THE chair of a task group looking at the redevelopment of Lichfield city centre says he is “disappointed” by the comments from a councillor on their work.
Members of Lichfield District Council are due to decide tomorrow (15th October) whether to agree the sale of the former Tempest Ford plot for housing.
Reports to the meeting have also highlighted how the zoned approach to the former Friarsgate land – now rebranded as the Birmingham Road Site – will deliver a mix of homes, commercial, retail and hotel space.
But the overall proposals drew criticism from Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Paul Ray who said they were “just not right” for a key gateway site into the city.
He added:
“I have been on the task group that has overseen these plans and have continually raised objections, but the other parties have supported them. Those meetings were confidential but now the plans are public and so available for all to see.
“They are so unimaginative and just create big blocks of housing in the centre of our beautiful city.
“The original objective was to make the Birmingham Road Site development a place of impact and style as it is a gateway into the city. These plans just do not achieve that.”
But Cllr Colin Ball, who chaired the task group, said Cllr Ray’s comments had sought to politicise the task group process.
The Labour group deputy leader said:
“I was really disappointed – to put it mildly – to read Cllr Ray’s comments on Lichfield Live.
“The role of the task group, as with all of the overview and scrutiny work of the council, is to work across political parties to review all proposals before they go forward to the cabinet and council for approval and to act as a ‘critical friend’ by making comments and suggestions for change where necessary.
“Cllr Ray seems not to have understood this aspect of the task group when he suggests that there disagreements along party lines.
“As chair, I have always encouraged open debate and discussion and tried to lead the task group to reach consensus wherever possible. There have been differences of opinion in the past, but not on party political lines.“Indeed, at the latest meeting of the group on the plans for the city centre, Cllr Ray was in a minority of one, with everyone else approving of the proposals – including the other Lib Dem member on the task group!”
The proposals for the Birmingham Road Site have been developed alongside a design code which aims to deliver appropriate development.
Cllr Ball added:
“Cllr Ray also seems to have forgotten the extensive and, in my view, excellent consultation exercise carried out by Create Streets to develop the design code for the city centre.
“The task group was fully engaged in that process and signed off the design code unanimously, including Cllr Ray.
“The current proposals fully meet the design code, so I am still puzzled – as I was at the latest meeting of the task group – at Cllr Ray’s objections to the latest design proposals for the city centre.”
However, Cllr Ray said none of his comments should have come as a surprise to Cllr Ball.
“What I have said to Lichfield Live is nothing I have not said in our private task group meetings. Now that the details are public I am right to raise these.
“And this debate is simply about what is best for Lichfield. I do not think these plans are the best we can do and I want to hear what residents think.”
It’s good to see councillors reading Lichfield Live to understand the public sentiment. It’s just a shame that they haven’t picked up on the comments which demonstrate that there is no public appetite for any housing at all on this site regardless of empty promises made by developers. Remember Cllrs Ball and Ray – you are supposed to be representing the public, and the public generally is saying no to housing.
I don’t know why they should be disappointed – a big housing development in the city centre is not what Lichfield needs. At least, not until there is adequate carparking for both city/district residents and visitors.
Councillors Ball and Ray you may have been elected to the council but you do not represent the people. You seek the comments from the population then flagrantly ignore them. They could not be more explicit NO MORE HOUSES. Is that so difficult for you to understand? Can it be that you are operating from a different agenda conceived ‘in camera’ as so much of Lichfield business is done?
Do us a favour and just disappear. You are a total embarrassment.
There is a housing crisis and any new homes will be more than welcome, it will increase foot fall into the CC from new residents which can only be a good thing. Most people moaning are residents thar have their own homes.
Please build the houses asp it’s been a blot on the landscape to long people need homes at affordable prices or do people prefer scruffy plots around the city
Let’s also take a moment to think about who this actually benefits. Not the current residents of Lichfield, that’s for sure. So a private company will make a lot of money for it’s shareholders no doubt, and let’s face it, the prices of these dwellings will be out of reach of anyone who may want to move on up the ladder. The houses will carry a premium for being so close to the centre I’m sure. This development is for those people with money outside of Lichfield who wish to move here. So as a resident of Lichfield, who pays council tax, puts money back into the local economy and should have a say on what happens to this area, I will get nothing out of this other than a major inconvenience when the work begins!
Something as important as this should be open to a vote by us the citizens of Lichfield. Councillors come and go and promises are broken. If we decide on houses so be it however if we say no then the plans need changing to reflect our wishes….
No doubt the housing means more expensive retirement flats being built in the centre of town which is rapidly becoming a retirement city extending the retirement village ? Have you seen the affordable prices of retirement flats already built and for sale above £260 k ? Not good news for growing families eh ? And how long has it taken for the councillors to come to this decision since demolishing a working environment bringing elements to the area ? Well done councillors ( I don’t think ) when’s the next local election to get rid of these clowns ?
Having reviewed the plans, the quality of design is good. My only complaint is the lack of an obvious sightline from the Station through to the City Centre – that should be reviewed.
The comments regarding whether Lichfield has the capacity in facilities (doctors, hospitals, schools etc) to accommodate more homes are legitimate but not unique to this site, this is a general problem of our development system and given the rate of population growth (nearly a million a year nationally) not one that is going to be resolved anytime soon.
Yes. …..We need affordable housing for young Families who are struggling to get on the Property Ladder. By my understanding these proposed properties will be for retireees who have no Mortages and are downsizing. They are also in the wrong place and totally out of keeping with the surrounding area.
In addition they do absolutely nothing for “ The Gateway “ to our City.
Traffic in this area is already a nightmare.
It would be nice if we the Tax Payer, and Electorate were for once acknowledged and listened to.
Comments along the lines of “Do us a favour and just disappear” add nothing to this debate. In fact, this type of hostility only serves to put people off entering into local politics and ultimately helps no one. I may not agree with everything our local councillors do, but they don’t hide behind online anonymity, and they are elected by us.
“No to housing/residential use” seems to be a “heads in the sand” perspective. The collapse of the original concept for this site is surely evidence that commercial/retail is no longer a viable usage. Virtually all town /city centres that were historically focussed on retail/commercial are having to be re-imagined to ensure their sustainability with insertion of increased conversion/development for residences to create a more mixed townscape to cement the viability of these areas. Not doing so will result in these once vibrant localities continued withering to decrepitude, thus deterring any visitor/shopping attraction that is currently managing to hang on. With it’s crucial rail connections, Lichfield is already a dormitory locality for those who work elsewhere and this is unlikely to be reversed by wishful thinking that will inevitably flop.
Stop building so close to main roads the pollution for residents when opening windows is detrimental to their health.
Do not build on bus station land, bad enough loosing multi storey but at least the bus station is close to shops, theatre and proposed cinema for this who do not have cars.