Andromeda's on the road between holloway circus island leading up to the Bullring, with Richer Sounds and Caspian Pizza on it.

Shame that.

I think that's Nostalgia & Comics - isn't Andromeda on Bristol Street (right next to HCT hence my ;) ?)

Am I right in saying that Lancaster Circus (fire station) is considered on the ridge and thus a tall would be considered.Where is Anromeda bookshop?

:shocked: You dare!!!!

It must not be knocked down! This is an historic part of the city centre so nothing modern should be put there. (IMO)

it also says they are placing 400 hundred staff soemwhere in the city centre, and are in discussions with a developer as they have a preffered site.....bet its on Aston Science Park

A long but interesting article in support of the Metro.


Trams, rows and automobiles Sep 22 2005
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::






Richard Winfield, chairman of Birmingham Forward's Transport Consultative Group, explains why he believes we need trams as well as buses...

Transport is a key issue for our region as we make the transition from one based on industry to one based on professional services.

Access to and within the city centre is key to the effectiveness of the professional sector, both in terms of attracting staff and taking our position as a dynamic international city.

It is not enough to consider the current situation when planning transport. The exceedingly long gestation period for major projects requires a 20-30 year view. If we duck this issue, we face serious restrictions on economic growth in the future - and the wrath of future generations.

Currently, the major transport challenges are regional, in terms of motorway capacity, redevelopment of New Street Station and expansion of Birmingham International Airport. The planned city centre Metro system is essential if we are to avoid developing similar congestion problems for traffic.

A major part will be played by buses. However, with the growth that is projected, simple expansion of the bus system will not be enough. There is already very high density of bus travel along Broad Street and buses cannot get through the city centre in the same way trams can.

The city is growing. Not only more jobs and more city-centre living, but the city is also getting longer as Eastside is developed.

Where a tram or light-rail system proves invaluable is in its ability to transport significant numbers of people along a set route without suffering the effects of congested roads.

Trams also carry more passengers than buses, increasing the number of people who can be transported across the city at any given time.

The Metro will be a friendly and efficient system for joining up business and retail right across the city-centre core.

Walking from one side of the city to the other can feasibly take up to one hour, so some form of quick and efficient transport system is a must.

Extending the system across the city from its current terminal at Snow Hill, via the financial quarter and across Broad Street to Five Ways would also encourage more workers to make their daily commute on public transport.

John Hibbs, Emeritus Professor of Transport Management at the University of Central England, was wrong to suggest that we don't need trams, when he spoke at the Liberal Democrat conference on Monday.

In particular, he was wrong to say "We don't want the damned things, and I can't think that anybody is going to want to use them."

You might not, John, but most organisations, including Birmingham Forward and the professional sector, very definitely do want them. Our future success depends on them.

Trams are different from buses. Apart from their increased capacity and environmental benefits, they are attractive to a much wider socio-economic market. I was talking with one of my colleagues, who is a dedicated car user in Birmingham and also has an office in Nottingham.

In the last year, since Nottingham introduced a Metro, he told me he has transferred to trams when visiting his Nottingham office. Immediate evidence of what will happen on a large scale when Birmingham gets its own extension through the city centre.

Trams have an iconic value. The are part of what is expected of an international city. Their very presence will encourage inward investment.

A new-look Metro system would also be good for the image of the city overseas, which is vital for forging links with our international partners. Transport is not only crucial for the logistics of a city but forms an integral part of its iconography.

This is not to say that buses don't have a role to play but rail is clearly a more efficient option for cross-city transfers.

John Hibbs is partially correct in his call for a focus on buses. The city council has forecast an increase between 2001 and 2011 of 242 million trips per year.

Rail services are already suffering from capacity restraints during the peaks and the road system cannot absorb this amount of growth as car journeys.

In order to avoid serious congestion we might well need some form of road pricing in the future. Whether or not there is any such encouragement for people to change modes of travel, the only potential source of extra capacity for much of the city is on the buses.

We should be actively planning a strategy to restructure roads and junctions to guarantee the free flow and efficient use of some form of bus transport that provides a sufficiently attractive alternative to congested car travel.

There has been much media coverage of the congestion charge in London. But the real success has been in the major investment in road works, junction redesign and bus provision.

So, John, you are both right and wrong. Yes, we need buses and eventually some form of demand management. But if we are to be responsible and plan for the future of our great city, then we must invest in attractive, efficient and environmentally friendly trams. You will come to love them.

For too many years, the only transport-related images of Birmingham have been of traffic jams on the M6 or the tired face of New Street Station.

The new Metro scheme has the potential to join the likes of Selfridges as an alternative image for Birmingham and become a fresh and vibrant ambassador for the city as part of a wider transport solution. Let's do something exciting and invest in our future.

Unrelated, but a thought...

The Home Secretary unveiled proposals to merge 40+ police forces into about 20, combining rural forces with urban ones (which IMHO is a good idea - will produce better communication within a single region). Now, I would guess that West Mids Police would merge with Warks and West Mercia to become either Mercia, West Mercia or West Midlands (region) Police.

Anyway, if this happens, surely we'll need a shiny new police HQ? And hopefully in Brum! If not new, then at least Steelhouse Lane will need a makeover.

John Hibbs, Emeritus Professor of Transport Management at the University of Central England, was wrong to suggest that we don't need trams, when he spoke at the Liberal Democrat conference on Monday.

In particular, he was wrong to say "We don't want the damned things, and I can't think that anybody is going to want to use them."

WHAT AN IDIOT, TELLS US A LOT ABOUT THE LIB DEMS

I might write him a letter...

...what a total twat!!!!

did you any of you guys write a letter to the commons commision investiagting the new liabary??? i posted the adrress on here

Nut 'im woodhead.

I wrote a letter to the council scrutiny committee - not the commons though Pirlo

yeah i think thats the one one i posted

woodhousen, hey, what was the cube like ? is it worth a trip to Alpha Tower to view ?

The council have published the following report which discusses the issues raised by the Cube in some detail, interesting reading:
http://80.86.36.120/vault/XDDocStore_3/0116096_issues%20report%20Commercial%20Street%20The%20Cube.pdf

very interesting, sounds like they need the council behind this 100% as they need a CPO, and planning permission which goes against the UDP

will be interesting to see the council show its determination for high quality developments....they talk about them and now have the opportunity to make one happen

Thanks for the link.

Why oh why can I just see the Cube and BST being refused planning permission?

What's the plan if they do?

Leave Brum? Riot? Murder?

Well, the best we can do is get our asses down to the planning office and/or write in lending our support.

It depends on whether they get referred to committee (which I guess they will be). I might have a chat with my local councillor to 'persuade' him to support it.

Why would people in britain have any intrest in skyscrapers?? or cities?? london in population is more than 3 times bigger than brisbane and it has no particularly tall buildings when ours are five million times as tall. no one expects london to have as many skyscrawpers as globally important cities like shanghai, chicago or seoul, every city in britain should have way more taller buildings than they have at present...thankyou

The council have published the following report which discusses the issues raised by the Cube in some detail, interesting reading:
http://80.86.36.120/vault/XDDocStore_3/0116096_issues%20report%20Commercial%20Street%20The%20Cube.pdf

It's too tall at 67 meters? Eh?

Why would people in britain have any intrest in skyscrapers?? or cities?? london in population is more than 3 times bigger than brisbane and it has no particularly tall buildings when ours are five million times as tall. no one expects london to have as many skyscrawpers as globally important cities like shanghai, chicago or seoul, every city in britain should have way more taller buildings than they have at present...thankyou

5 million times as tall as Canary Wharf? Now that's tall! B'ham City Council would have real problems with that one.

No wait, I've just been trolled havn't I?

london is more importnat than shangai

well he's got a, badly made, point. On an international scale Britain's "skyscrapers" are pretty unimpressive.

Brum's 'ugliest' building to get makeover Sep 23 2005
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.



By Neil Elkes, Evening Mail


A BID to convert a 20-storey office block dubbed "one of Birmingham's ugliest" has been given the thumb- up by city heritage bosses.

The Brindley House telephone exchange in Newhall Street, on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter, could get a new lease of life as 182 flats if plans are approved.

It is an unusual 1970s block built over a canal, with 16 floors of office space on one side and 11 larger floors for telephone equipment on the other.

The developer, MCD Ltd, will also open up the dingy towpath tunnel under the block for a waterfront feature, and wants to include a cafe at the street level.

The Birmingham Conservation and Heritage Panel gave its backing to the plan.

Lewis Jones, of the Sutton Coldfield Civic Society, said: "If I had to make my all-time list of Birmingham buildings for demolition this would be at No.1. Anything done to it can only improve it."

The developer also wants to built a fivestorey apartment block with 64 flats, on the car park next to the block.

Marie Haddleton, of the Jewellery Quarter Association, said it welcomed any conversion of the Brindley House block, but had reservations about the five-storey building and low number of parking spaces - 69 serving 246 flats.

Ms Haddleton added: "This should be two separate developments. The height of the back building is wrong and we want one parking space per flat."

Elite city hotels have performed fantastically Sep 23 2005

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.


By John Marsden


Booming Birmingham's inner-city regeneration has helped two prestigious hotels perform "fantastically".

Marylebone Warwick Balfour group - owner of Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin - says the two city operations have proved integral to the company's business.

Joint finance director Andrew Blurton said: "We are very, very pleased with them. They've done fantastically well, and there's no doubt they've benefited by the transformation of the city centre. They are a core parts of our business and we are exceptionally pleased with them."

