BIRMINGHAM - 4
Join Date: Dec 2010
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I don't know why long-haul carriers aren't interested in BHX. I'm not talking that far such as Singapore, Japan etc, but the USA and western Asia and Middle East.
The fact that in the last two years new routes at BHX have been a disaster, would probably be because of Air India having left. Some long-haul carriers can handle BHX's runway. I'd expect a daily A333 from DOH with QR, and a daily service to JFK with DL. People should contact these airlines to consider these routes, because these kind of routes is what UK's second city needs.
The fact that in the last two years new routes at BHX have been a disaster, would probably be because of Air India having left. Some long-haul carriers can handle BHX's runway. I'd expect a daily A333 from DOH with QR, and a daily service to JFK with DL. People should contact these airlines to consider these routes, because these kind of routes is what UK's second city needs.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hobbiton, middle England
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Now that the AI discussion has been raised again, I have a question to anyone who knows-
How long can AI hold onto the BHX-ATQ route without actually operating a service on it?
I have heard that is why Jet, Kingfisher or any other carrier for that matter are not allowed to fly non stop from BHX to India because of a so called AI route protection clause.
When did AI pull out? 2 years or so ago? I would have thought grand-father rights generally lasted 12 months and then it was a use it or lose it situation.
Maybe BIA did a deal with AI when they started?
How long can AI hold onto the BHX-ATQ route without actually operating a service on it?
I have heard that is why Jet, Kingfisher or any other carrier for that matter are not allowed to fly non stop from BHX to India because of a so called AI route protection clause.
When did AI pull out? 2 years or so ago? I would have thought grand-father rights generally lasted 12 months and then it was a use it or lose it situation.
Maybe BIA did a deal with AI when they started?
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Manchester
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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Put it this way, try travelling to Edinburgh, Belfast and/or Cardiff and standing on a rostrum in each city centre broadcasting that their first and second cities are London and Birmingham ..... or Manchester if one so desires!
Try the same in Glasgow and one might learn what a 'Glaswegian Kiss' is
Try the same in Glasgow and one might learn what a 'Glaswegian Kiss' is
Join Date: Aug 2007
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PF
Hmm, I see what you mean!
MK
Yeees, we remember this exercise. Good wheeze, a BBC Manchester exercise conducted without a hint of bias but thousands of Manchester people piled in to vote. Most of the country had no idea there was a survey going on.
Hmm, I see what you mean!
MK
Yeees, we remember this exercise. Good wheeze, a BBC Manchester exercise conducted without a hint of bias but thousands of Manchester people piled in to vote. Most of the country had no idea there was a survey going on.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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not quite avlechurch - I remember it very well.
The research was carried out by an independent opinion polling company that were commissioned by BOTH BBC North West and BBC West Midlands.
If you actually bothered to read the survey in full, rather than making assumptions, you would realise that is was not a self selecting opinion poll but rather that the polling company went out around ALL the regions and asked people specific questions.
The results for all the regions, not just the NW are available on the link provided earlier.
Not to sure how there was any bias or Mancs all piled into rig the result could be implied from reading the survey itself.
The research was carried out by an independent opinion polling company that were commissioned by BOTH BBC North West and BBC West Midlands.
If you actually bothered to read the survey in full, rather than making assumptions, you would realise that is was not a self selecting opinion poll but rather that the polling company went out around ALL the regions and asked people specific questions.
The results for all the regions, not just the NW are available on the link provided earlier.
Not to sure how there was any bias or Mancs all piled into rig the result could be implied from reading the survey itself.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Manchester, England
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If '2nd City' was judged by population alone, then there would be a clear winner. The fact that the debate rages is indicative that size, as in population, is not the factor which determines a city's status in many people's minds. Besides, the boundary thing is a farce. Now back to airports.
Join Date: Jul 2004
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First, second, third etc. cities are by country, United Kingdom is not one country, Birmingham never has and never will be the second city of Scotland, Wales or N. Ireland!
UK is a union of countries so if 'we' want to consider first, second, third etc. cities by unions of countries, namely the European Union, then that makes our second city to be Berlin!!!
UK is a union of countries so if 'we' want to consider first, second, third etc. cities by unions of countries, namely the European Union, then that makes our second city to be Berlin!!!
Ugh! That old chesnut rearing its ugly head. Im sick of the B vs M debate. Im going to start a petition to make Crawley the second City of the UK because it has a bigger airport than both put together! 
Join Date: Apr 2008
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The fact is that Birmingham has slipped from Second city to Second rate city (and I live here). There is a definate lack of vision, ambition, drive and passion in the Business/ Council leaders of the midlands, but most importantly a lack of internal and external investment. We always get looked over for any big scheme, regeneration or building.
This dispite the fact we have the three worst wards for unemployment in the country.
Alongside that, with the media been based in the south and now Manchester, the midlands will only slip further out of the limelight. We rarely get any positive media
BHX is in a prime position to have a large share of the market in England but it doesn't because of a chicken and egg situation. No-one advertises/ develops, promotes new routes or existing ones. Thus everyone goes to Manc or LHR. So there is no demand in the midlands so round and round we go. We are all forced to go to LHR or Manc rather than our regional airport.
