We thought this little film would be useful in the debate, making it possible for anyone to check details, without having to rely on memory.  This is only our second experiment with a moving camera, ever, and Tom Hooper can probably sleep easy that we are not going to be a threat to his position for a while. However, we have dubbed this film ‘Glynn Edwards Verite’. This is partly because of a fragment of accidently caught chatter, but, more to the point, the aim of ‘verite’ is to accurately show what is there.  (For non Film buffs ‘ Cinema Verite’ was a French Film term which became international.  It refers to  truthful filming, using a hand held camera out in the street in a spontaneous, ‘Never mind the shake, let’s just show the raw truth.’,  style. This become famous in the 1960s, when it was popular with campaigners.)

Whilst we are on the subject of truth … because of questions which certain parties have been raised about the local listing status of the Glynn Edwards, we have double checked. It is definitely locally listed Grade A. (A quick call to BCC Planning on 0121-303 1115 will confirm this, if anyone is still in doubt on the point.)

Acocks Green Carnival 2010 - Home Made Preserves

We are a fixed features group, rather than an events group, so we do not normally cover things like carnivals.  However, is there any point in trying to conserve and enhance an area with which the people who live there do not identify?

Whilst missing our own usual Acocks Green Focus Group stall today (two different lots of post-surgery recovery to deal with) members of Acocks Green Focus Group did visit Acocks Green Carnival and enjoyed it enormously.  Westley Road Recreation Ground (One of the many fixed feature we hope we  will never lose!) was packed with stalls, entertainments and people, and everyone seemed to think the day had gone well.  Chatting with some stall holders and carnival regulars was interesting.  Big Dave at Hall Green Little Theatre said he saw a lot of suburban carnivals around Birmingham but rated Acocks Green’s one of the best.  Well known Acocks Green figure and Fox Hollies Green Neighbourhood Forum secretary Ray Newton said that when, recently, he had had to undertake some organisation of the carnival himself he had been told that most Birmingham carnivals are organised by the Council.  He had been pointed to one other group who organise their own carnival, for advice.  He rang them to be told ‘Oh, we just ask the Council and they book all the stuff for us.’  Ray felt very strongly that this is not the way we do things in Acocks Green and did not ring the Council.

Today there were numerous stalls, often with informative displays,  representing local organisations,  and plenty of people willing to chat, several plant stalls with plants people had grown in Acocks Green, home made cakes, beautifully presented and locally made preserves (see above!), home made jewellery,  a real Punch and Judy show,  vast numbers of local historic photographs, performances by local people and much more: plenty the Council could not just have booked for us!  There was a real sense of local identity.

It often feels on the first Saturday in July as though Acocks Green people are on invisible strings which pull them towards The Westley Road ‘rec’ – we were not immune.    However, despite the packed area the atmosphere was extremely relaxed and very friendly.

Regardless of  the freeze, the squeeze and general cut backs we felt encouraged.  We will carry on with our campaigns.  Acocks Green is worth keeping!

Oxford Circus (Barry Phillips, Daily Mail Read the rest of the Daily Mail piece below)

We’d like to think so …

See Channel 4 New’s coverage of the redesigned Oxford Circus here

The Daily Mail’s take is also available here

Shared Space is taking hold in more and more places around the country.  Why?  It makes sense.  It looks better and it is safer. Check out the media links here.  If this works in Oxford Circus think how it could work in Acocks Green!

In March 09 a new series of draft plans were brought out by Birmingham Landscape Practice for Acocks Green Centre.  These are available for viewing on this site NOW.  To view these plans click here (or on the new page on the right).

This month, July 09,  Acocks Green organisations and representatives, official and voluntary have received an invitation from Atkins Global, the Building and Engineering group, to attend a meeting on 6 August, to discuss a new idea for the Warwick Road and to give their opinons on what is required for Acocks Green Centre.  The letter, headed ‘A41 Warwick Road Enhancements’ says that

‘Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Centro are currently working in partnership to develop a series of transport improvements on the A41 Warwick Road corridor. [...]

This project is the first of its kind in the West Midlands, and looks at all modes of transport (e.g. buses, cyclists, pedestrians, private cars, freight and rail including Park and Ride). The aim of the project is to make the most
efficient use of the route as a key transport corridor whilst at the same time recognising that people live, work and shop along the route.

At this early stage of the project we are using local knowledge to come up with detailed lists of the problems (issues) and potential solutions (opportunities) present along the route to develop the best possible
improvements.

