Monday 20 August 2012

Save Aston Arena Protest




HUNDREDS of Aston residents took to Victoria Square and the council house to protest against the demolition of a local sports centre.



Aston Arena is earmarked for closure and then demolition as a part of Birmingham City Council’s 15 year Area Action Plan. The council then plan to turn the Serpentine site, where the Arena sits, into a business park.



Despite claims of a 20,000 consultation, local residents are angry about the further depletion of sports services in the area.



Joining the protest was West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire who is calling for greater sporting provision in the poorest parts of the city, not less.



Nikki Sinclaire said,



“As a politician myself, I know how important it is to listen to my employers, that being my constituents.



You should never ignore the will of the people, and the people of Aston and the surrounding boroughs do not want this site removed from the local area.



We cannot let a facility like this be bulldozed into history



Why do the local council want to diminish such an important sporting provision? For the second city, this is shameful



Where will the Olympians of the future train? Do we not want gold medal winners in Aston?



The efforts of the local community in coming together for this protest today are fantastic. This is what big society is all about. The council need to listen and rethink their plans”.

The group handed a petition for the attention of the head of the council, Albert Bore.