Basically I think its time to move to Australia.. lol
Moan over.. Abseils off soapbox..
Adie
This dispite the fact we have the three worst wards for unemployment in the country.
Alongside that, with the media been based in the south and now Manchester, the midlands will only slip further out of the limelight. We rarely get any positive media
BHX is in a prime position to have a large share of the market in England but it doesn't because of a chicken and egg situation. No-one advertises/ develops, promotes new routes or existing ones. Thus everyone goes to Manc or LHR. So there is no demand in the midlands so round and round we go. We are all forced to go to LHR or Manc rather than our regional airport.
Basically I think its time to move to Australia.. lol
Moan over.. Abseils off soapbox..
Adie
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Birmingham
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Case in Point..
Short-term 'quick win' projects given priority for regeneration cash
Plans to raise money to support the expansion of Birmingham Airport and to regenerate the former MG Rover site at Longbridge have been put on hold after the Government changed the rules over using cash from the Regional Growth Fund.
It followed the sudden announcement that only short-term “quick win” projects to create jobs in the near future would be considered in the first round of bidding for the £1.4billion fund.
The Regional Growth Fund is designed to help the private sector create jobs, particularly in regions which are currently unduly dependent on the public sector, and a first round of bidding began in October with up to £300 million up for grabs.
But it emerged just days before the deadline for applications closed on January 21 that only schemes likely to create significant numbers of jobs in the short term would be considered.
As a result, business and council leaders in Birmingham, Solihull and the wider West Midlands were forced to scrap carefully prepared bids for key programmes to support the local economy.
MP Richard Burden (Lab Northfield) said: “The Regional Growth Fund was the Government’s big idea to help the West Midlands prosper but it has just descended into chaos.”
Ministers have said they want to fund “projects” which will begin creating private sector jobs as the public sector sheds staff over the next 12 months, and not “programmes” which will take longer to have an impact, although the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills stressed that long-term schemes will be eligible for later rounds of bidding.
As a result, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership has decided it can only support two proposals – a request for support for Midlands-based carmaker Jaguar Land Rover and support for the FA’s National Football Centre in Burton, Staffordshire.
The other schemes considered vital for the future of the region’s economy will not now receive the active support of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in this first round of bidding, which includes business organisations and local authorities in Birmingham, Solihull, Bromsgrove, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth.
They include an application for funds to subsidise the £32 million cost of diverting the A45 Coventry Road, to enable Birmingham Airport’s 350-metre runway extension to be built.
And they also include developer St Modwen’s application for £22 million to help pay for infrastructure improvements at Longbridge, as part of a £1 billion regeneration project on the 468-acre site.
Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber Group, said the Chamber continued to back the proposals, describing the airport expansion as “probably our top shared priority”. But he said: “We hope it will get through in round two.
“We don’t think it will be a round one contender. There will be no point insisting to government that something qualifies if it doesn’t meet the criteria.”
Other bids which had been due to receive the LEP’s support in round one but have now been put on the back burner include:
*A planned £22 million development fund for small and medium sized businesses in the area
*A £2.1 million bid for a retail development project to encourage growth of high-value independent shops in Birmingham
*A £1 million bid to support an apprenticeship training programme for young people in Birmingham
*A £3.2 million graduate retention programme across the LEP area
*A £5 million bid to support the development of Birmingham’s biomedical industries.
*A £7 million bid for completion of infrastructure to deliver the Eastside regeneration project.
Bridget Blow, chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local LEP Development Board, said: “We didn’t have the latest criteria until at most a week before we had to make the submissions, so it did alter what the LEP supported last week.
“We reduced the number of projects that we supported, because they didn’t meet the criteria.
“Clearly, people will be disappointed. What we are at pains to explain to them is that there will be another tranche.
“We have asked the Government to give us clarity as soon as possible about the second round and the types of bids that will be considered.”
Mr Blackett said: “The criteria for round one, which emerged painfully slowly, became much clearer in a rush, and it meant that the majority of bids we have seen are unlikely to be successful, because not many of them can deliver private sector employment overnight at good value.”
The Chamber had offered to help the Government draw up the criteria for bids in round two, he said.
A spokesman for Birmingham Airport said he was “surprised” that the airport bid would not receive support in the first round of bidding for cash, and said it would be seeking clarification from the LEP.
Jaguar Land Rover declined to give details of its submission to the Government.
Short-term 'quick win' projects given priority for regeneration cash
Plans to raise money to support the expansion of Birmingham Airport and to regenerate the former MG Rover site at Longbridge have been put on hold after the Government changed the rules over using cash from the Regional Growth Fund.
It followed the sudden announcement that only short-term “quick win” projects to create jobs in the near future would be considered in the first round of bidding for the £1.4billion fund.
The Regional Growth Fund is designed to help the private sector create jobs, particularly in regions which are currently unduly dependent on the public sector, and a first round of bidding began in October with up to £300 million up for grabs.
