Birmingham: Elmdon Building & Old Tower

[Ianbutty]

Stunning. What a beauty. Perfection....and that's just Chris...the terminal looks great also.

Just watched Midlands Today. Great stuff Chris.

I think you have cornered the airport.

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's just been on Midlands Today with Peter Plisner at the scene interviewing Chris.

There was no real comment from the airport other than they are carrying out surveys and will then explore the options.

It was some great exposure though and the petition signature count is rising quickly, over 3200 now 🙂

 

[Brum X]

Awesome Chris, your doing a great job in raising the profile of this old important building 👍

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-eng...petition-over-old-birmingham-airport-terminal

 

[Dadjet]

Thanks for comments (Especially Ian ) Only played about 5% of interview which is a relief for me personally as was sh***ing it but they compensated with great publicity! Time to retire now!

 

[Ray Finkle]

I thought you were great 👍

 

[Ray Finkle]

Airports International Magazine are running the story.

http://www.airportsinternational.co...ham-airports-original-terminal-building/19860

 

[rollo]

Hopefully the petition will be sent to others besides the airport such as the council including individual councilors, MPs, the Mayor, the approprate government minister major shareholders and local influential individuals such as Lord Digby Jones etc the more publicity the better to save this historic building for the city.

Superb effort by Chris.

 

[Ashley]

Absolutely fantastic how much coverage this story has gained. Listenting to Radio BBC WM this morning it's amazing how many folks out there have such fond memories of the old terminal.

 

[Dadjet]

Rollo, if you can get me some email addresses I will certainly add to petition recipients.
Ashley, was I on WM? I spoke to them on phone about doing a live interview but chickened out!

 

[Otisblue]

Chris
Not sure if you or anyone else on here has heard of a business that set up in St Pauls square a few years ago
called the Wonderful World of Trains and Planes. I never got chance to visit it myself as it closed about a month after I heard about it, but the business was made up of a number of model train layouts and also flight simulators plus a shop where you could buy models etc.

Reading comments from people on the Facebook page, it was a great place and attracted many youngsters and families. Sounds like kids loved it.

The business was forced to shut down about 18 months ago because the council decided to increase the rates to an unmanageable level for a fledgling business.

Well, I have just read that the business has been able to get up and running again................located in Norfolk. All of the train layouts and flight sims have been moved to Norfolk.

It just got me thinking that the old terminal building would have been / is an ideal location for a business like that. That, together with a historical museum of the airport and viewing area would I am sure attract lots of families and youngsters and you never know may even become a viable use of the old terminal building.

I also notice on the FB page for Elmdon that you have been in touch with Historic England which is great and best of luck with that.

In terms of funding any renovation if it ever comes to that, might be able to get the National Lottery interested. Probably a bit late for approaching the EU now !!

 

[GliderPilot]

'Birmingham Airport Museum & Viewing Area'

Is it me that thinks that sounds good or is a bit far fetched

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Not sure if you or anyone else on here has heard of a business that set up in St Pauls square a few years ago
called the Wonderful World of Trains and Planes. I never got chance to visit it myself as it closed about a month after I heard about it, but the business was made up of a number of model train layouts and also flight simulators plus a shop where you could buy models etc.

I visited a couple of years ago. I found it very interesting and well set up (although some of the FS yokes had damage to their switches - I assume from over enthusiastic youngsters).
The staff were very polite and friendly, but on the day that I visited (a Saturday, if I recall) there were very few other visitors. I was told however that weekdays were very busy with school visits.
The model shop was open to the public, without having to pay the entrance fee.
I only learned of it's existance from a magazine article and can't recall ever seeing any adverts.
It's sad to read of it's demise and wish that Birmingham Council could have worked closer with the business to nurture it and provide a great facility for the region.
As for the old BHX terminal being developed as a museum, sadly I have my doubts. Much as I would love to see this, I suspect that BHX have plans for the land it stands on and would make it prohibitively expensive for any such project.

Regards

Kevin

 

[Dadjet]

That plus a restaurant etc. Visiting the old ATC tower etc would be Birmingham's alternative to the Eifell Tower or CN Tower 🙂 would be a fantastic visitor centre but unfortunately the more I hear, I fear it is doomed to rubble :-( 4500 signatures. As brilliant as this is we still need more!!

 

[hay677]

I could be wrong but I get the impression the publicity has been targeted exclusively at the local population (for obvious reasons). It has been a brilliant job, I just wonder if there are ways of expanding the borders. Obviously you are not going to get exposure on local TV and press outside the region, but perhaps aviation enthusiasts nationally and even globally could be encouraged to sign through the many forums around.
Chris Shaw has done (more than) his bit, so maybe someone else who's familiar with the mass of forums could help out?

 

[Dadjet]

I could be wrong but I get the impression the publicity has been targeted exclusively at the local population (for obvious reasons). It has been a brilliant job, I just wonder if there are ways of expanding the borders. Obviously you are not going to get exposure on local TV and press outside the region, but perhaps aviation enthusiasts nationally and even globally could be encouraged to sign through the many forums around.

Hay, I have tried to expand the target audience in local weeks, have signed up to all types of groups whether it be aviation, architecture or heritage etc (including this one!!) to spread the message, whether it be in the Midlands, London, America or Australia! I tried to hijac the twitter trending of #BRUM today (after the CG handover). Seems to be having little impact in petition numbers though.

Not sure if I mentioned it on this forum but personally applied for listed status the other day. Your right though, need people with real experience and influence to take over the campaigning!! The problem I have been finding is when your posts drop down the page they don't get seen!

 

[Elmdon80slad]

I have just reached out to this guy on twitter -

@TIMjohnANDREWS
Chairman of @hwoodmonster Hollywood Monster, Co-Founder & Chairman #LoveBrum @lovebrumuk, owner of @ukyachtcharter Former CEO Birmingham City Ladies FC #bclfc

#LoveBrum
hollywoodmonster.co.uk


Not sure if he can help?

E.

 

[58terminus]

Not sure if I mentioned it on this forum but personally applied for listed status the other day. Your right though, need people with real experience and influence to take over the campaigning!!

I have been reading lately of the successful campaign to save Moseley swimming baths.Another architectural gem
that was run down probably deliberately. Whilst this is a completely different scenario the people who achieved this
must also have started from scratch and it would be interesting to know what there strategy was.

 

[Creguk]

My parents found a picture that they once "won" (they can't remember where!) in the loft last week:View attachment 8388

 

[Deleted member 8862]

Nice picture that, does anyone remember Bill Clinton's reaction when he arrived at the old terminal?

He would be just the sort of person to spearhead this campaign.

 

[Ray Finkle]

That's a cracking picture, certainly something to keep very safe for the future.


As for the campaign, Julian Knight MP has been quite supportive of BHX in the past, whether something such as this would appeal to him I don't know but I guess it can't hurt to ask?

Julian Knight MPVerified account

@julianknight15

https://twitter.com/julianknight15