I must say there seem to be some emerging common issues – Lighting, retention and reuse of historic buildings and Cash Points seem to be on most people’s list!
This morning myself and many other local types went along to the Digbeth Corridor Study Stakeholder Consultation meeting at The Bond, organised by Birmingham City Council’s City Centre Development Team. The Big City Plan’s Philip Singleton kicked off the proceedings, then we all boarded the Green Bus, on which a team from Atkins took us on a tour of Digbeth’s key features. Once we’d been gotten thinking we returned to The Bond, where we split into brainstorm groups covering Movement, Streets, Events, Development, Leisure & Environment, Creativity & Services.
Whilst there Atkins asked us to complete a Digbeth Consultation Questionnaire to help them with their study, and asked us to pass it onto anyone we thought might like to submit their ideas. Unfortunately it is not available online, so I’ve created a Google Form so you can complete it online if you like. I’ll forward the summary spreadsheet to Atkins, who I spoke to during the meeting and are aware of what I’m doing. You can comment on the dedicated Digbeth Consultation Questionnaire page I’ve created, so you can discuss your feelings about the questionnaire if you want to. Questionnaires must be submitted by mid-January (I’ll double check the exact date with Atkins, and be sure to close the form then).
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:
What area do you see as being Digbeth? What do you feel Digbeth’s boundaries are?
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.).
Is the a shared vision working within the Digbeth community? Do people want the same things for Digbeth?
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.
As posted previously on here (and on The Stirrer and More Canals Than Venice), Birmingham City Council is holding a meeting on 24th November to discuss the issue of licensed premises and noise in the area, enabling some of the concerns raised about The Rainbow pub and the Spotted Dog to be discussed. However I’ve indirectly discovered the meeting is not open to anyone who would like to attend, as was previously stated here and elsewhere.
The initial invite from Birmingham City Council stated the meeting ‘is open to anyone from the pubwatch area’s, licencees or others that have an interest in attending’ but apparently this does not mean it is open toall who have an interest. Here’s an extract from an email sent by a council employee that was forwarded to me:
This presentation has been organised for Publicans, and those directly involved with licensed premises such as breweries, unfortunately a misunderstanding has arisen that has implied that anyone who is interested in the topic may attend the meeting, this is not the case.
Personal invitations have been sent to the chairs of all local pub watches within the whole of Birmingham and not just the Digbeth area. Therefore I would appreciate it if you could indicate in what capacity you would like to attend the presentation as numbers are limited.
We got to watch a bit of telly during the meeting – Inside Out West Midlands discussed the Noise Abatement issues faced by The Rainbow and The Spotted Dog. The BBC reporters managed to get their hands on the elusive pre-development noise survey – which only looked at potential traffic noise issues and did not consider noise from local commercial businesses. This prompted Councillor Yvonne Mosquito’s response that there was clearly a mistake on behalf of the planners and a mistake was made by the council, in that checks that should have been done weren’t.
The planning application for a Backpacker’s Hostel on Cheapside has been approved (despite 54 objections) with conditions – but residents remain in the dark about what those conditions are. More worryingly, John Tighe raised concerns about the Birmingham City Council planning meeting where the proposal was discussed – each complainant present should have had 3 minutes each to speak but in the meeting all individual complainants there were lumped together into one 3 minute slot.
The next meeting will be on Monday 7th December at the Paragon Hotel.
The Frankfurt Christmas Markets open in Birmingham city centre tomorrow, and it would seem Floodgate Street in Digbeth is on the migratory path of the stalls coming in from Germany.
Birmingham City Council Neighbourhood Manager Andy Sheppard has asked I let you all know about the Ladywood Constituency Convention this Saturday 17 October 2009 at The Council House, from 9.30 until 3.30pm.
The main purpose of the day will be about celebrating the successes of Ladywood Constituency: our work with partner agencies; new initiative projects; contributions from voluntary and community groups, local residents and staff who have worked tirelessly to serve the residents of the Ladywood Constituency.
Digbeth: Past, Present & Future :: Ikon Gallery – I know I’ve mentioned this before but I’m mentioning it again in a shameless act of self-promotion, as it seems I’m chairing the panel discussion due to take place after the screening of old found news footage. Speakers talking about what the future might hold for Digbeth include Philip Singleton, Assistant Director Planning & Regeneration, Birmingham City Council, Digbeth based architect Joe Holyoak and Dave Harte, Senior Lecturer in Media and Communications at Birmingham City University.
It’s 6.30–8.30pm on 6th Oct at Ikon Eastside. Places are free but should be reserved by calling Ikon on 0121 248 0708.
Well, Lolitics has been busy posting captioned pictures of a massive walrus bemoaning the loss of his consoltaishiun bus. Considering the bus-based bee in my bonnet I’ve developed over the lost Highgate Big City Plan bus, I feel his pain. I Am The Walrus (please comment your audible groans).
Luckily, Birmingham City Council seem to have realised that standing the public up during a public consultation exercise doesn’t send out the best message. It took a few emails and phone calls, but yesterday afternoon the Press Office sent me this statement apologising for the ‘error of judgement’:
Clive Dutton, Director of Planning and Regeneration, said:
“I have become aware of concerns that have been raised regarding the relocation of the Big City Plan consultation team from their pre-advertised location during the afternoon of Wednesday 12th Jan.
“It was an error in judgement that when the bus was temporarily relocated no staff stayed behind to continue the consultative work, or to explain to members of public that the absence was only temporary and the full team would return shortly.
“I’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
To be honest, it was the lack of consideration rather than the inconvenience that bothered me. But the council seem to agree that the consultation should have gone ahead as planned and advertised, which is good. I’m still awaiting the response to my Freedom of Information request, which should give me the audit trail behind that decision.
Yesterday marked the official end of the Big City Plan consultation period. Go to Big City Talk to see people’s comments and discussions around the document, which city council PR Director Debra Davis and Big City Plan Project Manager Philip Singleton have agreed to look very closely at.
This appeal emailed out by John Tighe seemed worthy of copying and pasting for a wider audience:
Kent Davis of The Rainbow has asked for help in support of two retrospective planning applications for the Rainbow Warehouse. These are for premises that are already up and running, licensed and to quote the local police “run in an exemplary manner”.
Kent’s problem is that the Birmingham City Council’s Planning Department (presumably because he is not a major developer helping to enhance our City with unneeded Gerrybuilt flats) has taken issue with the fact that, although all other departments had been satisfied, he had not requested their permission for change of use from warehouse to whatever category it should be. Also, the bit under the arches is officially uncovered so requires some other hoops to be jumped through.
This was a complete oversight. These matters are normally paper-shifting and rubber-stamp jobs – fairly routine. However, considering the recent threats from Environmental Health about noise issues it might be necessary to demonstrate widespread approval from the unwashed majority. Please get involved and get your friends involved. Too much is happening in Digbeth behind our backs!
