Promoting West Midlands heritage, culture and sport

Lights, camera, action! In this column, I thought I would update you on exciting changes now happening to Digbeth.

The spotlight is now falling on Digbeth like never before – as massive investment turns it into a centre for film and TV production.

It has been four months since the eyes of the world fell on Birmingham, when the Commonwealth Games opened in a burst of pride, colour and music. With the baton now passed to Australia, the bunting has come down and thousands of items of sporting equipment have been handed to local clubs.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says residents and businesses can look forward to reaping the benefits of having the revitalised Alexander Stadium on their doorstep.

Great cities have their rivers or coastlines – think London, Paris, Sydney, San Francisco. Here in the landlocked West Midlands, we have our canals.

The countdown is nearly over. As I write, just 129 days remain until the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, with the opening ceremony taking place on July 28.

St Patrick’s Day is an important part of the cultural life of Birmingham, when the whole city can join the Irish community to party and celebrate its contribution to life here.

Birmingham’s Irish community has always been an important contributor to the cultural life of the city.

As Mayor of the West Midlands, the notion of ‘Togetherness’ features heavily in my role.