The latest news, pics and chat from the Cadbury community

At 4.50pm today Kraft announced to the Stock Exchange that their offer to buyout Cadbury had been accepted by 71.7% of the shareholders. At the same time bournvillevillage.com made its way to Bournville Green to get some reaction from local businesses.

We spoke to Sue Hummpage and Louise Griffiths who both run shops right next to the now American-owned factory. They both expressed concern for the impact the takeover might have on the local economy:

The Unite union are organising a bus trip to lobby the government and MPs as part of their campaign to protect jobs and investment at Cadbury’s Bournville factory and other their other UK facilities.

Tomorrow is the day that a majority of shareholders are likely to agree to Kraft’s takeover. Unite fear that the debt incurred by Kraft, estimated to be around £22 billion, will force them to make savings through cuts.  In their press release Unite say: “Kraft has declined to provide details of its plans and to give the workforce confidence that they will not be facing the axe.”

Transport details: Two coaches have been arranged for Tuesday 2nd February and will pick up at Cadbury’s Bournville site at 7.45am and drop off at Victoria Tower Gardens, near the House of Lords SW1. Return at approximately 2.30pm.

The contact, should you wish to join the coach or are looking for further information is John Flavin – Unite convenor at Cadbury (07966 723 451 or 0121 451 4000 Ex 3701).

A local radio producer has got in touch with Bournville Village to tell us that he is making a radio documentary for the BBC about the area. He’s looking for participants:

Do you and your family have a special connection with Cadbury and Bournville? If so, I would love to have a chat with you. I have been commissioned to make a special documentary for BBC Radio WM to tell the story of Cadbury and Bournville through the eyes of families, former workers and members of the Bournville community.

So if you feel you might have a unique story or strong family connection to Cadbury and/or Bournville – then please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

You can call or text Chris on 07778 647080 or send an email to: chris@chrisgreenmedia.co.uk.

Bournville Village has compiled a short video showing some of the debate at last night’s BBC Radio WM Cadbury debate at Rowheath Pavilion. Although the debate saw a packed audience tackle wider issues such as the decline in British manufacturing and the impact on Birmingham’s economy most were worried about the impact on the Bournville suburb itself.

Included in the video is 88 year old Stanley Holland who argued against legislation to curb future takeovers of this kind and Paul Clarke, who leads the Rowheath Pavilion Christian Community, who drew on his experience of having worked at Cadbury’s to talk about the passion the community has for the firm. Former Birmingham Evening Mail editor Steve Dyson spoke up to warn that “we’re in danger of sounding like trouble makers.”

Talking to Bournville Village before the debate Professor Carl Chinn told us he thought people would be angry about what was happening to manufacturing in the West Midlands:

You’ll be able to hear the full debate on BBC Radio WM this Friday (29th January) at 9am, repeated on Sunday (31st Janaury) at 1pm.

(Lord Digby Jones speaking exclusively to bournvillevillage.com after tonight’s debate about the Kraft takeover of Cadbury)

Passions ran high at a packed Rowheath Pavilion on Tuesday evening as experts and residents clashed over the best way to preserve Bournville’s future in the light of the Kraft takeover of Cadbury.

An expert panel that included Professor Carl Chinn and Lord Digby Jones spent two hours discussing the repercussions that would be felt across Birmingham should Kraft cut production at the Bournville factory. Lord Digby Jones, speaking to Bournville Village ahead of the debate said: “If I’d been working here I would feel insecure and angry”. He went on to say that Kraft got Cadbury “on the cheap” but that it did demonstrate that Britain was an attractive business environment.

That position was echoed by Jerry Blackett, leader of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce who stated in the debate that Birmingham should welcome Kraft and demonstrate to them that we have expertise worth investing in: “we’re worried about Kraft because we haven’t eyeballed them yet, we haven’t met them”.

But other panel members remained unconvinced with Carl Chinn and Digby Jones clashing over whether a policy of protectionism would help preserve British manufacturing. Professor Chinn received a warm welcome from the crowd and gave a rousing speech exclaiming: “enough is enough. We’ve watched our region be devastated. Manufacturing matters”

Emotional contributions came from the many Bournville residents present. But even here there were opposing views. Elisabeth Edwards wanted simple answers as to why the takeover was allowed to happen whilst 88 year old Stanley Holland claimed “business is business”.

Below are some images from the night. We’ll have further updates and exclusive video from the debate over the coming days.