Results tagged “campaign” from Birmingham Post - Lifestyle Blog

News in the Mail that yet another canal-side development is planned for Brum shouldn't be a shock, but the proposed 'Baskerville Wharf' has upset me. For this "exciting mixed-use development" will mean the closure of one of Birmingham's most important music venues.

The Flapper and Firkin (formerly the Longboat) has seen thousands of tiny, sweaty, gigs over the years. It's one of the few places in Birmingham that a new band might be able to get on the bill, supporting a band that are on a national tour. Much needed practise, exposure, and ultimately culture for the city. After the loss of the similar venue The Jug of Ale earlier this year, it might be one blow too many for the local music scene to cope with.

I'm not anti-regeneration, I accept that on the whole the new buildings and facilities in Birmingham over the last ten years have been a good thing. But. If we remove the good stuff along with sweeping away the bad, we will become a souless city.

I protested about Moseley Golf Club's planning application to use some of the allotment space next-door, it was easy, I did it online. Well it wasn't easy, I had to do it on Birmingham City Council's website, but you get my point. Now it's gone to appeal, and you have to send letters in triplicate, I may not bother - so did I really care in the first place?

I'm invited to complain, protest and join pressure groups every day via email and Facebook invitations. Clicking yes or no or whatever is very easy, too easy in most cases. When Facebook was the media's darling last year it was easy to get coverage for anything (and I did with Talk Like A Brummie Day) by setting up a Facebook group and mentioning the number of members. That most of them had no interest whatsoever didn't matter - are we going to hold that guy to naming his first child Spiderpig?