Bournville Village Trust new build in Black Haynes Road.

The next leg of the visit was to the new Eco homes being built by BVT. The are to a very high standard and are transforming what was a sink estate into a brand new high quality estate. There to meet Grant and Keely were the Chairman of BVT, Peter Cadbury and Jim Roach, it's CEO. Councillor Adrian Delaney in whose ward the new estate lies rushed hotfoot from the Planning Committee in order to greet Grant.

Innovation Centre

The next visit was to the Innovation Centre on the former MG/Rover site to meet Mike Murray who manages the site. There Mike explained to Keely and Grant some of the problems he faces trying to develop the site.

Walkabout

Grant Shapps MP hands over an award to Carol Lowe

Grant Shapps visit

Another busy week saw a visit from Grant Shapps MP, Shadow Minister for Housing. In a jam packed day he had talks with Council Leader Mike Whitby and then arrived at Oddingley Hall with Keely Huxtable to have a look around the new Wychall Estate. Also there were Kings Norton Councillor Barbara Wood, Margaret Dutton, Chairman of Kings Norton Conservatives, Ann & Elaine from Bromford Housing who built the estate and Sue from the Wychall Family Trust. In the first shot Grant is handing over an award to Carole Lowe of South West Birmingham Community Association which is the organisation that runs Oddingley Hall. Further shot are of the walkabout.

Great expectations

There is some fevered speculation that we may get a new film studio on the MG/Rover site. We have been watching this closely and if there is a possibility of it happening we would grab it with all 6 hands. However, and there is always an however, things are at a very early stage and it would be unfair if not downright cruel to raise people's hopes only for them to be dashed.
Pinewood Studios put in a planning application which was rejected. We all know from bitter experience that this is only the start. The appeals process allows them to go over the heads of local people and their representatives and impose a solution from above. We will watch with interest.
It has now been announced that Trinity Mirror Newspapers are to turn the Birmingham Post into a weekly edition with a multi-media profile, that's a website to you and me. The Birmingham Mail will cease to be a evening paper and become a morning paper, competing with papers like The Sun, Daily Mail etc. Yes well..... The Post Editor is to leave at the end of the year. Keith has met Marc Reeve and admired his efforts to save a fine old Birmingham institution which had fallen into the hands of the owners of the Mirror. We see Paul Dale has kept his job. Steve (I want a mayor) Dyson, editor of the Mail is also leaving.

And his closing speech.

David Cameron's first appearrance

Keith & Sue meet Madame Fu Ying the Chinese Ambassador.