The last few years has seen Birmingham as a city grow and grow, and up until the council's financial disaster last year the vision for the future appeared to be endless. I'm here today in the city centre to find out what changes people want to see in Birmingham this year.
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00:00 I think the thing that I would like to see change most about Birmingham is the traffic
00:05 situation. It seems, ever since I've come here, that there's been constant work, which
00:09 is great for the city, but it's constantly impacting on how you drive, there's constant
00:16 changes to lanes everywhere you go. I feel like I have to take a different route home
00:21 every time I come back almost. I would like to see, I don't know. I think it would be
00:31 good when it's finished. I know in 2024 it should be full. You probably know Birmingham
00:37 a little bit better than I do. Yeah, I think just seeing the roadworks finished and the
00:41 tram lines going to the centre through Digworth all finished and be able to commute easier
00:45 will be the best thing. I think Birmingham is an absolutely fantastic city. I think it
00:53 should sing its praises more loudly and I think the people here are some of the best
00:58 in the world. It's got great arts, culture, it's got great sports. I mean, not everyone
01:04 supports all the teams, but it's got such a lot to offer and I'd like to see Brummies
01:08 really shout loudly about what it is to be a Brummie, whatever that is. I'm from Coventry
01:14 and we should equally shout as loudly and our team's doing okay. Firstly, I really like
01:20 Birmingham. I find the people here incredibly friendly. So it's a place I like to visit.
01:24 We come every six weeks. So my wife comes here for treatment. I think, you know, things
01:30 to do in the city centre could do with some more independent shops. So try to find ways
01:34 to support as many independent businesses as possible. I mean, as well as the chain
01:38 stores and things. It's not always clear where the good independent shops are. So try and
01:43 really promote that and track people in. Think about all ranges of people. So what have you
01:48 got for people my age, people younger, people older. Try and make sure you get a lot of
01:54 people in. Really just promote the city centre, get people in, get them spending money. Christmas
01:59 markets and things are nice. You know, it's another reason for people to come. Think about
02:03 the economy during the day and the night time economy. But just as much as anything, keep
02:08 smiling, keep the people friendly because it is a friendly city.
02:13 Just generally easier to drive around, I think, would be the main thing. I mean, I usually
02:21 get lifts now when I come to do a gig because it's just a bit of a pain to drive around.
02:29 It's quite big. But other than that, no, it's quite a nice city. Yeah.
02:36 Still a city in progress. Hopefully the recent financial situation faced by the council won't
02:41 impede the opportunities that have arisen the past few years. On the horizon, the much
02:47 anticipated reopening of the Museum and Art Gallery, as well as improvements to transport
02:53 with faster security at the airport, and of course, the expansion of the Metro to reach
02:58 Dudley, fostering greater connectivity and unity within the West Midlands region.
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