Ladywoodis an inner-city district next to centralBirmingham.Historically inWarwickshire,in June 2004,Birmingham City Councilconducted a citywide "Ward Boundary Revision" to round-up the 39 Birmingham wards to 40. As a result of this, Ladywood Ward's boundaries were expanded to include the neighbouring areas ofHockley,Lee BankandBirmingham city centre.[2][3]
| Ladywood | |
|---|---|
  Ladywood Location within theWest Midlands | |
| Population | (2011 Ward)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SP055865 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Shire county | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode district | B16 |
| Dialling code | 0121 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Demographics
editAt the time of the2001 Population Census,23,789 people were living in the Ladywood Ward. The population density was 3,330 people per km2living within its 7.1 km2boundary, compared with 3,649 people per km2for Birmingham. Nearly half of the population of Ladywood (49%) consisted of ethnic minorities compared with 29.6% for Birmingham in general. The largest ethnic minority groups wereAfro-Caribbeanat 13.18%,Indianat 11.65%,Pakistaniat 10.64% and Mixed Race at 5.52%.[4][5]
Housing and land use
edit
The Ladywood ward combines areas of varying land-use, such that no generalisation is possible. There is thecity centre(the economically valuable Central business district), the affluentJewellery Quarter,andBroad Streetareas which have become fashionable for "luxury flat" living, theLee Bankarea (now known asPark Central) which has been fully redeveloped, and there is the remainder of the ward, which is Ladywood itself (here referred to as "remainder Ladywood" – i.e., what is Ladywood itself) which is relatively economically impoverished.
Most of "remainder Ladywood" was redeveloped during the 1960s, with decaying terraced slums being cleared to make way for new low-rise housing and high-rise flats. Although the newer homes were an improvement on their predecessors in terms of quality and sanitation, social problems became prevalent in much of the local area including car crime, drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and many of the other problems commonly associated with inner city areas across England.
More than 20 multi-storey blocks of council flats were built around Ladywood during the 1960s and 1970s; however, six of them were demolished in the early 2000s.[6]
More recently there has been investment in physical improvements to the area. Some tower blocks have been either demolished or improved, not least with introduction of concierge orCCTVsecurity systems. These and other such measures may have resulted in a reduction of antisocial behaviour.
There are plans to build high-density housing, possibly over 1,100 units, on 54 acres of derelict industrial land at Icknield Port. The proposals include old-style back-to-backs with internal courtyards raising fears of future slums.[7]
The area is served by two libraries;Spring Hill Library[8]and Ladywood Library.[9]
Politics
editThe ward is currently represented by twoLabourcouncillors at theBirmingham City Council:SirAlbert Boreand Kath Hartley.[10]
Ladywood Ward has adopted a "Committee Manager" and an "Interim Neighbourhood Manager". These are Kay Thomas and Sandra Lawrence respectively.[11]
Notable residents
edit- Walter Herbert Allcott(1889-1951), painter, born in Ladywood.
- Washington Irving(1783–1859), American writer. Inspired to write while living with family inBirmingham.[12]
- Alfred Joseph Knight(1888–1960), World War IVictoria Crossrecipient.
- J.R.R. Tolkien(1892–1973), author and academic lived in an area ofEdgbastonnow taken over by the extension of the Ladywood Ward boundaries.[13]
- Dorian Yates(b. 1962), IFBB Professional Bodybuilder and 6 x Mr. Olympia.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Birmingham Population 2011".Retrieved14 December2015.
- ^"Ladywood Ward"(PDF).Birmingham City Council (Economy Strategy and Information Team).[permanent dead link]
- ^"Roll Forward to 40 Wards".Birmingham City Council. 27 September 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 9 December 2012.Retrieved7 August2013.
- ^"Office for National Statistics – Ethnic Group Table".Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.Retrieved28 February2012.
- ^"Ladywood Ward Stats".Birmingham City Council. Archived fromthe originalon 22 February 2010.Retrieved7 January2010.
- ^emporis[usurped]
- ^"Councillor Fears Slums of the Future at Icknield Port Loop".Brumnews.co.uk.Retrieved28 February2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Spring Hill Library".Birmingham City Council.
- ^"Ladywood Library".Birmingham City Council.
- ^"Ladywood Councillors".GB-BIR: Birmingham.gov.uk. 26 August 2009.Retrieved28 February2012.
- ^"Ward Committees".Birmingham City Council.Retrieved7 January2010.
- ^"Ladywood Ward".Birmingham City Council. Archived fromthe originalon 22 February 2010.Retrieved7 January2010.
- ^"Tolkien's youth in Birmingham".Birmingham City Council.Retrieved7 January2010.