Harborne Clock Tower – We Want Your Views

Background

The Harborne Clock Tower Centre is a Grade II Listed Building which dates from 1881 and was most recently used as an Adult Education Centre. 

Serious structural problems were encountered in March 2010, which led to the building being covered in protective scaffold in the interest of public safety. Following subsequent structural surveys the City Council decided in late July to close the Centre in view of the potential threat to the public, Centre users and staff. In the interim, courses starting in September were relocated to other Adult Education Centres and to some venues in the Harborne area. 

Following a review of the Adult Education Service across the city it has been concluded that The Clock Tower will not reopen. The City Council therefore faces the challenge of a Grade II Listed Building in need of significant investment to make it safe and to bring it up to standard whilst protecting it for the long-term benefit of Harborne.

New Chair for the Edgbaston Constituency

"I am excited to take up the challenge as Chairman of the Edgbaston Constituency Committee after a long and varied career as a councillor which started in 1977 when I was elected to the former West Midlands Country Council. I was elected to Birmingham City Council in 1992 and was the former Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Adults and Children’s Social Care Services. I am also executive member to the cabinet for children’s social care.

There are inevitably difficult times ahead as all local authorities look to progress, while reducing costs and working to provide value for money. The challenges we face here in Edgbaston have not gone away, and although it will not be easy, we are determined to drive forward improvements required in the Edgbaston area while protecting the most vulnerable people in our communities.Our priorities will continue to be investing in our schools and improving our shopping areas, while not forgetting important projects like the new Harborne pool complex, which will help improve health and fitness in the constituency.

Also at the top of our list are job creation and training, and we will continue to work hard to attract investment to help us get more people back to work. I have taken a particular interest in developing social enterprises as a way of creating employment and work experience, particularly for our young people. There are already many examples of how partners are working together to offer value for money and quality services; rising to meet the challenges together."

Councillor Len Clark, Chair of the Edgbaston Constituency

Public service messages make a 21st Century return!

Four videos - trailed on this blog - have been commissioned by the One Edgbaston Partnership to highlight opportunities and issues in our local area. The videos will be shown on the many public TV screens and monitors we already have in place across the constituency. Reducing our reliance on paper based advertising and making best use of local networks, this plan is part of the All Edgbaston Social Media Project, and you can be too.

If you want to learn how to make your own videos, just like these, for free, contact Simon Redgrave at 0796 22 33 567 / simon@scholarsandwarriors.org, or visit www.alledgbaston.co.uk; click below for more information.

Inconsiderate Parking

Unsafe Parking