‘Locals need to benefit from legacy of Games’ Many still need convincing over 2022 Commonwealth event
RESIDENTS near the Alexander Stadium and proposed Perry Barr athletes village need convincing the 2022 Commonwealth Games will be good for their area, a city councillor has claimed.
Liberal Democrat Jon Hunt has urged organisers to engage locals in plans and ensure there is minimum disruption and maximum benefit for the Perry Barr area.
Alexander Stadium will be massively expanded over the next four years and the centre of Perry Barr will transformed with new housing and a rapid Sprint bus route.
It was revealed last week that Birmingham had won the Games.
They were originally awarded to Durban but the South African city was stripped of the Games in March after running into financial difficulties
That prompted a contest that came down to Birmingham and Liverpool, which was won by the West Midlands in September, thanks to Government backing.
Despite being the only city to submit a bid by the Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) deadline in September, Birmingham had to THE West Midland local authorities and their partners will need to raise 25 per cent of the overall £750 million cost of the event, with central government providing the rest. One plan to raise money locally is a hotel tax, which would see visitors pay a levy on their bills, the first such tax in the UK.
A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: “Council Leader Ian Ward has made it clear that there is a red line around the revenue budget, which pays for services, so that means services will not be affected by the authority paying for the Games.
“The whole project is a collaborative one with many other parties including, West Midland Combined Authority, Sandwell Council and three Local Enterprise Partnerships, so there’s a range of partners involved and the cost shared and worked out together.
“We are now also working with Department Culture Media and Sport and the Treasury, who obviously also want to offer value for money.”