sPARKHILLM A I L 01

/11/

2010

spar

khill

mai

l.co.

uk

RESTRAURANT LEFT ABANDONED

The Presidents was known to be a top restaurant and a great landmark until it was burnt down on December 31st 2009. Five fire crews from Highgate, Billesley, Haymills, Ladywood and Woodgate valley where called to Stafford and Warwick road in the early hours of new year’s day as flames ripped through the build-ing and shot through the roof. Fire fighters struggled to con-trol the blaze in the icy weather

wick road and has been placed in the center of statford road. Crime rates in sparkhill are very high and with such a big landmark, in such bad cond-tions where most visters trav-el the area looks even worse. Members of the public have been complaining but nothing has been done and their now thinking will anything ever be done as a year has now passed and the build-ing is stil how it was a year ago.

public complain as famous president balti still a burnt abandoned wreck

Burnt : The presidents balti takeway still how it was a year ago, the day it was burnt Picture: Imran

Birmingham city council take action > P7

WIN A YEAR’S SALARYCHECKOUT WITH PAYMATE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN 20M

VISIT PAYMATE.CO.UK/WIN

Chairity Tournament A football match that helped thoose in need > P19

Chirismas crazyThe birmingham lights now up > P8

FEATURES Eid Mela’s Back Birmingham Eid Mela returns to Cannon Hill Park to celebrate the special occasion with its culture, food, sport, art and entertainment. Now in its tenth year, the festival is bigger and better than ever with some-thing for everyone > P18

NEWS Fireworks out of controlErdington held the fireworks display once again but this time was out of control, with fireworks heading all over the place > P15-16

EATING OUT Akbar’s better than everonly oppened reccently and al-ready attracting plenty of asian customers with its authentic flavours. Already known to be one of the best restaurants in birmingham > P23

BUSINESSBirmingham has had the biggest increase in the number of people claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance according to a study on the areas hit worst by the recession > P19

COUNCIL Midland transport on the increase new police operation, designed to target crime and anti-social behaviour on birmingham busses in the run-up to Christmas > P21

PAYMATE

conditions and took over ten hours to take full control of the blaze. The landmark address was one of the first pubs in the midlands, a wonderful restau-rant and started life as a three story house however now is a half Burt abandoned building. The fire took place on Decem-ber 2009 and now is October 2010 but still is how it was the day it was burnt down, mem-bers of the public thought the landmark to be a nice place to eat and now just gives the area

a bad reputation and hope for a change but nothing is happening. Not even the Birmingham city council has put foward plans for this historic bulding, The presidents is on Staford road, the heart of sparkhill, where many local shops from clothing to restaurants have been placed where vast amounts of people from the locals to those who travel quite a distance just to shop there. So it is of imporance that there should be a change, the balti ex-tends from straford road to war-

By Imran Ahmed

42p

1st November 2010 4

back to raise more than ever Ghazal charity tournament

Neighbourhood office movesOn the 24th may 2010 the sparkbrook neighbour-hood office moved from the ground floor of Green-coat house to a new built office on Mole street de-pot, only a few minutes away from the old office. They deal with council tax, housing benefit enquires and other housing enquries As the new office has only been moved a few minutes away from the old office with the only difference of new decor and fully air con-ditioned, Birmingham city council now regret making the move when the funding of it could have been put to a better cause. The area in which the office has been moved, Sparkhill has a high crime rate and a bad repu-tation, the council are now thinking the should have been used to improve the area but ain’t it abit to late.

SHOP ONLINE AT IFASHION.COMOffer for limited period only on selected items, visit website for more details

By Imran Ahmed

Buses in west midlands have been getting bad press over the last few years from the media and the genral public.The anti-social behaviour of mid-land busses have just been getting worse with rob-bery, vandalism and fights talking place on a bus where many public members wish to sit in peace. Crime rates in the area are very high and still increasing as christmas arrives. Members of

the public have been complaining to the birmingham city council for quite a while but still no change has been made. The police do intened to take action however are talking to long as they think the matter is not as seri-ous as members of the public say. If action does not take place now then the problem will only increase and these law-breakers are going to get away with it.

Just one ; one of the busses affected by anti-social behaviour is sparkhill picture ; Imran

The Charity Event of the year has come again, the teams for the football tourna-ment have been put together and the organiser, Shozzol Miah has set a high-er target to raise for cancer research. Ghazal Miah was diagnosed with leu-kaemia at the age of thirteen, to many he left a legacy which many people can only dream of. He was an inspi-ration to those around him and made hundreds of friends in his short life. Although his battle with leukaemia was long and arduous, Ghazal’s spirit and determination was never defeated. Those who met Ghazal were astounded by his Attitude despite the problems he faced. The event will take place at the uni-versity of Birmingham on the 21st of July, the Black Stallions (Sparkhill United fc) are the reigning champi-ons after clinching the title in the fi-nal last year and hope to hold on to it. This year twenty five top teams have been put together to battle for one trophy, all members of the public are invited to watch the intense games, the money contributed from entry frees, refreshments, games and donations will all be put towards the char-ity in hope to meet this year’s target and help those who are not as lucky as you.

Bus crime on the increase

PARKHILLM A I LS

Office move : neihbour-hood of-fice makes a move a few roads away

M A

I L

PAR

KH

ILL

s

POST

ING

WH

AT E

VE

R

TH

E W

EAT

HE

R

WE

’LL

BE

MID

LA

ND

S N

O.1

NE

WSP

APE

R

WIN

TE

R O

R S

UM

ME

R

YO

U C

AN

CO

UN

TO

N U

SW

WW

.SPA

RK

HIL

LM

AIL

.CO

M