Dear Editor, I read the article from the Lady Mayoress of West Bromwich where she makes the point of the rise of Manchester as against Birmingham.
In Manchester all the smaller towns such as Bury, Bolton, Stockport and Sale encompass the big city theory and therefore Greater Manchester gains world recognition as a city, whereas this cannot be said of our area.
They benefit from that world recognition.
If towns such as Dudley, West Bromwich, Redditch came under the umbrella of a Greater Birmingham, these would benefit by attracting inward investment they can’t possibly gain from being part of a fragmented area.
Saying they are part of the West Midlands means nothing to a foreign company.
They could keep their individualism but have the benefit of a huge area comprising over five million people to fight against companies and organisations such as the BBC and others.
We have lost so much industry that a concerted effort from a well-known brand such as Greater Birmingham would benefit us all.
Birmingham is known around the world and with some more advertising its great workforce and products would attract inward investment to help the area.
All around the world smaller towns are associating themselves with their near big city to show on the map where they are and that they have the voice of a large urban area to back them.
The West Midlands has had its day and is not working.
If the region went forward under the flag of Greater Birmingham I am sure all would benefit. If you ask a foreign investor where the West Midlands was he would not have a clue – but mention Birmingham and he has instant recognition of where on the map we are and the past history of a great British name.
Ivor Roth
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