Greater Birmingham: should Solihull & Bromsgrove be part of Birmingham? here’s what locals think

There has been a bit of a debate on whether some towns on the outskirts of Birmingham could offically become part of the city one day.

Birmingham City Counci did set up a Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership in 2010 to help strengthen local economies with Lichfield, Tamworth, Bromsgrove, Cannock Chase, Redditch, and Wyre Forest, but these towns obviously aren’t officially a part of the city.

It’s been said that a Greater Birmingham authority could enable the city to complete with London.

A Greater Birmingham, could see the likes of Wythall, Hollywood, Solihull, Redditch, and Bromsgrove become part of the city. This would of course also give Birmingham a bit of countryside to enjoy. It seems to work for Greater Manchester.

But would this all be a good idea? We asked our Facebook readers what they think. Many seemed keen on the idea, although not everyone was receptive to it.

Here are their replies

• Phil said: Well they have a B postcode but does that define the place? Solihull is Birmingham.
• Susan said: “Hollywood and Wythall maybe but Redditch is miles away. It’s funny I see Solihull as a separate town but not Sutton Coldfield.
• Danny said: “Wythall and Hollywood definitely! Redditch has its own micro society and town feel.”
• Tony said: “They should be part of Greater Birmingham in the same way that Cheadle, Bury, Ashton etc are part of Greater Manchester.”

• Claire added: “No way, if anything can Warstock highters heath become either part of Solihull or Worcestershire.” Reiss said: “They all have Birmingham postcodes so it makes sense. Including Tamworth too.”
• Punit said: “No. Instead, Birmingham should be broken up into 9 different local authorities/local district authority with each having 3 areas. E.g South West Birmingham to made up of Springfield Sparkbrook and Hall Green. Therefore Birmingham would be better managed.” Michael added: “Don’t they all have Birmingham postcodes? Says it all really.”
• Lesley said: “I was born in Birmingham, lived in Bromsgrove. Never thought of Bromsgrove as Birmingham. Two separate places.”
• A few people weren’t too keen on the idea, with a few Facebook users replying ‘no’.
• Mike said: “A big no.” Gordon said: “No, and they don’t want to be.”
• Andy said: “I don’t want Brum to be like Manchester and claim to be bigger by absorbing all the local towns, leave them be.”

You can read the full Facebook post here: BirminghamWorld Greater Birmingham debate. We also asked residents in Birmingham city centre for their thoughts. Mark told us: “I don’t know if it’s really necessary. I think those who live out in Redditch and Bromsgrove and places like that feel like that’s where they’re from and they have their own identity. I don’t know what it would bring. It’s good if we can connect them, like with the trams, but I haven’t thought too much about it.”

Rachel said: “Yeah I’d be very supportive of that. It’s quite good to have essential Birmingham and then you have the peripheries that’s calssed as a seperate area with their own entites. Places like Solihull are so close to Birmingham that I think they can share a lot of resources.”

James said: “I think it’s a really good idea. I’m a Londonder. I grew up on the border of the Kent South East London border and those counties got bigger and it’s been better for it. So I would be all for it.”