Rush to sell assets for short-term gain?
DEAR Editor, The announcement that council leader John Clancy was “selling our city to many of China’s leading investors” ( Birmingham Post, September 8) and had secured a £2 billion deal with a major Chinese developer “bringing good jobs and quality homes to Birmingham” is, on the surface, good news for Birmingham.
However, as is usual with a council not given to good dialogue, there are many concerns that need explaining.
Given that the wonderfully named Country Garden developers are profit driven, we need to ask how much money will flow out to the Guangdong-based developer and, therefore, not to our own British developers.
Given that the Post has recently highlighted the inadequacies of the planning process in Birmingham: most recently contraventions in high-rise guidelines and the weakness of the Planning Committee, are we about to see an explosion in high-rise living which was condemned in the past and led to high-rise blocks being demolished?
During the 19th and 20th centuries enlightened benefactors such as the Chamberlains, Martineaus and Cadburys recognised that the quality of life is determined by access to open space, recreation fields, allotments, libraries, community centres and so on.
They bequeathed much to the people of Birmingham and it is we who own the land which will be sold off to developers through Birmingham Property Services.
There is no “openness, transparency and accountability” regarding how much of our land and buildings are disappearing into private hands for short-term gain.
As the notion of “Natural Health” (both physical and mental) was flagged in the same week as the deal was signed, it would seem pertinent to state that never have the assets bequeathed to us been more necessary with the projections of an increased population.
There is a dilemma regarding housing but Birmingham City Council stands to make horrendous mistakes if it rushes into selling off assets that cannot be replaced.
History will judge it harshly if it gets it wrong. B Husband, Quinton