He said the 66 bed Hotel Du Vin at Edmond Street and 189 room Malmaison at the Mailbox complemented each other, and Birmingham was the only city where the two brands operated in tandem.

Bank of Scotland to back Glatman’s Brum scheme Property Week | 23.09.2005Corporate arm to provide £69m for Abstract’s £155m office building on Post and Mail site

did'nt the Malaysian Government build the pentros towers ? for instance, personally i prefer the NHS

http://www.latitude.gb.com/

not fully operational yet, but you get the idea

I'd buy one if it cam ewith all those lovely flowerey type jacks 'n balls thing um a jiggers flowtin rownd moi owse... http://www.christianexpressionsuperstore.com/ProductImages/gifts/dicksons2004/N_615lg.jpg

look like expensive council flats to me

Brum2003,where are those flats located?

on hurst street on the car park next to missing bar

From today's Post.


***

Conservation groups are split over plans to redevelop the heart of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.

English Heritage has expressed serious concern about a proposal to build apartments on a site occupied by A E Harris, one of the city's oldest metal-bashing firms.

The move is a breach of city council planning policy which seeks to preserve the industrial heritage of the Jewellery Quarter's "golden triangle" by severely restricting housing development, according to English Heritage.

The organisation has been joined by The Jewellery Quarter Association, which described drawings of the apartments as "reminiscent of the Hockley slums which the city cleared 60 years ago".

well did anyone actually get the post today.... there was quite a large rendering in it which personally for the jewellry qtr i was quite impressed with......looked like a mini village with small houses interlocking and incorportating a number of sqaures........ though having said that, would be interesting to see what is there currently

Bank of Scotland to back Glatman’s Brum scheme Property Week | 23.09.2005Corporate arm to provide £69m for Abstract’s £155m office building on Post and Mail site

£155m??

Can't mean that skankiy little 14 storey bollocks can it?

I like it too Woody but I am not sure it belongs here. One of the wallahs that they quoted said it looks like the slums that they worked so hard to knock down and they have a point!

I am undecided - I agree with the conservationists that this could be opening the floodgates for loads of resi which would ruin the area, but on the flip side, I think a couple of large-scale but low-impact developments like this will help turn the quarter into a safe, vibrant village.

I was wandering around there on Friday and in the undeveloped bit near the High St the buildings are wonderful - even the run-down ones. The Goerge & Dragon pub needs saving and there is a wonderful white-brick building stood empty near Greggs - would make a great restaurant with flats above :)

i havent been to the jewellry qtr fro a while but my experience of it is that yes there are some great architectual gems that should be kept but i also hought there is lots of room for improvement on the areas that were built in the 1960's which quite a few tin shed like buildings.

i can understand the point that they said about that development was the type they tried so hard to get rid of, but from what i remember i dont think it is........ this reminds me of a housing complex in chester or some historic town like that! and one of the main reason the terrace houses when cleared away in slum clearance were so bad we because many were very sub standard and full of very poor people .....however, this is not the case with these..... you only have to go to harborne or mosely to see how these old terraces can look when looked after!

moesley now thats a nice area

dont know if any of you watched panorama yesterday about the economy, but the example of what a sucessfull economy should be like is the city birmingham, went on to exlanin about the bull ring and all the new developments going on in the city

I watched that - was v interesting, and I liked how they used the back streets of Digbeth to show how manufacturing is in decline, then the Bullring to show where the money is... v clever.

And I think they have a point about Mr Brown...

Have you lot seen the new hospital proposed for Birmingham, looks good

soz if it's been mentioned before


http://www.cabe.org.uk/review/reports/reports.asp?id=207

well bad news on the office front, i have from someone who works at vodafone, that they have removed al the funtiure from thier brindley palace office, and people have already been sacked, they have asked all there staff to come in tommorow for a big annoucement

probably being moved to india......


...why bad news???? its some offices which will quite happily help to fill the demand we have....... and quite a nice large office tooo..... sounds like good news to me!

good news, tell that to those who have lost their jobs dickhead, what demand??? dont kid yourself mate, i dont see international companies rushing to take out office space is brum

good news, tell that to those who have lost their jobs dickhead, what demand??? dont kid yourself mate, i dont see international companies rushing to take out office space is brum


No need for that comment. its a fact of life, people lose jobs all the time. theres plenty about for them to get another.

I was sacked on Xmas eve once!

true, i apologise i was upset for my friend

I keep getting bloody phone calls from Indian guys trying to sell me shit, whenevr I plug my phone in I get it and half teh time I can't even understand what they are saying, I have taken to winding these callers up now out of frustration, the one today insisted that he was talking to the name he had down but I refused to admit to the name, their phone bill and my entertainment!

Just keep a whistle next to the phone.....if you get any of these calls again make sure you deafen the prats

probably being moved to india......

The jobs are being transfered to stoke on trent, though looks like there will be redundancies.

Have you lot seen the new hospital proposed for Birmingham, looks good

soz if it's been mentioned before

Thanks Highriser!

It does look pretty funky, and apparently is the 2nd most expensive hospital project in the UK (after one in London, and I think that might be being scrapped).

We have a hospital thread in the Brum forums and will be posting progress on various hospitals but this is the biggy - a whopping £571 million, making it one of the largest (financially) construction projects in the country.

At the mo they're just finishing the MSCP and clearing the land & setting levels for the new building :)

And just a reminder:

http://www.cabe.org.uk/data/images/1931_birmingham_new_hospital.jpg

its bad news that they all seem to close there Birmingham call centres and back offi ces and not ones in other regionalal cities, which are no doubt cheaper ?

No need for that comment. its a fact of life, people lose jobs all the time. theres plenty about for them to get another.

I was sacked on Xmas eve once!

its bad news that they all seem to close there Birmingham call centres and back offi ces and not ones in other regionalal cities, which are no doubt cheaper ?

these jobs should go overseas its our bloody money, nationwide have got it right, they dont have any call centres overseas, apparently the american goverment wants to pass a law to restrict outsourcing

Outsourcing per se is not necessarily a bad thing, I think it's "offshoring" that you are referring to. Perhaps it's time for the Government to consider asking companies to make some financial contribution to cover the true costs, eg loss of tax revenue from redundant employees and the cost of unemployment benefit. Basically, tax companies for each job they export, and even things up a bit. Basically, by chucking people on the dole and using cheaper labour elsewhere they are transferring their expenses to us, the tax payer, while telling us that they are providing a better cheaper service.

ANyone see that program about that fat bluenose last night on Sky One?

Was quite entertaining. I love watching stuff about fat people, and seeing their elephant skin. He seems a nice bloke though. Lives in Chelmsley Wood. I don't even know where that is, but there you go. Hardly portrayed brum in a positive light, but it was about a fat chuffer, so you can't complain.

probably being moved to india......
Stoke on Trent and Warrington actually. Apparently it was to do with the fact that staff in these locations were more readily available with better training and the centres were also in more desirable locations.

Thanks Highriser!

It does look pretty funky, and apparently is the 2nd most expensive hospital project in the UK (after one in London, and I think that might be being scrapped).

We have a hospital thread in the Brum forums and will be posting progress on various hospitals but this is the biggy - a whopping £571 million, making it one of the largest (financially) construction projects in the country.

At the mo they're just finishing the MSCP and clearing the land & setting levels for the new building :)
Where did you get that £571 million figure from? According to http://www.healthmatters.org.uk/issue30/birminghamplans University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust (the people building this hospital) have indeed chosen the super hosital route, but that it will cost £214 million. I know for certain Birmingham won't be getting two super hospitals so are you saying this web site is wrong. If you are right it is indeed a biggy, but if you are wrong it's substantially smaller than Manchester's super hospital.

Earlybird, there is no conceivable way they could build this new hospital for £214 million or there would be more rebuilt. Having attended a local council meeting on behalf of the university with a presentation from the planners and builders this is at least £500 million scheme. The figures may be misquoted or as with most things, provided when an initial plan is drawn up. There was a fairly recent report saying that with some costs spiralling it could cost nearly a billion pounds.

The issue people dont realise is the magnitude of the whole scheme, this is being built in phases as to close the selly oak hospital and rehouse the QE, the bypass is being built along similar time scale and with that the redevelopment of battery park, not to mention the transport interchange. Scarily at its peak of progress, the site will have over 1000 lorries coming in, 500 in and 500 out.

The cited bit below is from the Selly Oak and Edgbaston Consultative Group
meeting on 1st March 2005.


4. Update on new hospital - Presentation: Birmingham New Hospitals Project
Final business case once commercial issues settled will then be sent to the Department of Health and the Treasury. Hoping to send at the end of the week. If get approval, financial close in June.
Voles have been found in SLNC.
£734m funding which the contracts are looking for. £521m to build. Concession period over 40 years. European Investment Bank want to be involved and will likely add £255m to project. The added investment will mean the term sought is 33 years plus five year grace.
Affordability: Residual issues less than <1% gap. Growth in 40 years. Reduced mental health buildings, these will be moved into community.
Changes since OBC: Economic characterisitics. More bed from 1009 to 1249. Capital costs doubled. Implementation programme six months. Topography of site means hospital is over 3 floors.

