Birmingham Connected bulletin - 8 April 2021

Welcome back Birmingham, changes to the city centre, return to public transport with confidence, active travel review published

Welcome back Birmingham!

Changes to the city centre

Birmingham City Council has revealed details of several measures to support businesses in the city, following confirmation that outdoor hospitality will be allowed to open on 12 April. This includes road closures, parking changes and pavement widening on several streets, to create outdoor seating areas.

A section of Colmore Row and Waterloo Street (from Bennetts Hill / Newhall Street) will be closed to vehicles from 11am to 11pm each day, to allow hospitality businesses to increase their outside areas whilst Colmore BID will be transforming Victoria Square into an outdoor seating space.

In the Jewellery Quarter, vehicles will not be allowed to turn left from Queensway onto Livery Street, adding to existing parking suspensions on Ludgate Hill and St Paul's Square.

Chamberlain Square is open

The transformation of Chamberlain Square has been unveiled and includes the renovated Chamberlain Memorial. Two commercial buildings, One and Two Chamberlain Square, have also been completed along with new paving, steps and lighting.

Snow Hill public realm improvements

As part of the Snow Hill public realm improvements, closures on Livery Street prohibit direct access onto Colmore Row. Diversions are in place for general traffic and bus routes 7 and 101 until Saturday 24 April.

Southside public realm improvements

The redevelopment of Birmingham's Southside District gets underway this month, with works to deliver improved walking and cycling routes to New Street Station and a new public square adjacent to Birmingham Hippodrome.

Bullring Centre car park

The Bullring Centre car park will be closed until Sunday 11 April. If you have to drive into Birmingham before then, please use one of the other car parks in the city centre including Moor Street or Edgbaston Street.

Remember there is now a bus gate on Moor Street Queensway, preventing general traffic travelling between Moor Street Station and Carrs Lane in either direction.


Return to public transport with confidence

As restrictions ease, public transport operators are working harder than ever to keep people safe on their vehicles.

National Express West Midlands have launched Travelling Safely Together with lots of advice around what to do when travelling by bus and details of how they continue to operate safely and responsibly.

Network Rail have published similar helping you travel safely advice about what is happening at stations and on trains. You can also keep up to date with the latest Coronavirus travel advice from West Midlands Railway.

And West Midlands Metro have provided some safer travel guidance to follow when using the tram.

Remember that walking and cycling are also a great way to get about, stay safe and also keep fit and healthy as we ease out of lockdown.


Perry Barr regeneration works

Sprint

Construction of new bus priority measures along the A34 in north Birmingham is due to start on Monday 19 April. This will see bus lanes extended, junctions upgraded and new shelters installed between Birmingham city centre and the Scott Arms junction in Great Barr. This will form part of the wider Sprint bus route linking the A34 with the A45.

Perry Barr station

Perry Barr rail station will be closed for refurbishment from Monday 10 May. Trains will not call at the station during this time, and passengers will not be able to get on or off trains at this station. This is part of the Perry Barr regeneration programme and will see a new modern and more accessible station being built on the existing site, scheduled to re-open in May 2022.


Active Travel review published

Last year, Birmingham City Council introduced a number of measures as part of the Emergency Birmingham Transport Plan to support a low carbon, clean air recovery from COVID-19.

In November 2020, the Council launched an official review of the various emergency transport measures that were introduced as the city emerged from the first national lockdown. Read more about the review and download the report.

The Council now wants to build on this work and further develop many of these schemes to make walking and cycling safer and easier across the city. We have been gathering people's views via Commonplace, to help inform the next set of proposals.


Clean Air Zone

With the launch of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone on 1 June 2021 there's lots of information available to help you prepare. Visit the Brum Breathes website to check whether your vehicle will be charged, find out about incentives and register for free online information events.

Businesses and organisations can register for FREE with Modeshift STARS to take action to reduce air pollution and be rewarded for promoting greener, healthier travel. More information, including a recent podcast about workplace travel planning, can be found on the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce website.

Vehicle scrappage scheme

Birmingham City Council is partnering with Motorpoint to offer people working in the Clean Air Zone the chance to scrap their old car and receive £2,000 credit towards a compliant vehicle, or 'mobility' credits which can be used on public transport. Read more about the Scrappage and Travel scheme.

Further actions to improve air quality in Birmingham

The city council has published its new Air Quality Action Plan 2021 outlining various key actions to improve air quality in Birmingham between 2021 and 2026.


Commonwealth Games

There are now fewer than 500 days to go until the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games which start on Thursday 28 July 2022 and details of the daily competition schedule have now been released.

Celebrating Communities is a £2 million small grants scheme for residents and community groups to apply for funding to help people feel involved with the Games. Celebrate the Commonwealth Games your way and apply today to receive a grant for anything between £100 to £10,000.


Have your say

Give your views to help inform the next set of Active Travel proposals. Closes for comments on 16 April.

COVID 19 Impact Survey - survey on the impact that COVID-19 and lockdown measures have had on people's health and wellbeing. Closes 22 May.

E-scooters: Experimental Traffic Regulation Order – consultation closes 26 May.

Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders for Emergency Active Travel Fund schemes can be found on Birmingham Be Heard.


Dates for the diary

30 March to 26 May - Clean Air Zone webinars. For full details on events visit Brum Breathes.

19 to 30 April - Sustrans Big Pedal 2021. For full details on how to register your school for the UK’s biggest inter-school cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting competition, please visit Big Pedal.

1 to 31 May - Walk This May. Living Streets are hosting their National Walking Month. To register, please visit, Walk This May.

1 June - Clean Air Zone launch. For more information go to Brum Breathes.

Article posted on 8 April 2021.

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