Friends of the Earth Birmingham Action Briefing Aug 98/Sep 98

Quinton Meadows 'Village Green Day'
August 9th 1998

For some time there has been a campaign to save a piece of ancient farmland in Quinton from destruction.

The Quinton Meadows Action Group (QMAG). formed of concerned local residents, have tried various avenues to save this precious piece of land (part of it is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation). A property developer called Saint Modwens wants to build offices on it. Birmingham FOE and QMAG believe that this kind of development is completely unsustainable, and QMAG has good reasons to believe that Birmingham City Council has neglected to protect the area in question; despite pledging that it would.

Fed up with being insulted by the council at the Quinton Ward Subcommitee meeting on 24th June, Peter Beck of QMAG came to us to request our support.

We are honoured to be organising a ‘Quinton Meadows Village Green Day’, on Sunday August 9th, in conjunction with QMAG.

The day will be a family event, designed to give out a positive message that the local inhabitants of Quinton will be making a continuing stand against the greed of Saint Modwen’s (the real saint is probably turning in his grave), and the pathetic inadequacies of Birmingham City Council regarding this issue. QMAG also have a village green application in the planning process, which the day is designed to promote.

The fun day will comprise of various entertainments and activities, including a natural and historical tour of the area, music, food, medieval drama (the meadows goes back to 1215, and was farmed by the white monks of Halesowen Abbey and peasants), hedgerow enhancement, dancing, and a choir and candlelit vigil! Oh, and a picnic! Football matches kick off the day at 10:30a.m.

The day has a more serious side as well, with workshops available to interested people on non-violent direct action (including tree climbing) and a legal workshop on protest law.

The Urban Wildlife Trust have said that they would like to hold a nature walk of the area on the day, and Dudley Countryside Management Project, Woodgate Valley Country Park Rangers, and Warwickshire Rangers have all expressed an interest in being there. Halesowen Abbey Trust are also interested.

Quinton Meadows is situated between the M5 and Quinton Expressway (A456) in Quinton. Pedestrian access to the area is via Howley Grange Park, off Clay Drive. Vehicular access is via Bournbrook Crescent (off Howley Grange Road, off B4043). Buses to Quinton from the centre of Birmingham on a Sunday are the numbers 9 and 139 (which go along Hagley Road West).

There is also the 103 (which goes along Ridgacre Road). If taking the 9 or 139, get off at High Street (off Hagley Road West), walk down it until Ridgeacre Road West, turn right; then left onto Meadow Road; then right onto Chichester Drive, which leads onto Clay Drive (bit less than half-a-mile to walk from Hagley Road West).

Seeya there! Mark (Campaigns Co-ordinator)

Quinton Meadows 'Village Green Day': August 9th 1998