Skidder Shorts 46 - All White in Smethwick!

I have written in this blog about the ludicrous property development ploy dressed-up as some sort of "heritage project" at the old Chance Glass site on Spon Lane. The Chance Heritage Trust (aka "The Chancers") want to build "luxury" flats on an area which is clearly industrial and should remain so - noting its horrible position right next to the M5 motorway flyover (and a canal and railway line).

The Chancers managed to screw some grants out of various bodies for this mad scheme plus support from bent Sandwell Labour, although I raised questions about how open they had been with regard to actual ownership of the site - indeed a large part of the area is still leased by A1 Skip Hire - big mate's of former Labour MP Tom Watson and Smethwick's own "Mr Labour", Gurinder Josan (Skidders passim). Suffice to say here that there have been murky goings on ...

Meanwhile, and as with green space, bent Sandwell Labour are trying to flog off any local "heritage" to pay for the multi-millions splurged on the Commonwealth Games fiasco etc:

All went very quiet before Covid but the Chancers have suddenly burst back into life. They have set up a project called "Made in Smethwick", and managed to get Government money for "guided walks, workshops" etc with the help and support of West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Why the pivot to interest in "Smethwick" all of a sudden is unclear. And the grotty dump already has the Smethwick Heritage Centre Trust, which is a registered charity purporting to also pimp the local heritage ride (and crying-out for funds as Covid caused a long closure of their museum in Victoria Park).

Smethwick is, of course, a multi-ethnic area which has, in the past been blighted by appalling racism. Remember the horrendous window signs, no b*****, no P****, no dogs? Wouldn't it be great if money was flooding into the local area - exactly as the Tory Government intended with this grant scheme specifically targeting sh*thole towns:

"We recognise that each area has its unique challenges requiring unique solutions. So each pilot will empower places to explore how best to tackle local challenges– whether through building skills, supporting local businesses, supporting communities and places, or providing employment support – to build communities where people want to live, work and visit, while allowing government to evaluate how best to ensure levelling up right across the country." (UK Government website.)

How a few organised walking tours* and talk shops for the bourgeoisie in their Berghaus cagoules will help Smethwick is a moot point, but the good news [sic] is that The Chancers and WMCA realised the couldn't take the chance of local scum running the show (and making any dosh out of it) and so they have contracted with a private company just 184 miles away to "develop a programme" for the downtrodden locals.** Smethwick may be vile but the "delivery partners" are Dig Ventures Limited, based in London according to their Twitter etc, but actually registered in the lovely, touristy, north-eastern town of Barnard Castle - now famous as an eye-testing centre par excellence! WHY?

Just take a look at the link below. The 17 members of the Dig Ventures team - or "peeps" as they prefer to call themselves - are pictured and all appear to be distinctly white. Not only have they kept out non-whites (a very significant portion of the local Smethwick community) but, unlike the landlords of yore, they have let the dogs in, even a dead one! And when you open the link, click through to the 8-member Advisory Board - again all white!

https://digventures.com/about-us/team/

Nothing surprises me with The Chancers, but how on earth can Andy Street's WMCA - supposedly representing a vibrant multi-ethnic area - allow an all-white firm 184 miles away to cash-in telling Smethwick folk their history - especially when the money is specifically said to be for "levelling-up"? How is giving loot to white folk in London/Barnards Castle either appropriate for the nature of the project or financially defensible given the stated purpose of the Government fund? 

This smacks of internal and intellectual COLONIALISM of the very worst kind. Barnard Castle's got the mine, but Smethwick's got the shaft!

* If you want heritage walking tours look no further than Smethwick's own Ian Jelf, one of the best in the business!

** Incidentally, I was at the launch last week for a project by the LOCAL Black Country Museum relating to the arrival locally of Gujarati folk (directly from India or from Kenya). The "delivery partner" is based in WOLVERHAMPTON. 

THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - COMMUNITY NEWS - READ THE SKIDDER, KIDDER!

**** Phone No: 07470 624207 ****

Email: thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

Facebook: Julian Saunders  

Facebook Group: The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth To Power!

Twitter: Publisher: @CrowMultimedia; Julian Saunders: @SandwellSkidder            

Post:  Jules Saunders, 11 Chelworth Road, Birmingham B38 0BG

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN TROLLED BY DICKHEAD DARREN COOPER DECEASED!

LEGAL NOTICE (Version 3 from 14th February, 2021)

I cannot list every previous mention of individuals referred to in the entirety of this blog. Where I refer to a specific story please follow the supplied hyperlink since this forms legal justification for later comments. Similarly references to “posts passim” and to earlier posts mean any individuals concerned about purported defamatory or otherwise unlawful material must read later posts in the context of earlier posts. Full information can also be supplied within a reasonable time upon application via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

In most cases we try to give the subjects of these blog posts the opportunity to comment on our journalism pre-publication to ensure the accuracy of our work.

Every now and again we make a genuine honest error and get something wrong. If an error in the blog affects you please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com and we shall use our best endeavours to publish appropriate corrections forthwith.

We have had to remove the direct comment facility from this blog due to the activity of a West Bromwich woman but we are pleased to receive comments via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com , on Twitter via our publishers @CrowMultimedia or via our dedicated Facebook Group: “The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth to Power!” We are happy to publish any sensible commentary and offer a right of reply where applicable.

If you consider that anything written is defamatory or otherwise unlawful please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com or telephone 07470 624207 forthwith. If your complaint has merit we shall endeavour to make immediate amends.