July 13, 2017

Kings Heath Business Improvement District (Kings Heath BID) have today announced a 7-day period of grace to allow plans for Kings Heath Street Festival to return its traditional home on York Road.

The Kings Heath Street Festival, now in its 4th year, has become an unmissable annual community event, seeing thousands take to the streets for a free, fun-filled day for the whole family to celebrate Kings Heath, bringing local market traders, live music, traditional fun fair rides, a host of childrens activities, street food traders and outdoor bars to the area.

The feasibility of the upcoming Street Festival came under scrutiny with Birmingham City Councils new security guidelines for events taking place on Council owned property and land.

On Friday 7th July, Town Centre Manager Martin Mullaney informed all BID levy payers of the Kings Heath BID Board of Directors decision to look to move the location of the annual Kings Heath Street Festival from York Road, Heathfield Road and Silver Street, to The Parade car park on the High Street.

This was a difficult decision for the Board, given how popular the event was in its original format. However, the decision was taken in reaction to expert advice from;

Birmingham City Council Events Team; West Midlands Fire Service; West Midlands Police; Representative from Traffix (Temporary Traffic and Event Management company); Birmingham City Council Licensing & Planning team; and the BIDs private security company.

The announcement, which was shared via social media by business owners, resulted in an overwhelming response from the public and business owners of York Road and beyond.

As a result a board meeting was called yesterday, Tuesday 11th July, to address comments made by the businesses and members of public, from which the Directors have decided to have a seven-day period of grace and re-address the possibility of a Festival on York Road.

  

Martin Mullaney, Kings Heath BID Town Centre Manager said:

Moving the Street Festival from York Road was difficult decision, based on advice from the Emergency Services. However, we need to listen to what businesses and residents are saying. We will therefore have a second attempt at working with the York Road businesses and the emergency services to see if the festival can stay on York Road

Martin added further: Even if the September Street Festival stays on York Road, we are still keen to have similar events in other parts of Kings Heath, such as The Parade, the Village Square and even using our two schools: Bishop Challoner Secondary School and Kings Heath Primary.

 

Read the first Kings Heath BID official statement

The Kings Heath Street Festival 2017 will take place on Sunday 10 September 2017.

For more information visit www.enjoykingsheath.com