What would Brummies change about Birmingham if they were in charge?

Birmingham City Council has announced its plan to transform Birmingham City Centre by 2040 - aiming at creating a greener environment, more homes and jobs as key priorities.

The plan also pledges not to make the ‘concrete collar’ mistakes of the past and to include more neighbourhoods outside the city centre. I’m here on the streets of Birmingham to find out from Brummies what changes they’d make if they were in charge

Phil says: “Well, obviously there’s been a new council position, we have a new leader now. So there will be changes taking place. But I think this 2040 plan has been in the making for quite a while. For me, it’s all about I think definitely open space.

“We don’t have enough open space and particularly for putting on events. Birmingham is a central point to the whole of the country. And we need a larger event space in the centre of the city. Centenary Square just over there caters for a few thousand people, they’re looking at the new Smithfield site development catering for about six thousand.

“But realistically we need something 10-12,000+, to be able to put on great events in the city you know, things like Andre Riue, before we start talking about Birmingham pride and those types of events - we definitely need some larger space for the public use and for great experiences in the city.”

Andrew says: “I think Birmingham just needs to be finished. They say they’re gonna do it by 2040 - I’ll be like, nearly retired by then. And it seems my entire life Birmingham has been a building site. I go to many other major cities around the country and around the world on my travels and they’re finished.

“There’s little bits here and there. But Birmingham is constantly under construction - be it the roads, be it the building work. And it’s such a shame because I love where I come from. But every time I come here I’m walking a different route around some different building works and can’t see the beautiful sights.”

Salman says: “I think Birmingham needs more free spaces - community spaces - for young people to hang out and to be mentored. Say, for example, you know, a place where they can play pool, play Playstations, go on their phones.

“Talk to, you know, lads slightly older than them about their future prospects about you know, I don’t know anything from like going out with girls, relationships, because at the moment, what we’ve got is a lot of young people who are, you know, they don’t know how to lose and end up stabbing each other.

“And I’m a wrestling coach, I wrestle, and I’ve lost more matches than I’ve won and when you lose doesn’t matter, and a lot of people need to realise that. I think the other thing Birmingham needs is free transport.

“You’ve got free transport, people can move around the city more, people got more places, businesses can prosper because people have got more money in their pocket. So you know, if Birmingham really wants to develop, I think it needs to be free, affordable, and accessible to everyone.”