Following last week’s tornado in Birmingham many roads are still closed, especially in the Sparkhill/Sparkbrook area. Many residents are asking what the council are playing at and slating them for their slow and half hearted response. They are wondering why, given that the damage was constrained over such a small area and how the council are lauding their Emergency Planning team’s effectiveness, many roads are still closed and many residents have not been able to return to their homes to survey the damage. It has been noted that the areas which seems to have been given the low priority are those predominantly populated by people of South Asian origin.

John Hemming, MP, has reported that police have been brought in from Smethwick and West Bromwich to prevent looting. Meanwhile the leader of the council is calling on central government to provide funds to pay for the clear up.