Planners hit back at councillors over £10m square revamp
CITY council leaders are refusing to back down in their battle with the planning committee over a controversial £10 million revamp of Centenary Square.
Proposals, which include 43 tall lighting columns, a major water feature and minor changes surrounding the historic Hall of Memory, were put on hold following stinging criticism from planning committee members.
They argued that the lights would block major events and attractions such as the big wheel, ice rink, Christmas market and concerts.
They also highlighted the council’s poor track record maintaining water features such as the so-called ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’ in Victoria Square and called on a redesign.
But council bosses have instead come back with a detailed defence of the scheme highlighting how the Square will be able to host major events and structures and using diagrams to show the available event space. They said they had consulted event cerns.
They even provided a parade route to show how veterans would be able to march to the Hall of Memory on Remembrance Sunday to lay wreaths after grassed areas outside the Library of Birmingham were removed and the square levelled.
The only concession was that plans organisers who had no con- to move slabs dedicated to Birmigham’s Victoria Cross heroes have been dropped and they will stay in place.
It is also argued the water feature – a shallow pool with water jets which can be drained for events to take place – was “an important part of the overall design and will be an attractive feature for the square”.
The report concluded: “The points of concern raised by members have been addressed.”
Planning committee member Coun Gareth Moore (Con, Erdington), previosuly criticised the plans, saying: “It’s just a few trees, over sized street lights and a paddling pool.
“That’s all it is for £10.4 million, I’ve seen more interesting dishwater. It seems very cluttered, very claustrophobic.”
The £10.4 million development is being funded by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and is part of the Enterprise Zone initiative designed to attract and grow business in the area.
The planning committee meets this Thursday to decide whether to approve the scheme.