The Royalty Harborne

There is a public meeting in the lower Moor Pool Hall tomorrow Sunday 22nd at 2pm to form a committee to find ways of keeping the library. Both the Royalty and the library are or will be important drivers for footfall in the high street. Both need to be saved. Come along and show your support.

We had a positive discussion with WMCA today and between us we will be trying to get some movement into having further discussions to resolve the issue of the Royalty. With a new Mayor it seems WMCA are reviewing strategy moving forward but support would inevitably require an element of residential which we have already accomodated in our plans as per the guidance received from planning but which also required 'community' provision.

Harborne Library is under threat. This is an important part of Harborne and needs to be retained where it is not sold off to pay for Council financial miss management. It is one of the most used libraries in Birmingham. Make your voice know and come along on the 24th.

Set on fire again. Well the building is wide open so what a surprise. Still at least the front is still intact for income from advertising on the hoardings. Planning permission applied for??

Another building severely damaged by fire but which was saved. We can provide a great facility for Harborne and the wider community.

BAC grand hall reopens after fire devastation Arts Industry - news and insight from the world of arts and culture.

Do we have any 3D modellers out there willing to work on our latest plans? Please message us if interested.

Another example of what can be done with a heritage cinema. https://www.facebook.com/paigntonpicturehouse

https://youtu.be/Ocdpe3Gvkm8?si=F9Zd-slVhcJOdmqL

Paignton Picture House Trust A new Trust to restore and reopen the Paignton Picture House (formerly Torbay Cinema), which closed i

Great to see the Empire Cinema in Sutton Coldfield receiving substantial investment and being back to life as the Royal Cinema by PDJ Cinemas.

First look inside new Royal Cinemas in Sutton Coldfield weeks before opening A sneak peek inside the Royal Cinemas in Sutton Coldfield as it it reaches the final few weeks of work before its grand opening in July

Now the election is over we can continue our discussions with our M.P Preet Gill to get the WMCA Mayor, Richard Parker onboard with this project and get it moving forward.

Our Conservative candidate Ashvir Sangha also gave his views on the Royalty and taking it forward.
https://x.com/ashvir_sangha/status/1805256089996288386?s=48

There are of course other local candidates who are welcome to support the Royalty project too.

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We had the opportunity recently to speak to Preet Gill the Labour candidate in the forthcoming election. Here is what was said about the Royalty.

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With the election coming up we have had the opportunity to talk recently to both our Labour and Conservative candidates Preet Gill and Ashvir Sangha. Once the election is out the way we should be able to continue our push to bring this building back into use. We hope that the next government will at last take action to prevent situations of listed building being abandoned and allowed to decay when there is often local groups able and willing to take them on and do things with them.

We're currently in the throes of deciding our next M.P but Preet Gill had undertaken to contact the WMCA prior to the election being called. We'll be waiting to see what all the local candidates have to say about getting this building back into use for the local community and demonstrating their and their parties commitment to the protection of listed buildings.

Another fire destroys a Grade II listed cinema. When are the government going to actually do something to ensure these buildings are protected and owners live up to their responsibilities to ensure they are protected?

Suspected arson destroys historic Smethwick cinema building Historians say the art deco building had "reflected the glamour of the cinema" in the 1930s.

Good to hear the Royalty features in at least Andy Streets Manifesto. (see below) WMCA have given strong support over the last few years and hopefully this means it will be ongoing.

'He also unveiled a series of policies designed to protect the region’s heritage, including:

Broker a new plan for the Crown, Electric Cinema and other gems in Station Street in Birmingham, to retain the cultural uses of the buildings.
Potentially use Compulsory Purchase powers to ensure priority projects such as the Harborne Royalty go ahead - even where the local council does not have the resources to do so'.

Be good to hear what the other politicians have to say about the Royalty and supporting other heritage which is also at risk. Meanwhile we're busy looking at options to bring in enabling funding along with further architectural proposals.

Crooked House pub ordered to be rebuilt after enforcement notice served by South Staffordshire Council.
Interestingly when we asked about details of the enforcement notice on the Royalty we were told it wouldn't be made public.

Crooked House: Owners of wonky pub ordered to rebuild An enforcement order requires the building to be built back to what it was prior to the fire.

This is the kind of support the Harborne Royalty deserves. Investing in our High Street, bringing cultural opportunities and jobs with longterm benefits.

On Sunday 28th January at 6.45pm in the Moor Pool Hall, our local cinema group Circle Cinema are showing the classic Sergio Leoni Spaghetti Western The Good The Bad And The Ugly (1966) starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach. Doors open at 6pm for hot food & refreshments. BYOD. Tickets on door £5 or £1 for members. Subtitled & also trialling a 15 min interval…

Calling at Compton Abbas aerodrome cafe we were intrigued by the old projector. Apparently Guy Ritchie has an interest there. Would be a great theme to have something similar at the Royalty cafe or restaurant.

Despite the seeming lack of action by the Council to progress a solution to the Royalty we've continued working on proposals for a joint community and residential or other partnership. Our architect has now developed a concept for all the community activities we've advocated and these fit with the requirement by BCC planning for both a community (yellow) and residential element (red space on BCC drawing). All the space we need is to the front of the existing building with some new build at the rear. The building would be restored to include a small cinema, larger auditorium doubling as a cinema, cafe, restaurant, meeting rooms etc. We'll continue to lobby the Council and see what happens.

Another listed building goes up in flames....

Fire at Trowse Victorian grade II listed pumping station The fire service says "swift action" stopped a blaze spreading in a derelict, listed building.

The Circle Cinemas next film is this Sunday 26th November at 7.15pm, and is The Unlikely Pilgramage of Harold Fry. This is a charity screening. Entry is free entry with all donations going to Cancer Research UK and Alzheimer Research UK.
Doors open at 6.15pm for hot food & refreshments. Trailer below.
Come along and support these charities and local cinema.

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY | Official Trailer Exclusively in Cinemas Now. Academy Award Winner Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is an uplifti...

This is how Liverpool deals with neglect to a listed building. Hasn't the Council the same powers as Liverpool? An Urgent Works Notice has been served on the Royalty. What next then?

Firm fined £80k for neglecting Liverpool historical building The Georgian building was meant to be turned into flats but was allowed to "rot", the council says.

Another fire at a heritage building. Government needs to take some action to ensure there is proper protection for these buildings.

PRESS RELEASE: SAVE calls for urgent building survey following fire at Ayr Station Hotel 26th September 2023 SAVE Britain's Heritage is shocked and saddened that a major fire took hold of Ayr Station hotel yesterday, the second fire to hit the historic building in just four months. SAVE calls for urgent survey of the building to understand structural condition post fire. The landmark bu...