So much news to update people with! Thanks to everyone who has got stuck in to the campaign, sent in their responses or offered advice, moral support and hugs! We all appreciate it.

Firstly we’re holding an Open Day 22nd August 12-3pm for people to enjoy the building, get answers to questions and get guidance on responding to MRHA’s plans to demolish the building for the rail development. Sign up here.

Join us (drop in any time) for an afternoon of music, stories, craft and a clothes swap – but most importantly learn more about MRHA’s proposed plans and get help responding to the consultation.

Secondly we’re making ourselves as visible as possible from the surrounding streets – see main image. It’s been an ambition for some time to ensure everyone passing the building knew what it was about and got some sense of the environmental message – so we have to thank MRHA for speeding this up!

Thirdly we’ve had lots of interest from the media, local and national organisations and the general public in our situation and the proposals as a whole. We’re also talking with built heritage and nature specialists and representatives of Digbeth’s night time economy and a large raft of shared concerns is forming around the impacts and value for money of the current scheme. Alongside an article by Murthaza Ali-Hassan at Birmingham Now, Jane Haynes has written this piece in the Birmingham Mail. It’s behind their paywall, so we’ve summarised some of its content below. Further press articles and a blog by Jane Charlesworth coming soon – watch this space!

Karen Leach

 

Plea to save historic Digbeth venue from bulldozers as major changes planned for area

The Warehouse in Digbeth is earmarked for demolition as part of Midlands Rail Hub proposals to improve train services

Jane Haynes, Politics & People Editor

Campaigners are battling to protect a much loved heritage building in the heart of Digbeth from the threat of demolition linked to major rail plans in the city.

The Warehouse in Allison Street is earmarked to be a casualty of plans to create new rail infrastructure to allow more train capacity in and out of Birmingham. It is destined to be demolished in 2030.

The news has triggered urgent action by heritage and community campaigners, led by Birmingham Friends of the Earth, who own the building.

They are urging anyone who ‘knows or cares’ about the building and its community ethos, garden and activist links to fight the plans.

The Midlands Rail Hub proposals, currently under consultation, aim to increase rail capacity around Moor Street Station to relieve congestion at New Street, with work due to get under way by 2030 subject to government funding.

The building in Allison Street, in the shadow of the existing viaduct, is the current home of the BRIG cafe (Birmingham Race Impact Group), Voce Books, Sprocket Cycles, Vivid Projects, BrumRadio and Digbeth Community Garden. It also hosts community meeting and office spaces.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s chief executive Karen Leach said: “This building is not just our ‘property’, it’s the city’s heart of activism, an irreplaceable city centre meeting space for hundreds of community organisations every year. It’s the result of five decades and millions of volunteer-hours of activism and commitment.

“It has expanded into a beautiful wildlife garden, a rare Digbeth green space. No financial compensation can make up for this loss.”

Ironically, the Friends support the rail developments, which are in line with their own ambitions to encourage more people to use public transport.

But they believe there is an alternative layout that can preserve the building. They have met with rail engineers and architects who say they are exploring alternative options and have also spoken to Midlands Rail Hub Alliance and Network Rail to discuss their concerns.

[The Warehouse] is now home to a café run by Birmingham Race Impact Group, bike shop Sprocket Cycles, the Brum Radio studio, independent bookshop Voce Books and a wildlife garden. It is an ever-popular hub for activist and community-interest group meetings and events.

“It’s very much living to our principles – we want to minimise our impact on the environment,” said Leach.

Read more on the Birmingham Mail website.