Timing
Advanced work agreement – underway
FBC approval – March 04
Financial Close – June 05
Start – June 05
Mental Health – Autumn 07
Acute Phase I – Spring 09
Acute Phase Ia – Summer 09
Acute Phase II – Autumn 09 (QE to new Hospital)
Acute Phase III – Summer 10

Roadways
Sainsbury’s offered to construct road across site. Start April 05 – finish August 05.
The new hospital link road will try to be built around boiler house.
There are four different companies involved.
There is a planning application for 300 car parking spaces at Selly Oak Hospital which will allow people to be bussed over to site.
Initial need to use Eastbourne Drive to get lorries into site until road to south of site is open.
Car parking requirements are for 6500 staff.
Discussion on addition of decks to public car parking. The car park would be used by contractors initially. When Selly Oak hospital moves the first car park would be used for patients. Second car park would be used for contractors until QE moved and open.
There will be a bus around site, with possible extension to include university. Sainsbury’s keen to be involved with possibility of e-shopping from hospital.
More details to follow on plaza.
Short term – contractors parking on residents space. Medium term – monorail around site. Long term – extend monorail to Selly Oak.[I]

Stoke on Trent and Warrington actually. Apparently it was to do with the fact that staff in these locations were more readily available with better training and the centres were also in more desirable locations.

in fact the staff in these locations are on lower wages and the office in brindleyplace is more expensive to rent

I know someone who works at vodaphone and they have the same training and level of expertise as anyone else in the country

as for location, you would think stoke was better than birmingham would'nt you

Stoke on Trent and Warrington actually. Apparently it was to do with the fact that staff in these locations were more readily available with better training and the centres were also in more desirable locations.

yes Stoke is a more desirable location than brindley Place isnt it you fuckwit.

If they did use the phrase " more desirbale locations" then its a euphamism for cheaper. it wouldnt suprise me- I cant see what benefit they get from such prestigous offices for what is essentially a back office really - its not like many clients will go there.

ignore him, he's only come in this part of the forum to gloat. let him

Actually it looks like the Brum and Manc super hospitals will cost the same. I've been able to find figures from the Birmingham one now I have £521m instead of £517m. The £200m was an estimate from years ago. Incidentally the Manchester one was estimated at £300m back then. According to Labournet.net the Manchester scheme was estimated at £495m in early 2004. We're both basically getting hospitals of the same size. The difference between the two is inflationary differences caused by the fact Manchester's started construction earlier.

has anyone seen the new builfind recently completed at the QE ?

it looks amazing from the 11 bus.....seems to be about 8 storeys high, two of them glass at the top, all wooden below, with a few windows, looks like wallsall art gallery, but in wood instead of grey terracota ?

will try and get a photo, looks very impressive

ps, I pretty sure its the new leukeamia centre ?

has anyone seen the new builfind recently completed at the QE ?

it looks amazing from the 11 bus.....seems to be about 8 storeys high, two of them glass at the top, all wooden below, with a few windows, looks like wallsall art gallery, but in wood instead of grey terracota ?

will try and get a photo, looks very impressive
Are you sure thats not the new car park...

Stoke on Trent and Warrington actually. Apparently it was to do with the fact that staff in these locations were more readily available with better training and the centres were also in more desirable locations.
More to do with the fact that 1. Brindleyplace is a very expensive (because its so prestigious) location...2. Since 2004 they'd suffered from a series of managerial cock-ups on site over new shift patterns and bonuses amongst others...and finally and most importantly 3. in those locations that Earlybird mentions labour costs are cheaper. When Earlybird says "more desirable", he actually means cheaper.

Are you sure thats not the new car park...

maybe , if so its the most impressive car park i've ever seen, i think its likely to be the cancer centre, as its much taller than a usual carpark and has an a two storey glass roof, that you could see through ?

Actually it looks like the Brum and Manc super hospitals will cost the same. I've been able to find figures from the Birmingham one now I have £521m instead of £517m. The £200m was an estimate from years ago. Incidentally the Manchester one was estimated at £300m back then. According to Labournet.net the Manchester scheme was estimated at £495m in early 2004. We're both basically getting hospitals of the same size. The difference between the two is inflationary differences caused by the fact Manchester's started construction earlier.

NO! EB, you're wrong.

You have only managed to reprieve youself slightly, after all:

Where did you get that £571 million figure from? According to http://www.healthmatters.org.uk/issue30/birminghamplans University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust (the people building this hospital) have indeed chosen the super hosital route, but that it will cost £214 million. I know for certain Birmingham won't be getting two super hospitals so are you saying this web site is wrong. If you are right it is indeed a biggy, but if you are wrong it's substantially smaller than Manchester's super hospital.

This was taken from a gossip page in 1997 - hardly a reputable and up-to-date source. Been writing any dossiers for the government recently?

Face it - as much as you don't like it, Birmingham's new hospital is larger than Manchester's. It doesn't matter EB - I wouldn't care less if Manchester's was bigger, or if Sheffield was having a bigger one, or Bognor Regis for that matter, but a bit of jiggery pokery with figures and inflation will not make the Mancunian hospital larger/more expensive. It is well-known in NHS circles that the QE is the largest outside of London, and as I've said before - I think the London may be jeopardised.

Oh, and as for Vodafone:

Stoke on Trent and Warrington actually. Apparently it was to do with the fact that staff in these locations were more readily available with better training and the centres were also in more desirable locations.

Better training!?! It's a call centre, not a counselling centre or a forensic science laboratory! :lol:

And to stop your gloating, Nanjing Automotive will be restarting Longbridge with 1200 jobs so that will help the employment situation. Not that you should be gloating over people losing their jobs.

Brum2003 - I think it might be the car park you saw - near the main entrance to the hospital where the nurse's accommodation is? It is a lovely wood-clad building with offices and a helipad on top. Very smart :)

cool, maybe NCP should take a look and upgrade there awful city centre car parks x

It's a shame about Vodaphone but 1 Brindleyplace is a prestigious address. If Vodaphone are vacating the building it will be snapped up very quickly especially if there is a shortage grade A space in the city centre. probably by someone like o2 or orange

it seems Birmingham is losing jobs and major firms hand over fist.....its sad to watch the council bicker over major projects

Stadium (read the post today, depressing), Library, Eastide etc etc

while the city needs strong leadership and investment opportunities

The city needs a major KICK up the arse

i wouldnt say that there is anything special about how many jobs are being lost in birmingham.......... i mean 1,200 people working at longbridge is some improvement and as with things such as vodaphone, im supprised that a call centre was actually still located in the city centre!!!!! you ever see a call centre in the centre of london????

i mean the reasons they are going in some way are slightly encouraging....... though i accept job losses arent good for anyone....however, these are not high paid jobs going, high skilled, important jobs........ if you understand........ these are secondary sector jobs........ something which the city will be good not to support!

be worried when major offices close!

"1,200 people working at longbridge is some improvement"

what from the 6,000 that used to work there, its all bull about 1200 jobs being created, and nothing special about jobs being lost in birmingham??? the unemployment rate has risen in the last seven months,, and actually you may say they werent high paid jobs but tell that to those who were working there , what high skills jobs has this city got

as brum2003 said this city is becoming a joke, one shopping centre does not make a city, oh and dont say things like masshouse are brilliant beacuse if you ask most people comapred to the stuff we are seeing in manchester it looks piss poor

Great website - www.digital-ladywood.org.uk

Pic from it below - look how good CCT is when it was clean and bright!

http://www.search.digitalhandsworth.org.uk/content/images/63/49/Resource/7300-1.jpg

for god sakes parlo........ 1,200 jobs is an improvement from ZERO you twat.

rover collapsed because it was unprovitable.......... absolutley nothing to do with birmingham....birmingham couldnot have hep rover out in anyway and neither should it have. AGAIN, THE COLLAPSE OF ROVER HAS SWEET FA TO DO WITH BIRMINGHAM FAILING.

Vodafone might be moving away from birmingham because it bought out another company and their site is cheaper than in birmingham......AGAIN, THE MOVING OUT OF VODAPHONE WAS NOT A RESULT OF SOMETHING BIRMINGHAM DID.....thats life!

however, people can either do what trwat like you do and think the world is shit...or look on what good can come from it.

Lonngridge......... this has allowe dus to attract 1,200 jobs from a SUCCESSFULL car manufacturer and these job,. although less than employed at longbridge will be alot more secure...... and the rest of the longbridge site is being changed into a sciebce hi tech business park.......

Vodaphone on leaving has left a prestigous office blokc in the centre of birmingham....a city which has starved of office space...yes its a shame that birmingham lost Vodaphone but when now have the opportunity to attract better employments opportunities than a bloody call centre would........ if this office was available when the Bank of Newyork was loking, or the ODPM then tha cnahces are we would have been alot more successful

so, either stay depressed and negative and make little kids cry or actually get over the fact that things change and the chances are greater opportuniies are able to come from this.....its is people ike you who dispice change that this city can do without.....so please either better educate urself and see reality or piss off to where the grass is greener!

Calm down Woody!

Job losses are a blow, but the city is undertaking some readjustment. And as has been said - Brindley Place is an odd place for a call centre. Maybe the building is cursed - after all what happened to Ionica? As wasn't O2 there for a while...?

And Pirlo - 1200 jobs back at the old Rover plant - the plans for Longbridge will mean that well over the original 6000 will be employed there.

If things are so bad then why are they building at Aston Science Park? And in Heartlands? Post & Mail? Brindley Place? Pebble Mill? Tally Ho? Longbridge?

""this office was available when the Bank of Newyork was loking, or the ODPM then tha cnahces are we would have been alot more successful""

excatly foward planning should jhave ensured taht this type of office space was radily avilable, the council should have had encorged business to invest

and there are no 1200 jobs at longbridge its all bull

and the grass is greener in manchester so yes nexy year when i start my new job i will be working in manchester ,

....thank god for that!

