Diwali 'cancelled' for Soho residents
Diwali 'cancelled' for Soho residents
Plus: Jack Reacher weighs in on Brum libraries row and Sabbath take over Digbeth bar
Dear Patchers — Welcome to your Wednesday briefing.
Today’s main story will be a concerning one for Patchers in the Soho Road area. The usual Diwali celebrations around the road area are, as it stands, not going ahead this year with funding stopped after an objection. Consternation has followed, along with community worries. The full story is below.
We also bring you updates on the torturous progression of HS2 and some further planning and construction news in the centre of the city. There’s also an intervention from another big-name Brummie author and some culture highlights in Coventry.
Don’t work too hard, now.
Dan.
Brum in Brief
🪔 Festival of Light frozen: Birmingham’s Diwali Mela festival has been cancelled after a funding freeze. The Soho Road Business Improvement District (BID) said it couldn’t proceed with the event after an appeal was lodged against funding with the festival said to be cancelled as a consequence. "For a decade, the Birmingham Diwali Mela has been a cornerstone of cultural expression in the area," the BID said, adding that the cancellation means lights and celebrations across the period up to New Year will be impacted. "We've had letters received today from religious organisations who are really upset because the Diwali Mela is Birmingham's and the community is going to be really upset,” Bob Balu, chair of the BID told the BBC. Full story.
🏗️ HS2 milestone: A 3.5-mile tunnel, critical to the completion of HS2, is now half complete. The Bromford tunnel has excavation works — started by a 1600-tonne boring machine — which begin at Water Orton and end at Washwood Heath. It’s expected the work will be completed by 2025 with the tunnel eventually passing by the River Tame, Castle Vale and the M6. ‘We’re now at peak construction in the West Midlands, and it’s great to celebrate the halfway point,” said Steve Powell, head of delivery at HS2. All the construction details.
📖 Origins of Jack Reacher: The celebrated author of the Jack Reacher series, Lee Child, has said his widely loved fictional character wouldn’t exist if it were not for Birmingham’s libraries. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Child, who grew up in Birmingham, said he started reading voraciously in Handsworth Wood library before moving onto Perry Barr, visiting once a week in early years. Child said: “I’m so sentimental about it and so emotional about it [Birmingham’s libraries], because that building saved my life at the time, it enabled it.” Full story.
🏢 ‘Objectional’ tower set for approval: A 41-storey tower block, part of a three-block development, is expected to be given the green light after Birmingham council’s planning officers recommended it for approval. The development will sit on Bristol Street, Bromsgrove Street and Essex Street and has faced objections from The Victorian Society (who say the development will impact both non-designated heritage buildings and listed buildings) and the 20th Century Society who argued similarly. Full story with details at a click.
⛪ Coventry Heritage Days: Not to be outdone by Brummie neighbours, Coventry is also hosting a week of heritage open days from 6th September onwards. Those who make it down can see Cathedrals, St Mary's Guildhall, Holy Trinity Church and many more not-so-obvious heritage sites. Full details here.
🎸 Sabbath night: For fans of Black Sabbath, The Night Owl are hosting Masters of Sabbath (a tribute band) this Friday. I’ll be at First Friday, across the road, but might nip in after to get the full helping of Brummie goodness. Tickets here.
You regularly ask readers to write in. I have tried to do so twice but have failed to connect.What,I wonder am I or you doing wrong? Roger Ward.
Sorry to complain- I hate misleading headlines. You cannot cancel Diwali, it’s a religious festival. It’s the Mela that has been cancelled and I think that is very sad. Imagine cancelling Christmas !!!