Wednesday 3 August 2011

When Just 50 People Count…

… Birmingham's historic Gun Quarter is now to be renamed because of concerns that it could be linked with the firearms crime which blights other parts of the city.
I’m still a little staggered by the thought that only a quarter of Birmingham is dubbed this…
Officials said residents no longer wanted to be associated with weapons of war.

Instead the district to the north and west of the city centre will be known as St George and St Chad in recognition of a local church and Birmingham's catholic cathedral.
*waits for all the atheists to rise up in protest*
Tim Huxtable, Birmingham City Council's Tory head of regeneration, said the decision had been taken after a public consultation, although one petition received by the council was signed by just 50 people objecting to Gun Quarter.
That’s all it takes? Just 50 people?
The name change was described as a 'terrible shame' by the owner of one of the few surviving gun makers in the district.

Simon Clode, managing director of Westley Richards and Co, said: 'This is an important part of Birmingham's history. The area is not well occupied by gun makers now, but it's still the Gun Quarter.'
Don’t worry, Simon, the rest of Birmingham is still full of gun enthusiasts…
The Very Reverend Canon Gerry Breen, Dean of St Chad's Cathedral, said the name change was 'almost as irrational as deciding not to call the Black Country the Black Country'.
Awwww, you had to go and give them ideas…

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well surely if more than 50 people object to the name change they#ll have to keep the old one? Just playing by their rules.

Rob said...

Simply by renaming it, all guns will disappear. By the power of words alone will Progressivism build a paradise here on earth, even in Brum.

Greencoat said...

The people who created the firearms industry that generated wealth, employment and superb craftsmanship were respectable, God-fearing Britons.

The people who have created the firearms crime which now blights Birmingham and other British cities are a different breed altogether.

staybryte said...

Rob

Sarcasm is no better than hate speech, you monster, and will not be tolerated.

Charles said...

Does this mean that we can shut down Arsenal because the name is redolent of gang warfare.

I reckon a petition at White Hart Lane would get more than 50 signatures...

Captain Haddock said...

Whilst they're at it ..

Why don't they re-name London's "China Town" ? .. just in case someone might come along & assume its a place where foot-binding & the rationing of children per family goes on ..

Or again, London's "Little Italy" (on the Regent's Canal) ? .. in case its ever construed as being a hot bed of Mafia activity ..

Oe even Cardiff's "Tiger Bay" ? .. after all, people might think the place is running wick with ferocious felines ..

You can't be TOO careful .. eh ?

blueknight said...

Chances are that the old name will survive. An area of Southampton is known as Stag Gates even though the gates and the stags were removed 90 years ago.
The red light area, Derby Road, was home to large numbers of West Indian families w know by one and all as The Jungle. It was rechristened Nicholstown, but no one calls it that

Angry Exile said...

I've always been surprised that The Black Country has lasted this long.

Anonymous said...

Could just 50 people get the whole place renamed Birmingstan ?

JuliaM said...

"Well surely if more than 50 people object to the name change they#ll have to keep the old one? Just playing by their rules."

Worth a try!

"Simply by renaming it, all guns will disappear. "

That does seem to be the way they 'think', doesn't it?

"Does this mean that we can shut down Arsenal because the name is redolent of gang warfare.

I reckon a petition at White Hart Lane would get more than 50 signatures..."


:D

"Chances are that the old name will survive. "

Oh, no doubt!