Some people have been asking us for a bit more info on how they can respond to the consultation, so we’ve tried to answer that here. NB this page is being updated as we learn more.
You definitely don’t have to have any rail related expertise to write a useful response – for us and also for the general public. It’s their job to work out what the best way of delivering what people want is.
The form is here. You can also submit responses using the email address engagement@mrhalliance.co.uk; this is good for organisational responses, questions you want answers to, or for anything that doesn’t fit their form.
If you think of more to say, you can submit more responses, so if you’ve already sent something in and want to add to it that’s fine.
As well as the MRHA consultation documents, a video by Peter Plisner outlines the thinking behind the proposals. The video is useful to understand why the chords will help, but says nothing about any negative impacts or alternatives.
Growing widespread concern about MRHA’s current proposals
There is increasing concern across the city about severe impacts of this on conservation, Digbeth’s night-time economy, local business in general, the natural environment AND our building. So there are many reasons why MRHA need to be looking at different models of delivering these rail improvements, some of which might well be cheaper for the UK to deliver. You might want to reflect this in how you respond.
The form questions
It asks if you support their proposals for each of the following.
- Q1. Birmingham Moor Street station to Bordesley
- Q2. Birmingham Moor Street station
- Q3. The Bordesley viaduct
- Q4. The new East and West Chords.
We don’t know why they have separated these out into separate questions, as all the proposals seem interdependent.
As well as tick boxes for your level of support, there is a ‘free text’ box for each, for you to add your reasons.
The tick boxes:
It’s good to be aware how consultants use the results here: if everyone ticks that they strongly support all of the proposals but urge them to amend the scheme to avoid demolishing our building, the consultants will be able to tell the world that they have 100% approval.
So it’s better to tick a ‘don’t support’ or “don’t know” option, in order to record your objection with a value that will be represented in their numbers. You can explain in the free text box that you support the rail improvements/Moor street plans etc EXCEPT for the impact on The Warehouse and other properties or businesses affected, conservation impacts or whatever else you object to.
Q5 asks for any further comments.
Comments you can make in the free text boxes
You can use any or all of these boxes to make the following points in your own words:
- Express support for these long-campaigned-for rail improvements in principle.
- Ask them to explore ALL possible options to avoid losing the Warehouse and garden (and other affected businesses and properties)
- Tell them how you use the Warehouse and what it means to you. We see this as very much NOT just about BFOE’s interests: it’s a community resource for the whole city and the networks around it have been built up over 50 years. Very few buildings are left that fulfil this function. We have also just spent over £100,000 improving the building on the basis of a long future ahead of us to continue in that city-wide community role.
Optional extras: You can:
- Point out that it contradicts their own policies and documents to demolish this community asset (see comments in their consultation brochure about community, sustainability and local economy, or links below). But don’t feel you have to, it’s not a dissertation – your own views are enough.
- Suggest options for routing /design of the railway, if you have knowledge about this. But it’s their job to do this so you don’t have to.
- Mention your concern for other small businesses, specially those under the arches, who would lose their premises. We need spaces for independents as the lifeblood of the “real” local economy so the developers need to make sure similar spaces are made available at realistic cost and compensate local business owners properly.
- You can mention impacts on the Digbeth conservation area, as our building and others proposed for demolition are part of that, and the existing viaduct would also lose its conservation impact.
The form then asks a bit about you (age, gender etc) and how often you use Moor St station, and about how useful you found the consultation materials.
The only other question you might want to consider is:
– Q13. What topics are most important to you when considering our proposals? – there is an option to add “other” and describe what topic is most important to you.
Contact us if you have questions or suggestions!
Further reading / viewing
Midlands Connect Strategic Transport Plan – contains policies on net zero and preserving the natural environment.
Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands – contains policies on minimising impact on communities, natural environment, net zero, minimising construction footprints
“Solving New Street Station Congestion” a Transport Matters video by Peter Plisner.
Midlands Rail Hub: Concerns mount over its impact: a Transport Matters video by Peter Plisner