So you are denying that there will be 1200 jobs in motor manufacturing at Longbridge? How will they build 100 000 cars p.a. then?

And what about the rest of the site? I suppose the new buildings (some of which, incidentally, are now going into construction).

And can we put the Bank of New York thing to rest. Why would a company like a bank wishing to open a second outlet in the UK want to open one in Brum when they already have one in London?? It is an hour and a half away by train - whereas Manchester is 3 hours and therefore more difficult to get to. Combine this with the fact that Manchester has better air links to the USA and it is a no-brainer! Why are we constantly whipping oursleves with this?? SO WHAT????????

Oh, and Pirlo - the grass is not greener in Manchester - it is cloudy so it doesn't get much sunlight, and there's not much of it compared to Brum (unless you go up into the Pennines...)

lol, i love you BIO, will u marry me?!?!?!?

http://www.elegantbank.com/gucci-whte.jpg

Woody...

Are you on one knee? ;)

Love the new signature Blunth! :lol:

Does that mean Smethwick is bigger than Manchester?

i may be on my knee9s0 but then again, i usuakky am ;)

Love the new signature Blunth! :lol:

Does that mean Smethwick is bigger than Manchester?

:)

Not if you go by city populations, no. But the Mancs'd be the first to tell you that it's the urban area that counts, and on that basis, yes, Smethwick is the UK's second city :happy:

knee9s0

Are you typing with your teeth?

i know, i am sorry............ was eating a cheese and ham toasty at the time!

anyone seen those glass boxes in the bullring with two people living in them,

i may be on my knee9s0 but then again, i usuakky am ;)

:rofl:

You scrub the floor a lot then? ;)

Cala aiming to complete Loop development with £20m deal Sep 28
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::..



By Steve Pain, Deputy Business Editor



A huge £20 million residential scheme - which will complete development alongside Birmingham's Brindley Loop Canal Basin - is being planned by Cala Homes (Midlands).


Cala has applied for planning permission to build 185 one and two-bed apartments with two commercial units, while at the same time submitting a masterplan for the development of a further 115 apartments on adjacent land owned by British Waterways Board.


The company, part of residential and commercial property developer Cala Group, has acquired the site on Sherborne Street from Birmingham City Council.


"This is one of the prime remaining sites available for development in Birmingham city centre and will form the final phase of development of the Brindley Loop Canal Basin, which has provided the location for some of the most sought after apartments in the city," said Cala Homes (Midlands) managing director designate Andy Wilkins.


"We felt it was important that the whole scheme works together as one, as well as with the surrounding developments, hence the reason for submitting a masterplan for the whole area."


He added: "This scheme will provide further choice for both owner occupiers and investors in this sought after part of the city centre.


" Having built out award-winning developments at Broadway Plaza, Qube and PostBox, Cala has established a reputation as a leading city centre residential developer, which our scheme on Sherborne Street will further enhance."


According to Mr Wilkins, quality of design for the new development will be paramount. " The new scheme will be designed by Turner Woolford Sharp, one of the leading residential architectural practices in the UK," he said.


Rob Turner, partner at Turner Woolford Sharp, said: "The proposals will result in a contemporary quality development contextual to its surroundings and will provide a logical continuation of the redevelopment of the whole area using public frontages and private amenity though attractive inner courtyards."


Cala Homes (Midlands) expects Birmingham City Council to consider its planning application by Spring 2006. Should planning permission be granted work is expected to start on site in late 2006.


The firm is working on a further two city centre residential and mixed use schemes which will provide 400 new homes.

are they actually managing to shift all these flats in the centre then

i wouldnt say that there is anything special about how many jobs are being lost in birmingham.......... i mean 1,200 people working at longbridge is some improvement and as with things such as vodaphone, im supprised that a call centre was actually still located in the city centre!!!!! you ever see a call centre in the centre of london????

i mean the reasons they are going in some way are slightly encouraging....... though i accept job losses arent good for anyone....however, these are not high paid jobs going, high skilled, important jobs........ if you understand........ these are secondary sector jobs........ something which the city will be good not to support!

be worried when major offices close!

lots have jobs have been lost recently, across all sectors

Sendo, Delcam, Cadburys, Vodaphone, Rover, British Gas, HSBC (call centre), Natwest, Sony and there was a big technology firm that closed its Solihull operation recently

these are off the top of my head and there have been many more, apart from Rover these are servcie jobs or high tech jobs, even rover was skilled manufacturing, these are not really jobs the city can afford to lose, alot of the jobs have gone to cheaper locations in the UK, which receive much more generous Government incentives.....

This is not slagging brum off, but the city's leaders need to address the fact that when offices are being closed, they seem to go in Birmingham first ?

It's not all one way. Lloyds TSB recently closed a back office facility in Manchester and moved the work to Birmingham.

it would be interesting to know how many jobs have been lost and how many created, across the whole spectrum not just certain sectors ?

anyone know

Face it - as much as you don't like it, Birmingham's new hospital is larger than Manchester's. It doesn't matter EB - I wouldn't care less if Manchester's was bigger, or if Sheffield was having a bigger one, or Bognor Regis for that matter, but a bit of jiggery pokery with figures and inflation will not make the Mancunian hospital larger/more expensive. It is well-known in NHS circles that the QE is the largest outside of London, and as I've said before - I think the London may be jeopardised.
Actually it isn't. Manchesters is costing £495m, whereas Birmingham's is costing £521m. That's a 5.25% increase. The Manchester has started and it's start date is 4 years before that of the Birmingham one. That means inflation would have to be at less than 1.3% for the Birmingham one to be more expensive. Inflation is actually higher than this. Technically the Manchester one, accounting for inflation, is more expensive, but the difference is negligible.

It's not all one way. Lloyds TSB recently closed a back office facility in Manchester and moved the work to Birmingham.
Rubbish! Lloyds TSB have actually increased their presence in Manchester by 140 jobs, excluding branches!

Love the new signature Blunth! :lol:

Does that mean Smethwick is bigger than Manchester?
Why would it? Manchester's metro is 3.2 million, the second largest in the UK. :)

You're spackering again E.B.

spot the contradiction


Why would it? Manchester's metro is 3.2 million, the second largest in the UK.
__________________
Manchester - The UK's second city!
2.3 million urban population and growing!

spot the contradiction


Why would it? Manchester's metro is 3.2 million, the second largest in the UK.
__________________
Manchester - The UK's second city!
2.3 million urban population and growing!

I don't see any contradiction. A metro isn't an urban population you know. Conurbation and metro are two completely different things. Maybe if you understood this difference you'd also understand the fact Manchester is larger than anywhere except London.

EB, stop this. Now.

EB, stop this. Now.
Stop what? I'm simply replying to an intentionally provocative post from a Birmingham forumer. Maybe you should be telling them to stop it.

Anyway, it doesn't matter which hospital is the bigger and better (the bigger the hospital, the more poor sick bastards contained within!). What is of concern is this continuing and steady loss of jobs in both conurbations. We do the back office stuff very well in the west mids/gtr manc, and still nearly all the top 100 FTSE companies are based elsewhere, along withg their associated lawyers, accountants, marketing, IT and whatever the hell.....

I had a little rant on another thread recently about the fact that Sharp have decided to dump their operation in Manchester after more than 30 years, to consolidate in Watford, because it's 'closer to their biggest market'. Of course it's the biggest market, because companies like you, Sharp, keep on fekking relocating there!.....blah blah

Anyway, it doesn't matter which hospital is the bigger and better (the bigger the hospital, the more poor sick bastards contained within!). What is of concern is this continuing and steady loss of jobs in both conurbations. We do the back office stuff very well in the west mids/gtr manc, and still nearly all the top 100 FTSE companies are based elsewhere, along withg their associated lawyers, accountants, marketing, IT and whatever the hell.....

I had a little rant on another thread recently about the fact that Sharp have decided to dump their operation in Manchester after more than 30 years, to consolidate in Watford, because it's 'closer to their biggest market'. Of course it's the biggest market, because companies like you, Sharp, keep on fekking relocating there!.....blah blah
Manchester and Leeds both had a net increase in employment over the past 1 year, 5 years and 10 years. I wouldn't worry about employment here too much. :)

Cala aiming to complete Loop development with £20m deal Sep 28
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::..



By Steve Pain, Deputy Business Editor



A huge £20 million residential scheme - which will complete development alongside Birmingham's Brindley Loop Canal Basin - is being planned by Cala Homes (Midlands).


Cala has applied for planning permission to build 185 one and two-bed apartments with two commercial units, while at the same time submitting a masterplan for the development of a further 115 apartments on adjacent land owned by British Waterways Board.


The company, part of residential and commercial property developer Cala Group, has acquired the site on Sherborne Street from Birmingham City Council.


"This is one of the prime remaining sites available for development in Birmingham city centre and will form the final phase of development of the Brindley Loop Canal Basin, which has provided the location for some of the most sought after apartments in the city," said Cala Homes (Midlands) managing director designate Andy Wilkins.


"We felt it was important that the whole scheme works together as one, as well as with the surrounding developments, hence the reason for submitting a masterplan for the whole area."


He added: "This scheme will provide further choice for both owner occupiers and investors in this sought after part of the city centre.


" Having built out award-winning developments at Broadway Plaza, Qube and PostBox, Cala has established a reputation as a leading city centre residential developer, which our scheme on Sherborne Street will further enhance."


