Bug and Small Animal Hunt Sunday May 25th

The Rangers are organising an afternoon of activity looking for the small creatures that inhabit the water and woodland of the Reservoir. Ring them on 0121 454 1908 for further information and to book a place.

                           Friends of Edgbaston Reservoir on the Ed Doolan Show

Monday April 28th and FER were invited onto the Ed Doolan show to talk about the Reservoir as an example of what our parks and open spaces can offer the citizens of Birmingham. It was arranged through Debbie the Ranger who, besides talking about the general activities that take place on the Reservoir, outlined some of the exciting events that the Ranger Service are organising throughout the year. We were broadcasting our bit from the Reservoir itself. It was a sunny day and the Reservoir looked its best not only visually but also in the number of activities on display. Joggers and cyclists came past whilst schoolchildren learnt to sail on the water. People came and parked their cars, too, to enjoy some tranquility in the middle of their morning.

                                  April 28th - Reservoir Filling Up Again?

Walking round the Reservoir today I noticed that water has started to run into the Reservoir again. Water levels had been lowered so that British Waterways could repair a leak in the dam, following the alarmist programme on Channel 4 about the dire consequences to Ladywood if the dam burst. However, celebrations will have to be put on hold because part of the wall by the car park has collapsed and needs to be repaired before the water in the Reservoir can be brought back to the level we would all like to see.

                                    Perrott's Folly opens for Art Exhibition

There is now a rare chance to visit the historic 18th Century Perrott's Folly in nearby Waterworks Road as it is housing an art exhibition till May 23rd, admission free. The Reservoir was J.R.Tolkein's favourite boyhood haunt and it is thought that Perrot's Folly, together with the Waterworks Tower next door, was the inspiration for The Two Towers featured in Lord of the Rings!

Click here to see details of exhibition.        

                     The Tower Ballroom Opens: History is Made and Rewritten

 

At 8 pm on Thursday April 3rd the Tower Ballroom opened its doors again and more than a thousand people descended on this corner of the Reservoir, in most cases to renew their aquaintance with the famous venue. I also went along. The atmosphere was good. The interior is shiny and new with all the glitz and glitter a dance hall should have. The original decor is retained and the revolving stage preserved. 

Twelve hours earlier I had taken part in an interview for Radio WM  with the new proprietor, Liam O'Connor. The interview was conducted in the ballroom by WM's ebullient reporter, Kate Walker. She and Liam walked in, chatting all the while. I was situated about 20 metres away.When they eventually reached me, she then thrust the microphone at me and said:" You've been campaigning to keep the Ballroom open and there's been some opposition to this, hasn't there?"  

Since FER and everyone I know connected with the Reservoir including our local councillors had concluded that to open the ballroom as a dance and entertainment venue was totally unrealistic and so was never any part of our campaign, the question caught me out. I sensed that there is now a new myth in the making. This was confirmed for me that evening when the first group of musicians on concluding their set said: "We want you to acknowledge the achievement of one man. They were going to build a bunch of flats and houses here and he has single-handedly stopped them.  Please put your hands together for Liam O'Connor and if you don't want to see flats and houses built here, please support this venture!"  

Liam O'Connor has put a lot of money and effort in relaunching the Tower Ballroom. It will be a big success and all the signs are that it will be well-run. FER didn't think flats and houses were appropriate for the Reservoir.  In its favour, the Tower Ballroom confirms the Reservoir as a site for leisure and recreation and if its previous owners hadn't closed it down and if some people in the Council hadn't proposed replacing it, we would still be seeing the Tower Ballroom as a permanent feature of the Reservoir landscape. But since the controversy over the flats and houses, it has become apparent that  the Tower Ballroom itself has no connection with what the Reservoir is really about. Perhaps, when the Loop Development takes shape, the Tower Ballroom will come to be seen as the anomaly it truly is. What do you think? 

Chris Vaughan 

Chair, Friends of Edgbaston Reservoir

Water Levels News

We understand that British Waterways need to take the Reservoir down another metre from 2m to 3m to repair the leak in the dam but will have the job completed by the end of March.  

Tower Ballroom - The Campaign               

Friends of Edgbaston Reservoir have campaigned vigorously over the last two years against having houses and flats built within the boundaries of the Reservoir, as we think it is totally inappropriate and sets a dangerous precedent. We have received a lot of public support for our campaign and we are grateful to the many individuals and organisations that joined in. We also feel that as a result, we now have a closer relationship with our local politicians, our planners and city officials and can now start to move forward in truly valuing the Reservoir as a tremendous and unique asset for all the people of Birmingham     

Background

Planning permission was granted to Countrywide Homes for flats and houses to be built on the Tower Ballroom site to Countrywide Homes Ltd in January 2006, in the teeth of fierce local opposition. Because the outcry would not die down Countrywide were asked to reconsider their proposals. But the plans were delayed in a far more serious way because the then Chair of Leisure Services, Cllr John Alden would not give his permission for a change of use of the site.  However, in a report to the Ladywood Ward Committee on June 14th, 2007, by the Director of Planning, Clive Dutton, it would appear that Cllr Alden's successor, Cllr Ray Hassall, has conceded or has been forced to concede a change of use. The report states, "Meetings held with the developer have thus far failed to generate new designs/layouts of sufficient quality to convince the City Council to dispose of its land holding interest. Countrywide are aware of the position and a response from them is awaited." In other words, if Countrywide can come up with the right proposals they can build their houses and flats. When the current lease was drawn up with Mecca forty four years ago it was expressly stipulated that the site was not to be used for housing.  It is now evident that the current office holders do not see themselves as bound by their predecessors' legal requirement and so for the first time in its 180 year history the Reservoir faces having houses built within its confines. In the meantime we will be investigating the facts of the matter such as when was this decision for change of use made, by whom and by what decision making process, before taking further action.

                    Please feel free to leave a message in this website's Guest Book.

                 NEW!!!       Friends of Harborne Walkway Action Group set up

Membership

Friends of Edgbaston Reservoir was formed more than 10 years ago when an eclectic group of local residents came together with one common aim, the prevention of proposed waterskiing on the reservoir.

The pressure group was successful in preventing the use of noisy power boats on the water and remained as an association to preserve this secret treasure in the heart of Birmingham.

View from the rear of homes in Summerfield Crescent

For those of you whom are unaware, the Friends of Edgbaston Reservoir exist today as a group of local residents and other interested people, to monitor and promote the area as a designated Site for Nature Conservation (SINC).  Since formation the FER have maintained a constituted presence in the area to represent the views of local people and other organised users (wildlife and bird watchers, Midland Sailing Club, Birmingham Rowing Club, Training Ship Vernon, the anglers and the walkers, cyclists and joggers) to both fight unwanted development and to promote sensitive improvements for the benefit of both the general public and wildlife.

The FER are a voluntary group with a Birmingham City Council recognised Constitution and aim to keep everyone informed of everything to do with The Reservoir through regular meetings, newsletters and through
this website   We are currently focused on monitoring planning and development in the local area, the preservation and maintenance of historical buildings and features around The Reservoir, the provision of public toilets at The Lodge, and promoting encouragement of the abundant wildlife that uses the area.

Unfortunately we have no charitable status and do not receive any significant funding from anywhere except through membership subscriptions.  Our current spending plans are for the small things that Birmingham City Council cannot fund quickly, such as more bat boxes and nest boxes.  We are also starting a fund to provide a floating nest platform for swans.

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the reservoir and its surroundings. FER organises various events each year in an attempt to encourage a wider appreciation of the interesting features around and on the water.

Click here to join FER

Alternatively, you may leave a message in the guest book

                                                   No of visitors to our site