‘Frustration’ as station’s restoration still on hold
WORK to restore the monumental Curzon Street Railway Station building remains suspended while HS2 tries to find additional sources of finance to finish the job.
The grade I-listed 1838 building first slipped behind scaffolding in September last year, when Birmingham City Council leader Cllr Ian Ward promised its restoration, led by HS2, was the sign of the city “entering a golden decade” and that the work would “secure its place as part of the new Curzon Street Station for generations to come”.
But in late May it was announced that “serious unforeseen structural issues” had led to work being “paused”.
The original restoration scheme was due to have been finished this month, meaning it could then have been seen during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Clearing up the area would also have been good news for The Wood
man pub next door where general manager Will Young has been battling to keep the 125-year-old pub noticed, given that it has only been
accessible on foot for the past year. “I haven’t seen any work going on for weeks and every time I ask HS2 what’s happening they don’t tell me,” said Mr Young. “It’s really frustrating. We were told Eastside City Park would properly reopen this year.
“Trade is steady, but quiet and 95 per cent of my customers are students who will be going away soon.
“We were looking forward to our first ‘normal’ summer for a few years because of the pandemic and all of this work – but I haven’t seen any actual work on the building or outside of the bar for a while.
“I just want HS2 to hurry up and get it done.”
An HS2 spokesman said: “We are still working with the council and other partners to identify further funding to complete the additional work.
This includes looking at options for private sector funding.
“The Housing and Regeneration Grant is one of the options we’re exploring for further funding. Due to commercial sensitivities, (HS2) is unable to give cost details.”