The good old Redditch and Bromsgrove rivalry
Yep, Redditch is a dump with all the social problems of what was once a "New Town" but once you have found out how the road system works you're fine. The shopping centre isn't wonderful but I read somewhere that it has a footfall ranking in the top 10 in the country- when you think of places like Meadowhall, Trafford Centre, Bluewater are going to be high up, that's not too bad really. Woolies closing left a huge hole as it did in every high street but the rents are high on units of that size, no other company it going to take it on in this economic climate and I doubt the centre management are bright enough to think of splitting it up into smaller units to try and move it on. The centre's been nit hard with failed shop chains- Woolies, Officers Club, Allders all those years ago.

Bromsgrove High Street is dreary, charity shops, banks and pubs. The bus station refurb ran out of money so 1 'shelter' wasn't replaced, it looks quite daft now- 4 replaced stands, a new set of doors on those dreadful toilets, new benches but 1 old bus shelter? What about Charford- the stolen car haven of north Worcestershire! I've seen Aston Fields mentioned and no offence my friend, but I go into the Ladybird pub from time to time, and the place falls silent when an outsider walks through the bar, even though there's lots of passing folks because of the train station. And £3.20 for a pint of their own ale? Does that include "outsider tax"? Has anyone thought about those clampers that trawl round Crown Close? Seen them in action, what a bunch of boneheaded legalised thieves they are, they ought to be strung up and beaten to death with their own clamps!

And the MPs- Julie Kirkbride's claims were out and out robbery, fraudulent to the extreme. No wonder she's not standing again, I'm surprised she can show her face in the town without fear of it being slapped. The guy who campaigned against her and got the sack from work is now asking her for help- ironic, stupid or brave? Jacqui Smith cleared her claims in advance for her home, as a minister she *had* to declare London as her main home, when the rules changed in 94 or 95 she was told to keep it as it was, then she gets hauled over the coals when the retrospective new rules come in. I have little sympathy for claims for duck ponds and tennis courts, but I do feel a little for her, and other MPs, who have been shafted by this change of goalposts. It's a bit like going to Tesco and being asked to pay 10p more for the loaf you bought and ate last week. No sympathy for the films but I found that more amusing that anything- it was a tenner and a stupid stupid mistake by the man who watched them who happens to be her husband and also her assistant who I understand approves her invoices!! I personally think it will be too the detriment of the town when she's voted out next year and I know few will agree, but when I asked her for help she gave it so I can only say good things.

Redditch has its faults and many of them, but it's been my home for almost 31 of my 37 years, I've seen it change since I moved from Birmingham on the overspill, for better and for worse. Overall it's been good to me, and I'd rather be here than back in Small Heath where I was as a kid! Now there's a place....
(randomstupidname would really like this signature field to be bigge, Sun 1 Nov 2009, 16:09, 2 replies)

Dont you see?
You've become one of them!

*points and screams*
(kitescreech still here, Sun 1 Nov 2009, 18:25, closed)

Nah
I'm well aware of the town's many shortcomings and once a Brummie, always a Brummie.
(randomstupidname would really like this signature field to be bigge, Mon 2 Nov 2009, 21:13, closed)

here here!
Don't forget a college that is in the top 9 in the country and a road system that, once desiphered, has little or no bottlenecks and hardly any jams. As a mobile computer technician, I find this most refreshing!
( h3donist tryin' to play me out as if my name is Sega.., Mon 2 Nov 2009, 9:04, closed)