National Trust - A Brum Conspiracy #2

May I begin with a short story. A few months ago I was in The Brook pub at Elcocks Brook. The barperson was probably only 18, and I told her a story about an occasion years ago when Robert Plant and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin arrived there late one evening. She found the story amusing but asked, "who are Led Zeppelin?"

Fame is ephemeral and despite the local legacy media pumping out stuff about Ozzy Osbourne every day, it will come as a surprise to some that he is not quite in the Mozart league. Even a couple of weeks ago two teams on University Challenge were unable to identify his admittedly crappy song, "Crazy Train".

Birmingham already has a statue of the cat-killer - and his fellow band members in Black Sabbath - but a crazed bunch of campaigners want more. However, they want the taxpayer to cough up for a second memorial site in the City Centre - in Station Street. Ironically, the cat-killer himself had form for tax evasion in the States LOL!

In Part One of this story I highlighted the disgusting behaviour of the National Trust - particularly their secret use of members' subscriptions. You can read the whole ghastly story via the link below but, in short, the woke Trust teamed up with completely unelected and self-appointed campaigners to propose a plan to save supposedly "historic" sites on Station Street in Birmingham City Centre, and to pedestrianise it. This, even though it is right next to a major transport hub, New Street Station.

https://crowmultimedia.blogspot.com/2025/07/

In Part One I wrote about the listing of The Crown. The obsessive behind the X (Twitter) Account has been bombarding the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, with posts about the campaign - but she has repaid his manic efforts by refusing the listing of The Crown! [More anon.]

I also pointed out that the National Trust has been deeply involved in a major Brum heritage f*** up - the re-opening of The Roundhouse which has now, er, closed. Since then the Trust has done it again - this time losing management control of Coughton Court, 18 miles south of Station Street. It fell out with the family, and has been kicked out.

The Trust has linked itself with self-appointed campaigners despite their tactics and absurd output. See my further post:

https://crowmultimedia.blogspot.com/2026/02/save-station-street-campaigners-back.html

The so-called campaigners state that the secret National Trust plan was being discussed, secretly, with Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Network Rail. Accordingly Crow Multimedia sent Freedom of Information requests to all three organisations.

Network Rail claims to have no knowledge of the campaign whatsover.

Our extra tier of unnecessary local government, WMCA, appear to have some knowledge that the National Trust were up to something, but claim not to be involved:

Given the stunning incompetence of Labour Birmingham City Council it was no surprise that their response was the oddest:

It is not clear to me whether BCC officers actually attended the secret meeting. But clearly the Trust was trying to subvert democratic processes though with sick "behind closed doors" meetings on matters which should not be their concern.

Incidentally, the Trust's new pals have said recently that people are actually leaving Brum because of  "car violence" and HMO's! (In fact, the population of Brum is increasing.) But maybe the Trust should reflect on dealing with weirdos insofar as its own, flagging, reputation is concerned,

Anyone who has read Part One of this blog (link above) will have seen the Trust's evasive and mealy-mouthed response to very legitimate questions. I wrote to the Trust to see if they had any further comment (copy blog posts sent with the email):

"Further to my unsatisfactory correspondence with xxxxxxxx on the above subject (8th to 10th) July, 2025 I continue to write on this subject and so feel the need to give the NT to comment, if so advised. I would respectfully remind you that I am also a member of the Trust.

Following your unhelpful initial responses I made Freedom of Information requests to Birmingham City Council (BCC), West Midlands Combined Authority and Network Rail all of whom basically denied all knowledge of your "Report" (which is possibly inaccurate). The only response of interests was from BCC (copy attached) [copy above]

Question 1 - when and where was this presentation and who was in attendance?

I refer to my recent blog post also attached. Noting the Trust's collaboration with the Electric Cinema/Station Street self-appointed  "campaigners" in general, and with Mr John in particular:

Question 2 - does the Trust also back the campaign's political posting which is rabidly left-wing?

Question 3 - do you approve of the (false) allegations of arson being made by Mr John and the campaigners?

Question 4 - does the Trust back Mr John's "social media pile-on" against  a named employee of Glenbrook Property, the would-be developer of Station Street?

Of course, if there is anything further you wish to add about this matter, kindly do so."

Finally, the "campaigners" have stated that "all" political parties contesting the May election support the "campaign". Of course, politicians will say anything to try and get a few votes but I have sent the following press enquiry to Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, the Green Party, and Reform. I will let you know any response!

"PRESS ENQUIRY - STATION STREET, BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE

Some self-appointed “campaign groups” are actively flooding social media in an effort to “save”, variously, the long defunct terrible pub formerly known as The Crown, the former porno and independent “Electric Cinema”, and The Old Rep. These groups are also anti-motoring fanatics and have the further ambition of closing Station Street to traffic despite its immediate proximity to a major regional/national transport hub, New Street Station.

These groups purport to be “organisations” despite some of their leaders seeking to remain anonymous. They are “socialists” and so, of course, have no money. Despite the economic position of Brum they actually seek to burden the taxpayer with the future costs of their absurd plans (which include, for example, re-opening The Crown as a pub in competition to Wetherspoons opposite, or even as a museum).

These groups are putting it about on social media that ALL political parties standing in the May elections support their crazed projects (despite it being unclear what their future plan is). If that is indeed so, please answer the following:

1   Are you aware that the initial plan of Glenbrook Properties includes an independent cinema within the suggested redevelopment?

2  If Glenbrook (or their successors in title) apply for planning permission for the suggested development, are not all candidates advocating against its project (without even seeing the plans) potentially debarring themselves from sitting on any Planning Committee meetings deciding on any future application - should they be elected?

3   The non-elected campaigners are insisting on the Council using taxpayers' money to CPO various parts of Station Street. Does your party hold professional advice that this is legally possible at the present time? If so, what is the projected cost to hard-pressed taxpayers to buy the land?

4   Unless someone comes up with a different proposal there is no absolutely no possibility of the Electric or The Crown making a profit. Thus they will need to be bailed out by the taxpayer - probably indefinitely. Look at failures in Brum like the Old Grammar School/Saracens Head in Kings Norton and The Roundhouse when money is simply thrown at projects without a viable future business plan. What does your party say the annual endowment to bail out Station Street vanity projects is likely to be for, say, the next thirty years?

5   Having explained the likely cost to the taxpayer in questions 3 and 4 above, what services will your party cut so as to be able to fund these projects? Please be specific.

6   Has your party prepared an economic assessment plan for these projects more generally - particularly the plans to harm major transport infrastructure - and, if so, will you release it?"

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