According to Mr Wilkins, quality of design for the new development will be paramount. " The new scheme will be designed by Turner Woolford Sharp, one of the leading residential architectural practices in the UK," he said.


Rob Turner, partner at Turner Woolford Sharp, said: "The proposals will result in a contemporary quality development contextual to its surroundings and will provide a logical continuation of the redevelopment of the whole area using public frontages and private amenity though attractive inner courtyards."


Cala Homes (Midlands) expects Birmingham City Council to consider its planning application by Spring 2006. Should planning permission be granted work is expected to start on site in late 2006.


The firm is working on a further two city centre residential and mixed use schemes which will provide 400 new homes.

Been looking at Turner woolford sharp previous projects on RIBA
http://www.ribafind.org/entry.asp?offno=1301643&w=a

Does anyone know anything about the Elkington Row Development

It's a Mixed-use urban strategy including a hotel, art gallery, office space, retail and canalside apartments. Its the first I've heard about it and it sounds quite big.

Stop what? I'm simply replying to an intentionally provocative post from a Birmingham forumer. Maybe you should be telling them to stop it.

This bit of the forum is about Birmingham, isn't it? If you don't like it, perhaps you could stick to the Manchester one, because there is nothing worse than having to sift through and avoid the pompous predictable postings of a tedious, self important dick, to actually find stuff that is interesting. Frankly if I stumbled across this forum, whether I was from Birmingham, London, or even Manchester, I would pass on by. It doesn't matter who's conurbation is the largest, who has the most cranes, who's buildings are biggest. This is about buildings in Birmingham, not in Manchester.

This bit of the forum is about Birmingham, isn't it? If you don't like it, perhaps you could stick to the Manchester one, because there is nothing worse than having to sift through and avoid the pompous predictable postings of a tedious, self important dick, to actually find stuff that is interesting. Frankly if I stumbled across this forum, whether I was from Birmingham, London, or even Manchester, I would pass on by. It doesn't matter who's conurbation is the largest, who has the most cranes, who's buildings are biggest. This is about buildings in Birmingham, not in Manchester.
If people from Birmingham don't want comments about Manchester in their thread then they should exert a little more self-control and try to avoid mentioning Manchester in their posts. After all, if someone makes a negative comment about the city, such as by comparing it to Smethwick, then I'm well within my rights to reply to the post.

Maybe you need to extract your head from whichever orifice you placed it.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/DoNotFeedTroll.jpg

Please.

Been looking at Turner woolford sharp previous projects on RIBA
http://www.ribafind.org/entry.asp?offno=1301643&w=a

Does anyone know anything about the Elkington Row Development

It's a Mixed-use urban strategy including a hotel, art gallery, office space, retail and canalside apartments. Its the first I've heard about it and it sounds quite big.

http://tinypic.com/e1b41t.jpg

It lists it on the website as a 2001 competion entry service. looks like old science museum site which I thought Associated Architects were designing.

The image is the MCD proposal which lost out in the BCC competition for the site. For my money it was the better proposal and was the front runner right upto the final decision. The competition was meant to be on merit but I heard a rumour that it came down to money and therefore St. Bernards won (I can't verify that as it was just a rumour). The old buildings were to be converted into a boutique hotel similar to Hotel Du Vin (to be run by Alias, the company behind the hotel Barcelona in Exeter amongst others).

The scheme was very reminisant of the Water's Edge and it certainly would have livened up the JQ

If people from Birmingham don't want comments about Manchester in their thread then they should exert a little more self-control and try to avoid mentioning Manchester in their posts. After all, if someone makes a negative comment about the city, such as by comparing it to Smethwick, then I'm well within my rights to reply to the post.

Maybe you need to extract your head from whichever orifice you placed it.

it does not matter how manchester is portrayed here, positve or negative, if its mentioned you have to comment

WHY ?

The image is the MCD proposal which lost out in the BCC competition for the site. For my money it was the better proposal and was the front runner right upto the final decision. The competition was meant to be on merit but I heard a rumour that it came down to money and therefore St. Bernards won (I can't verify that as it was just a rumour). The old buildings were to be converted into a boutique hotel similar to Hotel Du Vin (to be run by Alias, the company behind the hotel Barcelona in Exeter amongst others).

The scheme was very reminisant of the Water's Edge and it certainly would have livened up the JQ

Interesting thanks for the info, did look a nice proposal.

http://www.puffins-brixham.velnet.co.uk/nick/loser.bmp

I've found a new desktop :pepper:

http://www.puffins-brixham.velnet.co.uk/nick/loser.bmp
:lol: :lol: :laugh: :laugh: :applause: :applause: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :hilarious etc etc...nice one.

I think this is more accurate:

http://www.blibble.co.uk/images/loser.jpg

Well, he did dare to mention Birmingham.

I've blatantly copied Blunther's signature but with my own specifications....I suggest we all do the same :)

If people from Birmingham don't want comments about Manchester in their thread then they should exert a little more self-control and try to avoid mentioning Manchester in their posts. After all, if someone makes a negative comment about the city, such as by comparing it to Smethwick, then I'm well within my rights to reply to the post.

Maybe you need to extract your head from whichever orifice you placed it.

I am not sure you know the difference between your head and orifice EB, and once again you have got your facts spectacularly wrong.

If you care to trawl back through your inane and faecal offerings, you will find that it was YOU who burst on to the Birmingham forum claiming that Stoke and Warrington are "more desirable locations" than Brindley Place, and then having the audacity to challenge me on the new Birmingham hospital, quoting a source which is 8 YEARS OLD and merely a gossip page for health workers.

And then, incredulously, you try to claim that that the Manchester and Birmingham hospitals are the same (or even that the Manchester one is slightly larger/more expensive) due to inflationary pressures. This just goes to prove that you know fuck all about construction and costs, as well as PFI contracts - when do you think the Birmingham figure was agreed? Yesterday? No, it was a few years ago, and the final sum will be much closer to the £571 million I suggested.

So why don't you stay quiet unless you've got something constructive to say, or at least base it on hard facts instead of the nearest bit of information that you can find to back up your deluded and closed mind.

Go back to your computing and arguing about population statistics.

I've blatantly copied Blunther's signature but with my own specifications....I suggest we all do the same :)

Great idea! :)

Seen the front of the Post today?

Largest art installation in the UK to circle the M6 at JUnction 10 - the "Ring of Walsall".

Fantastic! :)

Oh yeah - and £600 million redevelopment of Walsall - should please Smiley!

Seen the front of the Post today?

Largest art installation in the UK to circle the M6 at JUnction 10 - the "Ring of Walsall".

Fantastic! :)

Oh yeah - and £600 million redevelopment of Walsall - should please Smiley!

The ring of Walsall??? £600million developement??? :shocked: :shocked: I'm popping out in a bit I'll go and have a butchers. I'm gonna go and take some pics of the Walsall Wheel, yep we've jumped on the bandwagon and got a nice 50metre ferris wheel as well

sounds good hopefully its proper art and not some modern bullshit

Here's the picture from today's Post.Of course Birmingham could do some similar linked to Lord of the Rings.Well,another ring road for the Midlands anyway!
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/docs/icBirmingham/00038F0D-BBDC-133B-B5890C01AC1BF814.jpg

More on the Walsall regeneration.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Town to get £600 million revamp
By Catherine Ryan
Sep 29, 2005
A masterplan costing £600m which will transform Walsall town centre and bring thousands of jobs to the region has been unveiled.

A £100 million college and £160 million worth of improvements at the Manor Hospital are all planned.

A £180 million waterfront scheme and a £60 million revamp of Darlaston wasteland are also in the pipeline.

A new square, near the New Art Gallery, is to house restaurants and a series of office developments will be based in an office corridor along Littleton Street and Blue Lane West to meet the needs of 21st century businesses.

Artwork to mark the gateway to Walsall, similar to the Angel of the North, is also set to be installed in Darlaston.

The plan was unveiled by Dr Peter Cromar, chief executive of Walsall Regeneration Company, and chairman Ben Reid.

Dr Cromar said that the scheme marked a very exciting period in Walsall history.

"This is the first coherent plan we have had. We have talked about the waterfront and using derelict land in Darlaston.

"But this plan means the building blocks are in place. Walsall is set to become a town for enterprise."

He said the most exciting element for today's plan was the new Walsall college, which will be moved from St Paul's Street to Littleton Street.

A total of 4,000 jobs are expected to be created with the regeneration of derelict land in Darlaston next to the M6.

Yay :banana:

sounds good hopefully its proper art and not some modern bullshit

what is proper art, if you don't mind me asking ?

http://tinypic.com/e1b41t.jpg

It lists it on the website as a 2001 competion entry service. looks like old science museum site which I thought Associated Architects were designing.

another council fuck up, i bet MCD woudl have developed this site and had it completed by now ?

whats happened to RO st bernard, still in planning

what is proper art, if you don't mind me asking ?

Barely Legal 4, if you're asking me ;)

sounds challenging, lol

uote:
Originally Posted by brum2003
what is proper art, if you don't mind me asking ?


"Barely Legal 4, if you're asking me"

oh you know the sort , like an unmade bed that sort of stuff is just bollocks

oh you know the sort , like an unmade bed that sort of stuff is just bollocks

I went to The Tate especially to see that.I enjoyed it but it wouldn't look too good wrapped around the M6. :)

i have no problem with that art its the people who produce it that get on my nerves

i have no problem with that art its the people who produce it that get on my nerves

I know what you mean. Most art has meaning, and most artists put effort and their artistic talent into making it.

