Welcome to Acocks Green Traders’ Website

Stop Press – See below welcome posts.  Did you get the Warwick Road Route Enhancement Leaflet with details of 19 September Exhibition? 

This is a brand new website for Acocks Green Traders.  Find out what is going on in the centre of Acocks Green and talk back to us.    Check out our ‘About’ page on the left to find out more about us.  The other pages are about things that are going on in Acocks Green.  We hope you find us a mine of information.  You can also talk back to us by making your own postings.

Why a website now?

There are changes afoot.  There is major redevelopment work set to happen soon, at the old Swan Centre in Yardley.  When completed, with a projected seven hundred space car park, this could take much trade away from Acocks Green.  However,  a  figure of around 20 million could shortly be invested in Acocks Green centre.   There are major new plans for Acocks Green village which may begin to be implemented as early as the end of this year.  Do you want an updated Acocks Green centre?  How would you want it to look?  Your input into, and support, for this plan, might be vital.  You should be receiving a letter shortly, if you have not already done so, from the Warwick Road project team. This team is made up of Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Centro and Atkins Global, a major construction company. You will be asked for your views on the reconstruction of the Warwick Road.

There have been rejected plans for Acocks Green before now.  Some traders may still recall the unpopular, and  ill fated plan, to add more bus lanes and to reduce the size of The Green in 2004.  Planners have told us they want to get it right this time.   There has been an offer to spend money on Acocks Green centre itself. There is more about the overall plan for the Warwick Road at the Warwick Road project team website and the Smart Road, as a pilot project for the Warwick Road, is mentioned at the Network West Midlands website.

Warwick Road Website

Network West Midlands Website

We would advise that you study the two websites on the two links above.  However, we aim to give you more information here.  Below are two posters which were shown at a conference for representatives from Acocks Green on August 6 2009.  The posters outline some of the current issues, possibilities and plans in regard to  the present Warwick Road layout.  You will note that we are told that three design options are currently being considered for a new island at Acocks Green.  Two of these three plans involve making the existing green island and car park island into one island, with public space.  These plans are also available for viewing by clicking the Acocks Green plans page ‘Draft Designs for Acocks Green Centre’  on the top right of this site, or here.

There is, in addition, also a plan under discussion for making the carriageway of the Warwick Road single carriageway, with increased parking, more space for trees and other features, smoother flowing traffic and greater ease of movement for pedestrians.  This is also likely to improve footfall.   The artist’s  impression for this plan, and an engineering diagram, is also available on the ’Draft Designs for Acocks Green Centre’ page on the top right or on the link here

Warwick Road - Acocks Green Village - Poster showing issues

To view this poster click on poster. It will enlarge to a choice of sizes.  You can make it larger than screen size if wished.  Use arrows at bottom of screen to navigate.  To return to website use back arrow top left, and NOT the tab closing ‘x’ button.

Poster showing Issues on Warwick Road Acocks Green - Olton Side

To view this poster left click on poster. It will enlarge to a choice of sizes.  You can make it larger than screen size if wished.  Use arrows at bottom of screen to navigate.  To return to website use back arrow top left, and NOT the tab closing ‘x’ button.

Birmingham Post on Acocks Green Traders

This piece on Acocks Green traders appeared in The Birmingham Post today (September 21 09)  Accurate?  What are your views? 

Birmingham Post on Acocks Green traders

You could share your thoughts both here, and with The Birmingham Post, in their comments box.

Warwick Road Route Enhancements Leaflet

Warwick Road Route Enhancements Leaflet

Did you see this leaflet?  Was it delivered to your unit on the Warwick Road?  The project team assures us that The Warwick Road was leafleted.  Please let us know whether you agree that you had a leaflet or not.  We have had worrying reports that many people did not receive a leaflet and may not have known of the exhibition in Acocks Green Library on Saturday 19 September. 

Welcome

When I first opened a coffee shop in Acocks Green, nearly four years ago, I quickly noticed two things.  Firstly, the people, both my fellow traders and the residents were very friendly and there was a good community atmosphere.  Secondly, however, it is obvious that Acocks Green seems to have been a blind spot in Birmingham City Council’s vision for far too long.  Other areas have been getting funding.  Acocks Green has not.  The Green is lovely and I know the locals are very proud of it.  What can I say about the rest?  The area is stuck in the seventies, and the neglect is obvious.  Apart from The Green, the outlook from the coffee shop is a mess.  Higher up the Warwick Road it is even worse.  As traders we all know what we pay in rates, and yet what have we been getting for it?

That is why I am supporting the current initiatives to get something done about the area.  I hope something good comes of the Warwick Road project.  If you want to drop into Costa to have a chat at quite times, do feel free.