I found this in the 'Birmingham Mail' dated 1st December 1998: “Traders are furious at the lack of Christmas lights and decorations in and around John Bright Street, the city’s former entertainment quarter. They claim the area is a “Christmas-free zone” this year and has not received the same assistance as other parts of the city such as New Street and Corporation Street. Adam Presdee, owner of Vinyl Matters record store in Lower Severn Street (just off John Bright Street), said: “We feel we have been given the cold shoulder this Christmas. The council has splashed out on decorations in other parts of the city but has chosen to forget about us. It’s as if we don’t exist anymore. We pay our business rates just like retailers in New Street but we’ve got nothing this year not even a few coloured bulbs - it’s pathetic.” Adam added: “A bit of street sparkle would have given a much-needed boost to trade.”
“Traders are furious at the lack of Christmas lights and decorations in and around John Bright Street, the city’s former entertainment quarter. They claim the area is a “Christmas-free zone” this year and has not received the same assistance as other parts of the city such as New Street and Corporation Street. Adam Presdee, owner of Vinyl Matters record store in Lower Severn Street (just off John Bright Street), said: “We feel we have been given the cold shoulder this Christmas. The council has splashed out on decorations in other parts of the city but has chosen to forget about us. It’s as if we don’t exist anymore. We pay our business rates just like retailers in New Street but we’ve got nothing this year not even a few coloured bulbs - it’s pathetic.” Adam added: “A bit of street sparkle would have given a much-needed boost to trade.”