“WE’RE STILL HERE “

Most people will be aware that I have lost part of my team due to budget cuts at the Council.  Somebody, I thought perhaps a tad unfairly, suggested to me that Birmingham City Council’s financial position makes Portsmouth FC look like Chelsea but obviously I couldn’t possibly agree!

Certainly the concerns about cuts galvanised the local community who embarked on a vigorous campaign to fight the cuts and, to an extent, the position has been salvaged – in my opinion to a tenable degree.

I will continue to be based in the Jewellery Quarter several days a week (my office is unit 101D – still at The Argent Centre) although I will be spending some time over at Alpha Tower (aka the Regeneration HQ for BCC).   Mind you all those in Alpha Tower will soon be moving to Lancaster Circus which I suppose is almost as near.  Quite soon, no doubt, I will be an expert on wholesale electrical and textile prices as I trudge down that super highway known as Great Hampton Street.

Incidentally, on the subject of Lancaster Circus I have always found it a rather dreary place.  May be it is because of its location but, in my opinion, you can paint the walls sky blue pink but I don’t think you can completely make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.  I have always felt it was a sort of ‘Feng Shui’ in reverse with the negative vibes over many years caused by the building being stuffed with Highways Engineers’ whose life’s work seems to revolve around putting obstacles in the way of getting things done – at least in Regeneration Terms.

Anyway back to the positives.  We are keeping our Information Centre open by the Clock and the Jewellery Quarter Association, Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative, Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum and the Manufacturers Group are all working closely together to continue to champion the Quarter.  The City Council, despite the unfortunate cuts, currently remain very committed to the area and we are about to submit a Stage 1, World Heritage Site Bid in Mid June.  It’s the start of a long road but it is a journey definitely worth starting.

So it’s a case of using the term Keeping Right On!

Andy Munro

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Victor Henry – Business and Law

Victor Henry Specialises in the legal and business needs of small and medium sized companies.

Fixed fees are available.

Solicitors, Business Consultants, Corporate Finance.

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