get a sense of what you feel are meaningful or pertinent topics to discuss. Ikon Eastside are keen bring in as many people who actually live and work in the area, as opposed to just the policy makers, and talk around things that matter to you that will make for some lively debate. So please – get commenting if there are there any issues that you’d like to see talked about. Suggestions so far have included the the digital district thing and growth of a ‘creative quarter’ – it could be something around this or something completely different!
Is there anything you’d lie to discuss, present, or say, or do at such an event? If so, let us know, Ikon Eastside are very open to ideas. As it stands, Helen thinks the evening is set to take this course:
…I’ve found some old tv news footage of Digbeth from 1956-1978, about 20 mins worth, so I’m thinking to show that first then move into conversation. The footage chronicles the changing face of the area and includes the opening of the bus station, people going on holiday from Moor St Station, the closure of the Typhoo Tea Factory, National Front marches and the last days of the old Woodman Inn before demolition in 1965. It’s super interesting – for instance, did you know there was once such a thing as the Digbeth Tripe House?
No, I didn’t know. That’s quite fascinating, I do like a nice bit of tripe.
Anyway, comment your thoughts and hopefully we can give Ikon Eastside some subjects to get their teeth into!
Written by Nicky Getgood on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 ( Start discussion )
Tags: bigcityplan, birminghamitsnotshit, Digbethisgood, digitalbritain, digitaldistrict, jonbounds, links, lordcarter, nickbooth, podnosh, toblog
Photo by Dave Harte
Digbeth formally called Birmingham’s Digital District | Podnosh Blog – Today at Digital Britain presentation in The ICC, Councillor Paul Tilsley (Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council and the Chair of the Digital Birmingham partnership) announced that Digbeth is to become a ‘digital district’:
The digital district will act as a showcase and business demonstrator to attract new businesses and inward investment and offer a strategy for economic recovery.
Which, as Nick Booth says, sounds ‘Very nice…Does that mean that Digbeth will get better mobile phone reception and something as high tech as a cash point?’ Quite. Although it seems like Lord Carter managed to get an okay reception when he visited Fazeley Studios for the Digital Britain Unconference today.
As Jon Bounds points out, ‘It also sounds like another bit of the (still in consultation) Big City Plan being announced.’
Written by Nicky Getgood on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 ( Start discussion )
Tags: bigcityplan, birminghamcitycouncil, birminghamitsnotshit, Digbethisgood, jonbounds, links, toblog
The Big City Plan, it’s what gets decided while you’re looking the other way – Birmingham: It’s Not Shit – Jon Bounds picks up on the big Birmingham city decisions that are being made out before the results Big City Plan consultation are even out.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Friday, May 8th, 2009 ( One response )
Tags: bigcityplan, birminghamcitycouncil, frictionarts, thenewbirmingham
Lee at Friction Arts unearthed this treasure at the Wholesale Markets – The Big City Plan of yesteryear. A big, bulky document full of marketing and management speak. Not much changes, does it?
Written by Nicky Getgood on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 ( Start discussion )
Tags: bigcitybus, bigcityplan, birminghamcentral, birminghamcitycouncil, Digbethisgood, links, simonfelton, toblog
Birmingham Central: Big City Plan consultation – a success? – Simon Felton reflects on the Big City Plan Consultation’s effectiveness at engaging the public. The verdict is it could have done better:
There were some community consultation events however, with one held on the 10th February at the Paragon Hotel for those with an interest in the Highgate, Digbeth, Eastside and Southside areas. This attracted 60 people. It’s worth pondering how many more would have attended if the event was more focussed on translating the aims and ambitions of the plan to the average Brummie and taking their thoughts on the areas into ideas which will influence the development of planning documents and the ‘core strategy’. With the areas this particular event focussed on experiencing upheaval 60 people attending is worryingly small. The gay village and issues of residential developments overshadowing the LGBT community, Digbeth and the continuing tussle between music venues and residents who want their ‘peace and quiet’ and Eastside’s development of wasteland into a new eastern centre of the city centre surely merit the need to actively seek out more than 60 attendees views and much more than the 283 contributors who contributed comments to the consultation.
Simon then goes on to mention something about a consultation ‘Beyond Midnight Bus’, which gathered just 88 responses out of its 386 visitors. It was meant to have visited Highgate, apparently. Funny – I don’t remember seeing it round these parts.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Friday, March 27th, 2009 ( Start discussion )
Tags: bigcitybus, bigcityplan, birminghamcitycouncil, eastsideblog, mikewhitby, simonhowes
Where is the Whitby Bus? A game for Brum Twitter crowd – In his response to the Big City Plan bus-thieving debacle, Clive Dutton said, ‘I really do hope we can move forward beyond this unfortunate experience’. Can we heck, where’s the fun in that? So if you’re on Twitter hop aboard and play Simon Howes’ ‘Where is Whitby’s bus?’ game. If you can make it stop in Highgate you’re already doing better than the council.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Thursday, March 5th, 2009 ( Start discussion )
Tags: bigcityplan, Digbethisgood, links, toblog
eGov monitor – A Policy Dialogue Platform | Promoting Better Governance – Wannabe filmmakers and photographers in Birmingham have been challenged to showcase their creative skills in a special competition to illustrate visions for the city and its future as part of the Big City Plan consultation. So go on, get shooting.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 ( 5 responses )
Tags: anotherbyteofbanality, bigcityplan, birminghamcitycouncil, Digbethisgood, fiddleandbone, links, midgediabolik, TheRainbow, toblog, twitter
The Birmingham Post today featured the problems faced by The Rainbow, who have been threatened with a Noise Abatement Order by Birmingham City Council after complaints from just one Abacus tenant.
Mr Davis said this would signal the end of the venue, as it would not be able to afford the work necessary to prevent the sound of music escaping from the pub. “At the conclusion of the noise survey we will have to look at how we can mitigate the volumes and that will involve structural work which will run into tens of thousands of pounds that we just haven’t got. We will end up with a noise abatement order which we will contest but ultimately the cost of doing that will mean that a great institution in Digbeth will be lost – it’s a tragedy.”
Birmingham City Council has identified Digbeth as a creative quarter for the city, and most local residents are in favour of venues which they say enhance the character of the area and provide a space to nurture the much-vaunted creativity the council is striving for.
Too right, this whole thing is ridiculous. To threaten something that brings culture and colour to the ‘creative quarter’ on the strength of one complainant, rather than work constructively with the venue to tackle the issue, is just madness. Digbeth Slacker Midge agrees, calling the drama Fiddle and Bone Round 2:
It’s baffling that someone would buy a residence that was sold to them as being in a ‘vibrant city centre location’ and then bitch when they realise the vibrancy doesn’t work 9 to 5 hours!. Birmingham regulars will have seen this depressing tale unfold before in the late 90′s with Jazz/Blues live venue The Fiddle and Bone, unfortunately many letters to MP’s and the press came to nought and now that place now stands like some beer themed Marie Celeste. The Rainbow story could be more devastating as it sets a presidence for the whole of Digbeth’s future in The Big City Plan. Watch This Space!!.
Birmingham’s Twitter community was also very vocal in its support for the pub. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the many tweets:
We Are Eastside – arts and culture Birmingham Post: Digbeth articles