It now seems certain that what is actually meant by this is that it is intended that the A41 (ie the Warwick Road.)  is to be the first site for a ‘Smart Route’.  The full plans are described in a document which has been around on the internet for a while, The West Midlands Planning & Transportation Sub-Committee, 5th June 2009,  Agenda Item 14,  Smart Routes (Umbrella Initiatives).  This  can be viewed here

You will see that The Sub-Committee resolved to:

(i) Note the outcomes of the ‘Umbrella Initiatives’ workshop undertaken
with P&TSC (This means Birmingham City Council Planning and Transportation Strategy Departments) and PTA (This means the Passenger Transport Authority) members on 3rd December 2008
(ii) Endorse that further work be undertaken on the initiative under the
brand name of ‘Smart Routes’
(iii) Agree that the ‘Smart Routes’ principles should be adopted in
developing a potential network of Red Routes for inclusion in a Major
Scheme Business Case (MSBC) for submission to the Department for
Transport (DfT)
(iv) Note the selection of the A41 Warwick Road as a Pilot Route

In other words, the Sub-Committee, in conjunction with Birmingham Planning and Transportation Departments, and the Passanger Transportation Authority,  resolved that the A41 (Warwick Road) should be a Pilot Route for a species of Red Route called a ‘Smart Route’.

What is the difference between a normal Red Route and a ‘Smart Route’?

It is spelt out in the same document that work is going on:

‘[...] to coordinate the developement and implemenation of key network wide programmes, particularly Bus Showcase and Red Routes’

A ‘Smart Route’ seems, for Birmingham,  to mean a mixture of a Bus Showcase route and a Red Route.  See our new page on the Red Route in Shirley, on the link on the right, or here There is one example of a Smart Route in operation in another area here.  There is also a detailed explanation, with effective video, of how another Smart Route is envisaged in a different area here.

What sort of Smart Route would we want in Acocks Green?   How would it work with the existing Landscape Practice Draft Plans already on the table?

The ‘Smart Routes (Umberella Initiatives’ document goes on to say that it is ‘apparent that one design solution cannot be applied to solve every problem identified.’  It talks of  ‘lessons learned’ in connection with Red Routes.  and ‘[...the importance of recognising the need for local variations in design approach and this will be reflected in 'Revised Guidelines for Implementation' being prepared [...]  The document further goes on to say that [...] it is important that a flexible approach is adopted [...] to address the agreed strategy for the route/corridor.’  Schemes, in some cases,  would be treated as inidividual initiatives’.  Later the document goes on to say that:

‘This initiative stresses the need to consider each street in its wider urban context, as both a movement channel forming part of the road network (i.e. a Link) and as Place in its own right. Design solutions should be influenced by both Link and Place user needs, and solutions will vary according to the balance of significance of these two at any location.’ (Section 4.13)

In other words there does seem some indication that a ‘One Size Fits All’ approach is not to be adopted.  When The Focus Group spoke, recently, to Iain Bratigan of Atkins Global he was keen to emphasise that it may be possible to incorporate a version of The March 09 Landscape Practice Plans for Acocks Green into the new Warwick Road (A41) scheme, although, worryingly, he had not, at that point been supplied with a copy of these plans.  (He now has them.)

If you feel that your organisation should be at the event to discuss the A41 (Warwick Road) Smart Route plans on 6 August 09, but  has not had an invitation, then you should send an email, not to us, please, but to comments@warwickroad.org.uk .  More details can now be viewed on.

http://www.warwickroad.org.uk/ – there is a link here

Please note this site is being created by Atkins Global, and has no connection, whatsoever, with the Acocks Green Focus Group website, other than that a link is being provided above.  All questions about the website should be directed to comments@warwickroad.org.uk or to other suitable links on the site, when it appears.

What else can you do?

Urge your local organisation reps to attend the meeting on 6 August. Use the email contact above if your organisation needs details of that meeting.  Contact Acocks Green Focus Group in the box below if you would like details of informal local meetings to discuss the implications of the  Smart Route plans for Acocks Green (Note all postings are first previewed before being published on the site.   Simple request for information about meetings will remain private, and will not go live on the site.

You are free to share any general thoughts about the Landscape Department Plans and/or the Smart Route plans  for Acocks Green in the comments box below.

One final point.   There has been some indication that some people think the project will not go ahead because of the economic crisis.  There is indication of the possibility of very major funding for this project,  as was explained in an earlier Birmingham Post article, which we reproduce here.

Acocks Green crossing. Fully barriered

Kings Heath crossing - no barriers at all - no blood on the road!

Plant Display, Kings Heath Style

Plant Display, Acocks Green style. Same Birmingham City Council brand green fibre glass containers, note. Various comments come to mind, but who, precisely, is this display for ... the motorists or the pedestrians/residents who seem required to admire, mainly, the back of the trough?

Note we have also changed our main picture of Acocks Green.  We love our suburb really (well, most of the time … ).  The Green in July is looking great.  Pity about the rest!

A Birmingham Mail Story on the site is Here

If Acocks Green centre is to retain its status as the local ‘heart’ of the area it needs to be re-thought and updated as a matter of urgency.  We think the Council preliminary plans and studies are a step in the right direction.  Let’s keep on now, to make sure the Council follows through.