However, some artists just produce unbelievably boring and meaningless art, give it some pretentious name, then explain it as some deep insight into the finer workings of life the universe and everything, then get their checks in the mail. e.g. One of the finest examples of this crap is 'lights turning on, the turning off again', which won the turner prize a couple of years back.

What gets on my nerves is when people don't appreciate good street art, like the iron man in Victoria. So many people think it looks ugly, or that it's pointless. I couldn't imagine Victoria square without it.

I couldn't imagine Victoria square without it.

I think it will be moved in the near future to accomodate the Metro.It will be placed nearby.

It's a bit wasted where it is, overshadowed both by the Floosie, and to a lesser extent, Queen Vic.

http://www.birmingham-photos.co.uk/images/Cal2000/JPG/IronMani.jpg

Quality piece of work he is :)

I miss the Town Hall... we've temporarily lost one of our best buildings... anyone know when the covers come off?

http://www.birminghamheritage.org.uk/index/victoria_sq07.jpg

Smashing square!

2007

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40853000/jpg/_40853020_darlas203.jpg

Smashing circle!

Looks alreet that does!

Nice sig ;)

Thanks ;)

[img]

I miss the Town Hall... anyone know when the covers come off?

Haven't you lot had enough cricket for one year? :)

Birmingham has been chosen to host a major Anglo-French conference on urban design and regeneration, Reinventing the City Through Partnership, which takes place this Friday, 30 September at the ICC.
PR Portfolio Regeneration

Reference Number 8010
Press contact Audrey Geber 0121 303 2954
Issue Date 28 September 2005

Leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Mike Whitby, said: “This week’s meeting, the 31st in a series of conference workshops, is the first to be held in the UK, so it is a great coup for Birmingham to be chosen as the venue. We shall be welcoming up to two hundred architects, town planners, developers and investors from France and other parts of Europe to look at the way we have regenerated our city.

“The conference delegates will be examining what lessons can be learned from ‘the Birmingham way’, in particular how the public and private sectors have worked together to deliver the large scale investment and development which, over the past two decades, has transformed the city.”

As well as formal presentations the “Atelier” or “Workshop” will invite delegates to participate in debates and discussions with leading developers, including John Emery, (Bullring); Gary Taylor, (Brindleyplace); Alan Chatham, (Mailbox) as well as politicians, French government and city council officers, town planners and other professionals, to share experiences and best practice from across Europe and beyond.

More on Walsall.

Families welcome plans for giant sculpture Sep 29 2005
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.



By Gurdip Thandi, Evening Mail





QUIRKY plans to put a giant sculpture in the form of a saddle over the M6 motorway have been given an enthusiastic welcome by the folk of Walsall.

The Evening Mail revealed yesterday how the sculpture, representing the town's historic links with the leather industry, was one of the options being put forward for an iconic gateway feature.




It is hoped the sculpture could become Walsall's rival to the famous Angel of the North statue.


Walsall Council leader Coun Tom Ansell said the authority was open to suggestions for monuments to be placed across the borough and that officials would welcome views from residents.


Sisters Betty Doughty, 68, and Joan Keeling, 66, from Walsall, said a saddle would be a perfect symbol.


Mrs Doughty said: "I would like to see something that truly represents our heritage and leather is one of the things this town is most famous for."


Mrs Keeling added: "When Princess Anne visited a few years ago, she was given leather products, so I would certainly welcome it."


Nurse Lynda Wiggin, aged 52, from Brownhills, said: "People would like to see things like that and a saddle would be apt for Walsall or maybe something to symbolise the Black Country's iron industry.


"If you go to Dudley you see plenty of pictures and sculptures that have trains on them, so I think it makes a difference."


Kevin Box, a 17-year-old Walsall student, said: "There is no doubt that Walsall is heavily linked with the leather trade so I think it would be appropriate."


But fellow student Ben Cross, also 17, said: "I think it depends on what sort of look they are going for because if they want to be modern and trendy, it might not be the best idea."


Joanne Friend, 22, from Bloxwich, said: "I think it's an excellent idea because people will be left in no doubt exactly where they are when they are travelling along the motorway."


Coun Ansell was at the unveiling of the a £600 million masterplan by the Walsall Regeneration Company to transform Walsall town centre and create thousands of new jobs in the borough.


He said: "A giant saddle landmark at the M6 is just one of the ideas that are floating around at the moment.


"We are also looking to place such monuments in gateways across the borough, such as a miner in Brownhills.


"But what we want are the right ideas to really help put Walsall back on the map and we will be consulting with residents and would welcome any views."

If they renamed the county of west midlands I think most people from outside of this area would associate this ring over the m6 with being a gateway into birmingham rather than Walsall. Coming the other way I always feel that im home when I past fort dunlop.

Found this on Midland and city developments website http://www.midcity.co.uk/fl/
its a sketch of Brindley House development.

http://www.midcity.co.uk/media/images/intro_10.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40853000/jpg/_40853020_darlas203.jpg

Smashing circle!

Will that be the biggest ring piece in Europe?

Will that be the biggest ring piece in Europe?

I think so and it'll have 250,000 people going through it every day :eek: :runaway:

hopefully yes

Nice work Stel - it will be nice to see this part of town revived.

our new Mail puts YOU first

Sep 29 2005

By Steve Dyson, Editor


FROM Monday, October 3, the Birmingham Mail will reinvent itself with a new name, a radical redesign, seven new local editions and a huge injection of extra pages.

The changes are the biggest and most significant in the newspaper's 135-year history, and mean that there will now be something new for everyone...every day of the week.

Today I want to tell you the detail behind the changes but first, and most importantly, the reason we are making them. And that comes down to you - readers and residents of the city and greater Birmingham area.

Story continues Continue story

Research and feedback since I became editor in July has told us clearly that you want more from your Birmingham Mail - more pages, more useful content, a softer, less abrasive, more friendly approach and more detailed coverage of your local neighbourhoods.

And so that is exactly what we are going to do.

The design and structure of the Birmingham Mail - which is dropping 'Evening' from its title, returning to the original name it had until 1967 - has been reinvented from front to back, including a bright new masthead.

We have worked on this design with wide groups of readers from across our circulation area, refining its development with feedback at each stage. The result is the eye-catching, modern approach you see before you.

The new ultra local editions are all based on geography to serve widely differing communities across greater Birmingham and the city itself. This was again strongly backed by feedback from existing and potential readers.

The editions will be flagged prominently on the front page, with a contents panel specifically for local news from within that area. Inside there will be a consecutive four-page local news section in the front-end of each edition.

Each geographic edition will carry the latest big, breaking news and sport from across the region and, when relevant, Britain and the world. But from Monday we will dedicate four pages per weekday in every edition to report in detail on your area as well.

These will contain local issues that affect YOU - like planning applications, court convictions and local crimes involving your area. These pages will also contain your celebrations, anniversaries, school OFSTEDs, reports on charities and local heroes, community events, issues and campaigns that are crucial to your neighbourhood. They will essentially be YOUR pages.

note they dont use the word west midlands but "Greater Birmingham"

Do they know something we don't?

I like the title 'Birmingham Mail' - goes better with its sister paper. :)

Found this on Midland and city developments website http://www.midcity.co.uk/fl/
its a sketch of Brindley House development.

http://www.midcity.co.uk/media/images/intro_10.jpg

Yam good at finding stuff Stel!

Looks... erm... slightly better, anyway....

Looks OK.

More stuff on Walsall.More pictures too.

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_objectid=16188865%26method=full%26siteid=50002%26headline=%2dpound%2d600m%2dblueprint%2dto%2dput%2dwalsall%2d%2dback%2don%2dmap%2d%2d-name_page.html

Looks OK.

More stuff on Walsall.More pictures too.

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_objectid=16188865%26method=full%26siteid=50002%26headline=%2dpound%2d600m%2dblueprint%2dto%2dput%2dwalsall%2d%2dback%2don%2dmap%2d%2d-name_page.html

Good stuff Nacho.....The waterfront in Walsall will look fantastic in a few years time, they were clearing more land when I went past yesterday, photo time I reckon

Good stuff Nacho.....The waterfront in Walsall will look fantastic in a few years time, they were clearing more land when I went past yesterday, photo time I reckon

Looking at the rest of the stuff proposed on that link I won't have time to take photo's in Brum anymore I'll be too busy on my home patch :)

I hope it all comes together well.

I miss the Town Hall... we've temporarily lost one of our best buildings... anyone know when the covers come off?
2002 wasn't it?

2002 wasn't it?

The covers come off in 2002? :crazy:

The covers come off in 2002? :crazy:
Was't that the original timescale? But instead more covers went on (as per the cricket analogy). The scaffolding went over the roof and we lost sight of the whole building.
All I know is, it's been delayed at least twice and I still can't work out the need for all this scaffolding around the outside when they're refitting the inside!

Shake-up for NEC to help cut out losses Sep 29 2005
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Showpiece venues, the National Exhibition Centre, the International Convention Centre and the National Indoor Arena, are at a turning point.

Maybe rightly there is a new emphasis on them becoming more commercial.

NEC Group chief executive Andrew Morris is shaking the business up big time. He has revealed a ten-year plan to clear the deficits which have plagued the finances.



Story continues




The Birmingham City Council-owned business loses something like £8-9 million a year, a bill the local authority has to pick up.


The interest payments reflect the roughly £500 million it cost to build the three iconic centres.


NEC finances are cyclical depending on whether big shows are coming round or it is more of a fallow year.