But it emerged just days before the deadline for applications closed on January 21 that only schemes likely to create significant numbers of jobs in the short term would be considered.
As a result, business and council leaders in Birmingham, Solihull and the wider West Midlands were forced to scrap carefully prepared bids for key programmes to support the local economy.
MP Richard Burden (Lab Northfield) said: “The Regional Growth Fund was the Government’s big idea to help the West Midlands prosper but it has just descended into chaos.”
Ministers have said they want to fund “projects” which will begin creating private sector jobs as the public sector sheds staff over the next 12 months, and not “programmes” which will take longer to have an impact, although the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills stressed that long-term schemes will be eligible for later rounds of bidding.
As a result, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership has decided it can only support two proposals – a request for support for Midlands-based carmaker Jaguar Land Rover and support for the FA’s National Football Centre in Burton, Staffordshire.
The other schemes considered vital for the future of the region’s economy will not now receive the active support of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in this first round of bidding, which includes business organisations and local authorities in Birmingham, Solihull, Bromsgrove, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth.
They include an application for funds to subsidise the £32 million cost of diverting the A45 Coventry Road, to enable Birmingham Airport’s 350-metre runway extension to be built.
And they also include developer St Modwen’s application for £22 million to help pay for infrastructure improvements at Longbridge, as part of a £1 billion regeneration project on the 468-acre site.
Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber Group, said the Chamber continued to back the proposals, describing the airport expansion as “probably our top shared priority”. But he said: “We hope it will get through in round two.
“We don’t think it will be a round one contender. There will be no point insisting to government that something qualifies if it doesn’t meet the criteria.”
Other bids which had been due to receive the LEP’s support in round one but have now been put on the back burner include:
*A planned £22 million development fund for small and medium sized businesses in the area
*A £2.1 million bid for a retail development project to encourage growth of high-value independent shops in Birmingham
*A £1 million bid to support an apprenticeship training programme for young people in Birmingham
*A £3.2 million graduate retention programme across the LEP area
*A £5 million bid to support the development of Birmingham’s biomedical industries.
*A £7 million bid for completion of infrastructure to deliver the Eastside regeneration project.
Bridget Blow, chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local LEP Development Board, said: “We didn’t have the latest criteria until at most a week before we had to make the submissions, so it did alter what the LEP supported last week.
“We reduced the number of projects that we supported, because they didn’t meet the criteria.
“Clearly, people will be disappointed. What we are at pains to explain to them is that there will be another tranche.
“We have asked the Government to give us clarity as soon as possible about the second round and the types of bids that will be considered.”
Mr Blackett said: “The criteria for round one, which emerged painfully slowly, became much clearer in a rush, and it meant that the majority of bids we have seen are unlikely to be successful, because not many of them can deliver private sector employment overnight at good value.”
The Chamber had offered to help the Government draw up the criteria for bids in round two, he said.
A spokesman for Birmingham Airport said he was “surprised” that the airport bid would not receive support in the first round of bidding for cash, and said it would be seeking clarification from the LEP.
Jaguar Land Rover declined to give details of its submission to the Government.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Second city
Invicta DC4 provides the only credible structure for which is or isn't the UK's second city.
The question is historic as it is relative to the UK in 2011; it has not been drawn up in recent years when cities have claimed status on the back of 'trendy' football teams or pop groups.
As long as its population in the UK is second only to that of London, Birmingham will and should rightly hold the title of 'second city'. That was the criterion 100 years ago and it remains so today.
The question is historic as it is relative to the UK in 2011; it has not been drawn up in recent years when cities have claimed status on the back of 'trendy' football teams or pop groups.
As long as its population in the UK is second only to that of London, Birmingham will and should rightly hold the title of 'second city'. That was the criterion 100 years ago and it remains so today.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Second City
Not so Phileas Fogg. The expression 'second city' only ever applied to the UK and as you no doubt know it carries no official weight, merely a sinecure!
When Scotland or, indeed Wales, applied a title to their major city, it was that of capital which does have far greater and historic importance.
When Scotland or, indeed Wales, applied a title to their major city, it was that of capital which does have far greater and historic importance.
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Children...It matters not which is the first second fifth or any other position. As seen by the debate it's a figment of an individuals imagination, Politics or bloody mindedness.
None of the argument explains the non event that is BHX. Even for a so called economic downturn it's not doing anything.......
I see the Government is turning the screw on the available money. Making it available for their friends to get their hands on. They want it to produce results quickly as they know they may not get a second chance.
Meanwhile BHX is remaining very stagnant. Seems that they didn't necessarily get rid of the right people during the blood letting of last year....
None of the argument explains the non event that is BHX. Even for a so called economic downturn it's not doing anything.......
I see the Government is turning the screw on the available money. Making it available for their friends to get their hands on. They want it to produce results quickly as they know they may not get a second chance.
Meanwhile BHX is remaining very stagnant. Seems that they didn't necessarily get rid of the right people during the blood letting of last year....