Axing car park will impact on visitors
DEAR Editor, As if there are not enough tower block developments in Birmingham city centre, the council is its questionable ‘wisdom,’ has decided to demolish one of the last car parks remaining and replace it with one 46-storey and one 15-storey development to create 541 new flats.
No thought appears to have been given to the fact that the Brindley Drive car park is one of very few public car parks now available close to the cultural centre of the city which includes the Library, Repertory Theatre and Symphony Hall.
The loss of the Brindley Drive car park will have a devastating impact on this area of the city.
Not only does it accommodate the cars of people working in the city centre during the daytime, but it is essential for those attending performances at the ‘Rep’ and concerts at Symphony Hall. The loss of this very convenient car park will cause huge inconvenience for the many elderly and less mobile concert-goers. It will clearly result in a reduction in ticket sales and loss of revenue for the CBSO.
No doubt Birmingham City Council is considering only the financial benefits of yet more development.
They have already made a huge mistake in approving the development of the Tower Ballroom site, which will have a devastating impact on local amenity and the reservoir’s status as a local nature reserve.
It is time that the council now turned its attention to preserving what is good about our city rather than how much money it can make from the development of yet more high-rise buildings. I would also wonder how many local people will occupy these luxury flats, which will not be affordable for the vast majority.
Judy Vero, Edgbaston, Birmingham