The NEC makes money and subsidises the ICC and NIA. But the annual results have always been skewed by the debt overhang. There used to be a certain resignation about the state of affairs.


The argument went thus - the NEC was built in the face of significant opposition by visionary local leaders of the time and we should glory in the subsequent success and not insult that achievement by criticising the impact on the public purse.


And secondly they were built in part - particularly the ICC and NIA - to pull in business to the Birmingham area, underpinning the city's economic base. Hotels, taxi drivers, bars, all benefit. Making a profit on the venues themselves was never the prime motive.


The justification is fine and still applicable today. However it has perhaps tended to breed a certain degree of complacency. And that is never good for business.


In the last two years the NEC Group has found itself in a different ball park. After years of easy growth the sector has turned flat. There is now much more competition - Earl's Court and Olympia along with the ExCel Centre in London, and Coventry's Ricoh Arena on Birmingham's doorstep.


The loss of the Motor Show was a big blow. About £40 million of new investment is currently going into the NEC, with more promised.


So it is right that the operation ratchets up its approach and looks to be far more financially robust.


It will take the best part of a decade for the NEC to ultimately wash its face, but the target is now there. A supercasino which it is pushing for would certainly help. Perhaps, under the Morris plan, the wheel of fortune will swing in favour of the long suffering council taxpayer.

They're doing a lot of stone work too, but not sure this is happening right now.

A very good thing about the Walsall M6 art is that it can lay claim to the title of the largest piece of public art in the UK (discounting stuff like white horses on hillsides).

Whilst I don't think it will become an icon like the Angel of the North did, it will certainly put Walsall on the map - what with the new art gallery and all.

It should take over from the Bang (which turned out to be a damp squib) in Manchester as the largest public art installation. I must say though, the Angel rocks...

Maybe this could be the Walsall Halo? Or will 'Saddle' stick?

Was't that the original timescale? But instead more covers went on (as per the cricket analogy). The scaffolding went over the roof and we lost sight of the whole building.
All I know is, it's been delayed at least twice and I still can't work out the need for all this scaffolding around the outside when they're refitting the inside!

Ah right, sorry. Bloomin 'eck is anything ever started or finished on time in Birmingham?

One of the worst welcoming bridge/sculpture etc, has to be in Marbella.Erected by the infamous Jesus Gil ,it abounds in tackiness.Check it out.

http://canales.diariosur.es/pueblos/marbella/descrip.htm

http://canales.diariosur.es/pueblos/marbella/descrip.jpg

:rofl:

This would be great at Walsall! You could have one for Wolverhampton too!!

Classy. :)

Way too classy for Walsall but I think it would definitely suit Wolverhampton :)

One of the worst welcoming bridge/sculpture etc, has to be in Marbella.Erected by the infamous Jesus Gil ,it abounds in tackiness.Check it out.

http://canales.diariosur.es/pueblos/marbella/descrip.htm

Jesus Gil? Any Prolapse Fans on this List? I aways wondered if there was a real Jesus Gil:

SURREAL MADRID

Backroom banditos, crucifixion put aff for the next 10
minutes. Jesus Gil emerges from the boardroom, visibly
broken, sweat pouring down his face, or so you think...

Athletico must conquer the mighty Real's stranglehold
Athletico must be ready to take over the mantle

Jesus Gil once said of his supporters: "They're a bunch of
layabouts from the lower classes. A member who doesn't
have a drug addict in the family, will probably have a
prostitute."

Still regaining 60% of support from the supporter. Jesus Gil.
Jesus Gil, scored the highest rankings from the highest
meddling and bankings. Underhanded operations were his
forte. Overhead wans tae.

He never hit the crossbar, he never hit the posts, straight in
the goal. The Bank of Spain is cancer.

"GOAL"
... to Jesus Gil.

The Bank of Spain - cancer.

He was the guy that put the supporter behind him and had
the supporters with him all the way. Horrible, sweaty, size-
mobile.
Gargantuan guy that naebody liked. Athletico must get ahead
of Real.
Jesus Gil.

Killed a lot of restaurant owners, built the place himself, did
the architecture, didnae tell anybody. 68 killed, 5 years,
£2,000,000 fined.

"GOAL"

A pistol at the head of the echelons of fitba', Espana. It
cannae be a bad thing it can only be wan ae tha things that
makes for good fitba'.
Jesus Gil.

(rant)

Jesus Gil
Jesus Gil
Corporate smoothie wae a record as long as his arm

... "GOAL"

Unfortunately,I know a lot about this guy.Loads ,and I mean thousands,of illegal buildings.Marbella is paying for it now.The poor guy passed away last year.

http://www.verkac.com/img/futboladami/jesusgil.jpg

There's a render that goes with this.I think we have seen it before.Taken from today's EGI site.


Agents apppointed for B'ham's £100m Cube

Ian Halstead 30 September 2005 11:00


The Cube: could be completed by 2008



Agents were appointed this week for The Cube, the £100m second phase of Birmingham's Mailbox.

http://www.verkac.com/img/futboladami/jesusgil.jpg

"Horrible, sweaty, size-mobile.
Gargantuan guy that naebody liked."

??

One of Prolapse's singers was from Glasgow, hence the funny spelling, and he once said his dad lived in Birmingham, beciuse he got on the train in Glasgow Central, got as far a the new 60 Birmingham and got off thinking that HAD to be the capital.

Well, I didn't believe him either, but there you go..

Change in the city is hard to comprehend
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.
Tonight Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, of the University of Warwick, delivers the first of a series of lectures to celebrate 150 years of the Birmingham and Midland Institute. ..TEXT: Here are some of his musings on Birmingham, business and battles for the future...

The Birmingham Renaissance

I suspect those of us who have been here a while find some of the changes in the city hard to get our heads around.



Story continues




Some people think that nothing has changed and some think that everything has changed. Some think that all change is for the worse and others that all change can only be for the better.


I still cannot forget seeing the President of the United States walking along Gas Street Basin and having a pint in a canalside pub. For years the city had turned its back on the canal system, in its love affair with the motor car, a canalside walk a few years ago would have revealed a few tyres an old pram or a rusty bike wheel at the best.


It is also difficult to imagine canal side flats going for a £1 million.


Diversity


For me this is crucial for the development of any modern city. A vital ingredient for success is diversity. A diverse population and a diverse economic base. Diversity makes a cities economy more resilient to changes in fashion, technology and the cold winds from global markets. Diversity gives a city long-term sustainability.


We have seen too many ' company' or one industry towns fall into almost terminal decay both in Europe and in North America in the last twenty years and that is not a fate we wish for our hometown.


Whilst we must celebrate our diversity with a degree of pride that the diverse populations that have made the city and the wider region their home have done so with a degree of harmony that must not be taken for granted.


This is perhaps easier for someone who has come from Asia to say.


I came and made my home in Britain because it was Britain. I respected then and do to this day the values of Britain. Don't get me wrong I love the subcontinent and am no less an Indian, indeed I travel there every month. But when one makes ones home in a country one has to adapt to the value system of that country.


Longbridge


The Longbridge plant was living on borrowed time from the moment of the departure of BMW. Cut off from the very latest technology with insufficient investment in the product its demise was only a matter of time.


When we think of all of the words the vast number of column inches expended on this subject these companies failed because of their insularity, their lack of exposure to international best practice both in manufacture and in products.


The number of chief executives who told me they where world class whose firms are no longer with us. I remember in the late 70s coming back from Japan. I had visited Toyota and Honda, I told the people I knew in the car industry, 'those Japanese are going to give us a run for our money in the future'.


They said the Germans maybe, the Japs never! This was usually followed by some unpleasant remarks about their racial characteristics.


Yet today the vast majority of UK car out put is being produced by the Japanese.


China


My belief however is that in the longer term those who are currently locating in China for example have more far sighted aspirations, rather than simply seeing China as an offshore production facility, they have the foresight to see that with a population of at least three times the European Union the long term goal is to have access to Chinese consumers.


China is the worlds third largest car market but the first one the USA has 80 cars per 100 population, the second Germany has 50, but China only has 0.5. That is one vehicle for every two hundred people.


It is for that reason that I believe people are investing in China. I do not believe that any far sighted industrialist is investing in China simply for lower labour costs.


After all the Cadbury's chocolate I was eating in India as a boy was not exported from Bourneville. Cadbury had opened a plant in India as far back as 1947.


The service sector


The days when we thought that jobs in the service sector where not 'real' jobs have to put behind us. We need a greater degree of professionalism in our services and a greater focus on giving customer satisfaction.


Good service has to be integral to our economy. You only have to see how quickly those in the developing world have created a strong service culture.


If we want people to come and invest in our region to create employment opportunities we have to make all of our visitors welcome. Today in the service economy just as with manufactures consumers have a choice. If we want them to choose us we have to be user friendly good service cannot be an add on extra it has to be central to everything we do.


Universities


In the past there was also a clear distinction between near market and blue skies research which I believe no longer exists.


What is required is a continuum from pure through applied research directly into the exploitation of knowledge in firms.


In creating this new environment the key objective for RDA's and Government Departments is to create the maximum degree of collaboration.


Collaboration which needs to be national and international, collaboration between public institutions and private sector bodies, between universities and industry in every possible permutation.

Ey up!

19 women rescued from 'brothel'

A police officer leads a woman from Cuddles

Watch police raid
Nineteen women who detectives believe were tricked into becoming sex slaves have been removed from a massage parlour in Birmingham.

The women, thought to be from Eastern Europe, were led from Cuddles on Hagley Road on Thursday evening by a special task force of about 25 female officers.

