Comments for About Brum

Comment on The Big Wheel’s back for Christmas, will the Big Screen return in 2010? by Christopher

Christopher — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:42:04 +0000

Hi pedestrian, thanks for your comment. That’s a fair amount of vitriol! There’s no denying the whole topic is verging on the ridiculous given how the council attempted to self-approve and then spent an inordinate amount of money on the project whilst still at pre-approval stages. Let’s not forget it was the Labour-controlled Council who first approved and oversaw the installation of the Big Screen the best part of six years ago, so we can’t apportion all blame to Whitby if you’re against the Big Screen project as a whole…

Many other major cities in the UK have Big Screens; why shouldn’t Birmingham? I do believe the function of having a Big Screen is to provide maximum benefit to the largest amount of people. Pedestrian traffic past the Bullring will be high during weekends and evenings, but it’s nowhere like the focal point for footfall as Victoria Square and is. Thousands of people must commute through that space every day; when I was doing my degree, I made the journey through Paradise Forum, down the steps and past the Town Hall through Victoria Square on an almost daily basis.

All other circumstances and aspects to the story aside – taking a purely logical look at the current scenario, basing the analysis on how many people get to see it on a regular basis – the screen’s currently location is probably the most relevant and appropriate one for it (short of being moved back to up against the Town Hall’s back wall). It’s backed by trees and offset at an angle so it’s not facing straight on to the Council houses. It would be less relevant to the general public if it was sited by the Bullring or elsewhere, so it makes sense to leave it in roughly the same central area.

Or am I misguided in my outlook on the whole thing?

Comment on The Big Wheel’s back for Christmas, will the Big Screen return in 2010? by pedestrian

pedestrian — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:33:02 +0000

That screen’s an obscenity, a noxious weed, a barnacle on the grand scheme of Victoria and Chamberlain Squares. The arbitrary decision to put it there is also an insult to both planning and civic sensibilities. Perhaps they should have hung it alongside the war memorial. That would have shown equal sensitivity.

However, so long as it stands there in silence it does serve one purpose: as a very visible reminder of Whitby’s hubris in vandalising the civic centre.

Comment on Why can’t people just leave things alone? by About Brum » New Birmingham Library Public Consultation almost complete

About Brum » New Birmingham Library Public Consultation almost complete — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:51:29 +0000

[...] bothers me the most (aside from the astounding cost, and the fact that this redevelopment isn’t really necessary) is that they’re going to [...]

Comment on About Brum Podcast: Episode 1 now out by About Brum podcast features social media surgeries | Podnosh

About Brum podcast features social media surgeries | Podnosh — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:10:51 +0000

[...] Christopher Woods interviewed me for what has become the first episode in his freshly minted About Brum podcast. You can listen below, and it’s worth it, because Christopher has a very appealing and [...]

Comment on [updated] ANPR camera rollout across Birmingham city centre commences by Christopher

Christopher — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:49:49 +0000

Considering the scope of monitoring which is already in place (both overt and covert), it’s surprising that this hasn’t been covered more by major media.

Or maybe it’s not…

The Statebook site which has recently sprung up has lots of very revealing information which helps tie together otherwise disparate systems, and it’s recommended reading for anyone who’s not familiar with the sheer scope of surveillence we’re already subject to: http://www.statebook.co.uk/location.html

Comment on [updated] ANPR camera rollout across Birmingham city centre commences by JamieOliver

JamieOliver — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:07:46 +0000

An ANPR system like this will give a measure of the number of untaxed / uninsured cars on the road – but without there being a mechanism in place to prevent that vehicle from continuing it’s journey – it’s useless, especially so if the vehicle is not registered to the current keeper.

I’m also wondering how long it will be before someone says ‘we have a system in place that could be used for city centre congestion charging, all we need do is add a billing system and we have it’.

Comment on Lost And Found at the FXB, a retrospective by nunovo.org.uk

nunovo.org.uk — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:03:12 +0000

Namechecking the cyber neighbours…

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Comment on About Brum’s recommended links by Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:06:34 +0000

Yay!

Comment on What’s on in Brum this Christmas November? by Christopher

Christopher — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:56:01 +0000

I noticed that BiNS’ entry won last year – I’ll have to do my best to attend this year

Comment on What’s on in Brum this Christmas November? by bounder

bounder — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:41:54 +0000

The Panto Horse race is happening in Centenary Square – the course is a complete circuit pretty much. They’re making the horses parade up and down Broad St tho’.

Reigning champion – BiNS’ very own Airbiscuit – will again be in the running.