Recently in Campaigns Category

Birmingham has rather opportunely engaged in the debate that has been raging this week about the UK's air capacity. The unusual bedfellows of Conservative and Labour MPs, along with business and council leaders from the West Midlands, have today united to call for spare capacity at Birmingham Airport to be used to ease congestion in the south-east.

This group of passionate drum bangers are promoting Birmingham Airport as a means of easing congestion at London's Heathrow and in the south east. They believe that in the long-term, the development of Birmingham Airport as a major gateway at the centre of the UK would reduce unproductive surface travel time and leave Heathrow as a gateway for London and the south-east.

The letter published in today's Daily Telegraph (August 30, 2012) says: "A 'hub airport' in the South East favours a small, congested, and already economically strong part of the country. We need gateways close to the manufacturing, research and development of the Midlands and the North, linking these regions directly to emerging markets.

To say this week has been difficult would be something of an understatement.

 The riots across England  have dominated TV and newspaper headlines alike and businesses up and down the country are now counting the cost of the prolonged disturbances.

Estates Gazette has published up to the minute news and reaction on the situation all week and has today launched its Building a Better Britain campaign in conjunction with UK Regeneration.

This significant campaign is influenced by the riots that have blighted our high streets in London and cities across England including: Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham and Leicester.

EG is committed to marrying the private sector - with its funds and expertise - to the public sector's expertise and assets to safeguard the survival of the nation's High Streets and bring forward targeted urban renewal.

The campaign is about making sure this happens. Working with UK Regeneration, we'll be recruiting a team of experts to help draw up targeted plans, hopefully with your help either directly or indirectly over the coming weeks. The ultimate aim is to draw up a blueprint for building a better Britain that will be submitted to government.

We believe the industry is ready to step up. Share your ideas, get involved and help use this week's events as a catalyst for much-needed change.

Please email EG editor damian.wild@estatesgazette.com if you would like to learn more about the campaign.

Click here to read Damian Wild's comments on the need to respond radically in the aftermath of the riots http://bit.ly/r4COYe

Picture courtesy of George Rex via Flickr.com