Three people from the West Midlands - a woman and a man in their 50s and a 22-year-old man - were arrested.

A shotgun was found at the premises which police say is a brothel.

'Locked in'

The premises was found to have electric fences at the rear.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "The women are believed to be of Eastern European origin and were tricked into the sex industry.

"They had their passports taken. They were locked into the venue during the evening to work and taken away during the day and locked in a house."


Communities might not want these women back if they know what has happened to them
Sarah Green, Amnesty

Factfile: Sex trade trafficking

Det Insp Mark Nevitt said the operation involved about 50 police officers and it was believed the women came from about 10 countries.

"We now need to... speak to them, debrief them and find out exactly how they got into the country and what their role is within this establishment," he said.

'Into the fire'

Amnesty International welcomed the raids but has called on the UK Government to do more to protect victims of trafficking.

Amnesty spokeswoman Sarah Green said there was no protection in law for victims of trafficking, who are usually classed as illegal immigrants and deported.

She said: "Most are deported without any care or support or assessment of the risks they face if sent back.

"Communities might not want these women back if they know what has happened to them and there is evidence of people being re-trafficked.

"If you deport them very quickly and arbitrarily, you are simply throwing them back into the fire."

That's two minutes walk away from my house! Blatantly obvious what it is really... neon red lights, no windows, etc. Next door to me favourite chinese takeaway :happy:

Yeah it's big headlines on all the news programmes....I bet there was quite a few punters caught in there who have got a bit of explaining to do to their better halves now!

It means I have to go all the way to First Class Tonal Therapy in Selly Oak now :(

You can add 'Cuddles' onto your Smethwick sig now that it's famous :happy:

There's a render that goes with this.I think we have seen it before.Taken from today's EGI site.


Agents apppointed for B'ham's £100m Cube

Ian Halstead 30 September 2005 11:00


The Cube: could be completed by 2008



Agents were appointed this week for The Cube, the £100m second phase of Birmingham's Mailbox.

Good news this, this could be another Selfrages Building.

Could be bloody awful, where was that site with the fl;y through? I never seemed to find it

A render of the the buildings for Walsall's waterfront.Click then see pic bottom left.
http://www.expressandstar.com/es/features/supplements/FUTURES/pdf/PK%2001%2020-SEP-05%20PK%20PW.PDF

This has probably been posted before but i hadn't seen it, maybe some of you guys ain't.

http://westmidlands.ideasfactory.com/art_design/features/feature55.htm

Interesting article which covers old ground.

Didn't realise the Town Hall (http:////www.associated-architects.co.uk/files/Town_Hall,doc.pdf) refurb involved Associated Architects

http://tinypic.com/e7gpqx.jpg

With this, Symphony Hall and Curzon Street, Birmingham will be organ capital of the UK :pepper:

Didn't realise the Town Hall (http:////www.associated-architects.co.uk/files/Town_Hall,doc.pdf) refurb involved Associated Architects

http://tinypic.com/e7gpqx.jpg

With this, Symphony Hall and Curzon Street, Birmingham will be organ capital of the UK :pepper:
WOW! Doesn't that look simply STUNNING! Makes you even more proud to be a Brummie! :yes:

It brilliant isn't it. And how mad is that Symphony Hall's organ. It's complete now too.
http://tinypic.com/e7gshh.jpg

http://tinypic.com/e7gsj9.jpg

wow that is nice, i think the scaffloding is on because there cleaning it from the outside too??

It brilliant isn't it. And how mad is that Symphony Hall's organ. It's complete now too.
http://tinypic.com/e7gshh.jpg

http://tinypic.com/e7gsj9.jpg
Oh yeah! Funny the way those pipes stick out! I have to say it though...Symphony Hall...beautiful... :yes:

On the link that Foxtrot put up there is also St Martins Gate.This one had passed me by.Click 'project' then 'urban' to get the rendering.
http://www.associated-architects.co.uk/

The grand old Town Hall does look wonderful; this neo-classical gem should be open to us all again in 2007, can't wait!

Curzon St's OFF :(

Saturday's Post said that the Royal College of Organists are having financial difficulties.

The Council are determined to refurb the station and bring into use of some form or another, and the College are still keen on moving, but may want a cheaper/downscaled home.

oh well never mind

another site on granville street is being cleared. There was a delay for some reason but with the last week the builders have smashed the shit out of what was a ugly red brick industrial block. I look forward to a high spec residential development.

Which one is this City Living? The bingo has gone along with the other bits around. Teh Shell Garage will be going soon too.

This area has had and continues to have so much development going on. It's amazing really.

right up at the broad street end behind o'neills

Good news then! :)

Bio - Don't think the Shell garage is going they've just re-done all the pumps and canopy.. Do you mean the used car lot by the bingo?

isnt there two petro stations??? the one but the top by lee bank and the other down towards holloway circus?!!?!?

Yeah if thats what I htink it si it was demolished a while ago for some reason they left a dreadful lookign exterior wall inatct for a while

The petrol station on Granville Street that is being redeveloped is the one right next to the Colonade & Peace Garden (and near to the Skyline site). I understand that the redevelopment of this petrol station has been delayed although I don't know why.

The red modern industrial units behind O'Neil's has had consent for a while but the then owner stated he had no imediate plans to build the scheme out. So he either changed his mind, sold up or the buildings were too much hassle so the site been cleared for parking, don't know which.

Does anyone know what the steelframe being erected by Weavers on the corner of Holliday Street & Granville Street is going to be?

Spread - the Weavers job is a small apartment block I think - 70 units, and mostly studio flats. Designed by Turner Woolford Sharp if it is the one I'm thinking of.

We were discussing on another thread that the block below was going to be built on Bath Row, and I think it was Smiley or Foxtrot said that it was going to be next to/in place of the Texaco garage near HCT. Interestingly it is Ian Darby Partnership who also designed Postbox.

http://www.idpartnership.com/images/portfolio/housing/holloway_head.jpg

I suggested the Shell garage because I was speaking to someone recently who said he was going to be working on student accommodation and he said it was the Shell garage, although I guess it could be the Q8 one that Spread mentioned.

Birmingham City Council are taking a hammering from Birmingham Forward in today's Post, and Digby Jones is saying time is up on New St and things need to move forward.

I am exasperated with councils in general. We had Labour who had big ideas and were quite good at delivering projects (although slow) but when it came to delivering basic council services were underperforming, then we have Tory/Lib who don't seem to be getting anywhere on major projects & city centre (or anywhere else) regeneration but seem to be sorting the rest of the council services out.

Why can't we have both?

because bio, that would be an ideal world........... need i say more?!?!?


right, the building above, a few weeks ago, there was aplanning application aproved for an 11 storey building with tudent acoom on the site of an OLD garage on bath row.....but this one was one the plot between bath row and the railway.....could it be this?????

Birmingham City Council are taking a hammering from Birmingham Forward in today's Post, and Digby Jones is saying time is up on New St and things need to move forward.

I am exasperated with councils in general. We had Labour who had big ideas and were quite good at delivering projects (although slow) but when it came to delivering basic council services were underperforming, then we have Tory/Lib who don't seem to be getting anywhere on major projects & city centre (or anywhere else) regeneration but seem to be sorting the rest of the council services out.

Why can't we have both?

Well you have to look at whats best for the people, and sadly for us council services are more important than lots or regeneration projects, to most of the public. Lets hope Birmingham will attract more private investment, if large scale public investment is not coming our way.

Certain council services need to be looked after, but IMO there are a lot of services that councils provide that are just involved with busybodying (they shall remain nameless because I don't want to turn this into a political debate). Cash could be saved in so many places.

The problem with the Tories is they don't seem to believe that certain things like arts and city beautification are the council's responsibilities. The council has a duty to do stuff like that on the citizens behalf, and if businesses can see councils doing this then they are more likely to invest their private money.

And if businesses don't see much regeneration happening in the city centre it gives the impression that the city doesn't care/is not that important. There is a lot of private investment but there always has to be some municipal project on the go...

The problem with the Tories is they don't seem to believe that certain things like arts and city beautification are the council's responsibilities. The council has a duty to do stuff like that on the citizens behalf, and if businesses can see councils doing this then they are more likely to invest their private money.

And if businesses don't see much regeneration happening in the city centre it gives the impression that the city doesn't care/is not that important. There is a lot of private investment but there always has to be some municipal project on the go...


I dont agree with all of what you said. You only have to look at tory controlled Coventry, and the big projects that have gone on and are being planned in the city.

"Blooming Coventry was this afternoon named as one of the best looking places in the Midlands. The city has scooped some fantastic awards in the Heart of England in Bloom 2005 competition. The city centre won a gold award in the urban regeneration category and the city as a whole landed a silver gilt in the city category."

They are also regenerating the cities Belgrade theater. Labour have poured lots into big public projects but at the same time have produced many late, over budget, white elephants, local example, the pUBLIC in West Brom, whereas the tories are by nature more conservative and less likely to take big financial gambles. I think Birminghams problem can be summed up in two words, not tories but Mike Whitby!

I disagree that the pUBLIC is a white elephant. You need to look at the bigger picture, something needed to be done in West Brom and it's happening. West Brom needed a 'face' other than the building society or FC. This building just the first part of a much wider regeneration. The pUBLIC as an organisation are already deeply engaging with the local community and have done so for years even though their new building unfinished.

Yes it's overbudget but to call it a white elephant before the new building is finished is an insult to the people of West Bromwich. http://www.thepublic.com/index.asp