WILDLIFE AND ACCESS FOR PUBLIC AT RISK, CLAIMS GROUP
RESERVOIR users said a number of concerns were yet to be addressed by the plans.
A spokesman for ERCO (Edgbaston Reservoir for All) said: “This latest version of the masterplan is, in some respects, an improvement on the last. The wording reflects many of the concerns reservoir users have and better clarifies the importance of the Local Nature Reserve for residents and visitors, which is good.
“However, it’s very disappointing to see that, although a little more ‘public’ space could be envisaged on the waterfront, the council is still not taking account of the legitimate concerns raised by a huge number of reservoir users. This is a special place, accessed and enjoyed by people from across the West Midlands – it needs better protection than this. The 24/7 noise and light pollution from the waterside developments, which includes both commercial and residential properties, will change the reservoir forever.
“It will reduce the variety of visiting wildlife and will bring round-the-clock activity to a place where the biggest attraction is the tranquillity it offers visitors.
“Most importantly, it will change the public nature of the space which is currently freely-available for all to access.
“The reservoir became a haven during lockdown, drawing hundreds of people who needed an escape from their constrained living conditions.
“Private, luxury apartments on the waterside will change this irreversibly. With up to 4,000 new homes being developed within walking distance of the reservoir, we should be more mindful about using financial gain as justification for filling potential green spaces with dense developments.
“The housing which Birmingham so desperately needs can still be accommodated without desecrating the waterfront.
“This could include areas fronting onto Osler Street, which would better accommodate the type of housing we actually need like genuinely-affordable family homes.”