Nechells
2279005
217975650
2008-06-08T16:12:31Z
Runnermonkey
4118811
reverting unsourced and possibly bad faith edits
{{Infobox UK place|
|country = England
|official_name= Nechells
|latitude= 52.501
|longitude= -1.860
|map_type= West Midlands
|population = 27,969 (2001 Population Census)
|population_density = 25.8 per ha
|metropolitan_borough= [[Birmingham]]
|metropolitan_county= [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
|region= West Midlands
|constituency_westminster= [[Birmingham Ladywood (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham Ladywood]]
|post_town= BIRMINGHAM
|postcode_district= B7
|postcode_area= B
|dial_code= 0121
|os_grid_reference= SP095895
|Ambulance= [[West Midlands Ambulance Service]]
|static_image= [[Image:Nechells Swimming Baths.jpg|250px]]
|static_image_caption= The [[listed building|grade II listed]] public baths, opened [[June 22]], [[1910]], on Nechells Park Road.
}}
'''Nechells''' is an area in inner-city [[Birmingham]], [[England]], with a population of 27,969 (as of 2001). It is also a [[ward (politics)|ward]] within the [[Government of Birmingham, England#Districts|formal district]] of [[Ladywood]]. Nechells includes parts of the city centre. It is adjacent to [[Saltley, Birmingham|Saltley]].
==History==
Nechells became a densely populated area during the 19th century, with mass development of houses and factories taking place. Mass immigration occurred from [[Ireland]].
After [[World War II]], further immigration occurred from parts of the [[Commonwealth]], mostly the [[West Indies]] and the [[India]]n Sub Continent.
By the 1950s, however, many of the homes in Nechells had been reduced to "slums" and were unfit for human habitation. People were living in homes without electricity, running water, bathrooms or indoor toilets. The Gas Works caused a continuous unpleasant smell.
The face of Nechells changed dramatically during the 1960s, with the decaying Victorian terraces being cleared and the area redeveloped with new houses and tower blocks. Some families remained in the new homes that had been built around Nechells, but there weren't enough new homes to rehouse all of the area's original residents, and as a result some families moved to new housing estates like [[Castle Vale]] and [[Chelmsley Wood]]. The new homes were certainly a big improvement on their predecessors, but if anything the Nechells area became worse.
Since the 1980s, Urban Renewal has seen many of the postwar houses and flats around Nechells demolished to make way for new low-rise homes, which are a mix of private and rented tenure.
==Geography==
The suburbs of [[Little Bromwich]], [[Adderley Park]], [[Duddeston]] and [[Bordesley, West Midlands|Bordesley]] are located within the ward.
==Demographics==
The [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Population Census]] found that 27,969 people lived in the ward with a population density of 3,015 people per km² compared with 3,649 people per km² for Birmingham. 62.6% (17,142) of the ward's population consists of ethnic minorities compared with 29.6% for Birmingham.
Whilst it is notable in Birmingham for being the area with the highest rate of unemployment, crime and poverty, it has been the focus of a great deal of urban regeneration by [[Birmingham City Council]] and the former [[Birmingham Heartlands Development Corporation]].
;Ethnicity
*White - 10,284 (37.42%)
*Black - 2,644 (9.65%)
*Asian - 12,700 (46.38%)
*Chinese or Other - 539 (1.97%)
*Mixed Race - 1,018 (4.60%)
==Transport==
There are three railway stations located within the ward. The largest is [[Birmingham Moor Street station|Moor Street station]] in Birmingham city centre. The other two are [[Duddeston railway station]] and [[Adderley Park railway station]].
==Places of interest==
The ward includes the local landmarks of [[Millennium Point]] and [[Aston University]]. Nechells is also home to [[Star City, Birmingham|Star City]] - a vast entertainment complex that houses shops, restaurants, a 22-lane bowling centre (Tenpin, formerly Megabowl), a casino and [[Vue (cinema)|Vue]] Cinema which, with forty screens, is one of the largest multiplexes in Europe.
The ward is served by the grand [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=331&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=6&MENU_ID=1760 Bloomsbury Library] on Nechells Parkway. It is also served by [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=378&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=7&MENU_ID=188 Nechells Play Centre] and the Nechells Green Community Centre. Sports facilities are provided at the Heartlands High Community Leisure Centre and the Nechells Community Sports Centre.
Nechells Baths on Nechells Park Road is a [[listed building|Grade II listed building]]. Plans for baths to be constructed in the Nechells ward came about in 1900 when representatives from the ward pressured the council into providing public baths for the ward. However, the [[Birmingham Baths Committee]] were already committed to other projects in the city and were unable to immediately attend the matter.
In 1903, a site at the corner of Nechells Park Road and Aston Church Road was acquired and in 1908, approval was given for the construction of baths on the site. Construction commenced that year and the baths were opened [[June 22]], [[1910]]. Facilities provided included a large swimming bath with a spectators' gallery and suites of private baths for men and women. The baths were immediately popular among the locals.
Refurbishment work to the baths was completed in May 2007 by Welconstruct. It cost £5.5 million, with funding from [[Advantage West Midlands]], the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]] and ERDF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_headline=makeover-is-complete-for-nechells-baths%26method=full%26objectid=19078215%26siteid=50002-name_page.html |title=Makeover is complete for Nechells Baths |publisher=Birmingham Post |date=2007-05-10 |accessdate=2007-05-11}}</ref>
==Politics==
The ward is served by three [[New Labour|Labour]] councillors; Tahir Ali, Rashid Chauhdry and Yvonne Mosquito.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=6187&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=11746&EXPAND=5461 |title=Councillors' Advice Bureaux - Nechells Ward |publisher=Birmingham City Council |accessdate=2008-05-30}}</ref>
Nechells has adopted a Ward Support Officer with the current holder of the title being Maz Dad.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/nechells Birmingham City Council: Nechells Ward]
*''The City of Birmingham Baths Department 1851 - 1951'', J. Moth, 1951
==External links==
*[http://www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/ Millennium Point]
*[http://www.aston.ac.uk/ Aston University]
{{Wards of Birmingham}}
[[Category:Wards of Birmingham, England]]