Residents weigh in on whether their West Midlands home city is a 'powerhouse' or a 'cesspit'
Birmingham communities have been urged not to let "politics say what their city is" following a row about its image.
The city was compared to both a "thriving powerhouse" and the "cesspit of Europe" during a heated budget debate at Birmingham City Council earlier this week.
Council leader John Cotton said the controlling Labour group’s budget proposals put the city "back on track".
He also talked about extra millions being ploughed into council services and listed major regeneration projects ongoing in the city, going on to describe Birmingham as a “powerhouse”.
But his comments prompted a fierce backlash in the chamber with some councillors saying the local authority’s financial crisis and the ongoing bins strike had damaged Birmingham’s reputation.
Councillor Jane Jones, who sits as an independent having quit Labour, said the city had turned into the “cesspit of Europe” and a “laughing stock” on the world stage.
Now Birmingham residents have had their say.
Vicky Fisher said: “I think Birmingham is what you make it, and I say that as someone not originally from Birmingham.
“I’ve lived in Small Heath, I’ve lived in Sparkbrook, I’ve lived in Ward End, I’ve lived in Alum Rock, I’ve lived in Sparkhill and also Balsall Heath.
“I’ve lived in what some people would class as not the most desirable areas. I would say it depends on what you put into the community.
“Don’t let the politics say what our city is, allow it to be what you want for your area. It’s about you changing your local area.
“I’ve seen litter pickers in all of the local streets and those are the local people who are doing it.
“We don’t always have money but what we can do is make do and mend as we did in the [Covid] pandemic.”
Isaac Samuel, however, said: “I think parts of the city are a cesspit. There’s quite a lot that has been ignored for a long time.
“I don’t think any of it can be called a powerhouse – there’s still a lot of potential.
“There’s some ongoing projects that, when they are done, I think we will see more potential there as well.
“But there’s a lot that’s not been done as well and the stuff that’s not been done stands out more.
“It’s hard to say one or the other definitely but it’s not amazing, you know.”
