Everybody’s got memories of ‘The Ramp’. Grabbing a Maccies after a night out, or meeting up before a shopping spree in the Bullring, it even features in a Stacey Barnfield artwork that you can go see at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. For true Brummies, it’s one of the most recognisable spots in the city centre.
Thanks to businesses like McDonald’s and HSBC, as well as an entrance into New Street Station and the shops at Grand Central, it attracts huge numbers of visitors every day. But while it’s often perfect for people-watching and soaking up Birmingham chaos, it’s also got a bit of a bad reputation.
Scroll through social media, and it won’t take you long to find viral clips of the landmark off New Street—from violence to drug use and aggressive begging. While it’s often funny to some, many now choose to avoid the area altogether. But what if things could change?
Stephenson Place, as The Ramp is officially known, makes many feel uncomfortable, or even unsafe. This is why the Birmingham City Council is conducting a short survey into the infamous ramp area to better understand how people perceive the environment and safety.
They want to know what you really think (all responses are anonymous) about one of the city centre’s most iconic meeting spots—with questions about its cleanliness, lighting, safety and appearance. The survey will only take about 3 to 5 minutes and may help improve the area for future generations.
Have your say on The Ramp! We want to hear from you. What’s your experience of Stephenson Place, known as The Ramp? Share your thoughts in our quick, anonymous two‑minute survey and help shape future improvements. Every voice helps us improve this busy gateway into the city centre.
Just some of the questions to expect include: ‘How safe do you feel when visiting the ramp area?’, ‘Would you make any improvements to the ramp area?’, and ‘How visually appealing do you find the ramp area?’ We don’t know how long the survey will be open for, so get your answers in as soon as possible.
To have your say on Stephenson Place and the ramp area of Birmingham, head here.