RESIDENT RAISES VOICE FOR NOISY DIGBETH

24-07-2007

The Digbeth resident behind an online petition to preserve the area's nightlife has been telling Stirrer why he joined the campaign.

Adam Crossley, 28, moved to the Abacus apartments last August from Harborne, and overlooks the Spotted Dog pub, which has been served with a Noise Abatement Order.

Some of his neighbours are behind the complaints, which critics warn could be a sign of things to come as the area is regenerated. The Dog’s landlord John Tighe has warned that it could signal the death of Digbeth.

Now Adam wants to put the record straight: “When I heard about the Noise Abatement Order I wanted to show support from the residents of the Abacus for John.

“It would be a damn shame if he couldn’t hold any more garden parties.

“We knew what the crack was when we moved here.

“Put it this way; our bedroom is on the Bradford Street side of the building, and if we go to bed early, we’re often woken by the buses, but we’re not going to ask for the buses to be re-routed.

“Sometimes we’re woken at 1 or 2 a.m. by people leaving the pubs, but that’s part and parcel of living in Digbeth. It’s not an issue.

“We’ve heard people say they want to turn Digbeth into another Brindley Place, but it’s not Brindley Place. That’s fine for what it is, but this is different.

“I would say there are more people in Abacus who think the way I do, and we want to show that to Birmingham City Council. There are a lot of people who use that pub and we don’t want to lose it.”

See the campaign website: www.keepdigbethvibrant.co.uk