Small Heath in Birmingham: The best and worst things about living in the fomer home of the Peaky Blinders

It's the same area of Birmingham that the Peaky Blinders were founded. And Small Heath has undergone many changes over the years. I'm here today to speak to the residents and find out what they think the best and the worst things are about living in this particular part of Birmingham.

Sadia says: “I don't live in Small Heath, yet we own a business in Small Heath, but Small Heath is a very close-knit community, it's a very mixed community. What's developed from originally an Irish community to then being a predominantly Pakistani-Muslim community, we've got Smylians now.

"It's a very mixed interracial community, very encompassing for everyone, everyone's welcome. You get a lot of variety here, food, culture, clothes, the whole thing, it's all happening here in Small Heath, very welcoming.”

Amber says: “What I did realise after living in Manchester is that there's a very strong sense of community amongst people. Obviously, with any type of community, with any local community, there's a lot of problems, particularly this time of the year.

"But I think a lot of improvements have been made. I also feel like there's so much potential, but unfortunately it's down to the people, it's also down to the local council as well, to do something about it. And we need to see money being put into certain areas.”

Nowroz says: “The best thing is you've got all the community here, whatever you're looking for, you can get it here. And you've got whatever you need, you can find it easily, and people are friendly. And the worst thing, especially on Coventry Road, I would say, for the parking, people not parking here in order to disturb people, so that shouldn't happen.”

Mahmood says: “No, it's a very worse place now in the moment. There's too much traffic and too much rubbish everywhere, it's not systemised. Look, some shops are inside, some shops are outside. It looks very weird, you know. That's not very nice. Like Solihall is very nice, Shirley is nice, Allville is nice, but there is a very worse place.”

Small Heath has been the home of many great people who were born and raised here. Following World War 2 thousands of migrants settled here. It's an area that has been vital to Birmingham's economic progress and remains an iconic part of the city's heritage.