Candidates at next year’s local elections will need to be clear about their views on the future of the Friarsgate site, according to a Lichfield community group.
Voters will return to the polls in May 2019 and the Beacon Street Area Residents’ Association (BSARA) believes the uncertainty over the future direction for Lichfield will still be high on the agenda of local residents.
The Friarsgate project fell by the wayside after failing to secure funding despite more than a decade of planning.
The demise of the scheme has left taxpayers with a £7million bill and chunks of land lying vacant opposite one of the transport gateways to the city.
A spokesperson for BSARA said the elections would be a chance for voters to make their views heard.
“It is now critical that the Lichfield electorate is allowed to have a say on what should be developed on the Friarsgate site,” they said. “We will be at the forefront of asking for this.
“The good thing is that there are council elections in May 2019 – this enables pressure to be brought on prospective candidates.
“BSARA is politically-neutral, but we have had to speak out about all of the political shenanigans that have been happening in our lovely city – Friarsgate was doomed to fail.”
Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has also urged local councillors to up their game and draw up fresh plans for the land earmarked for redevelopment.
The BSARA spokesperson added that the scheme needed to be relevant to the city and the modern shape of the retail landscape.
“We have always maintained that Friarsgate was the wrong type of development in the wrong place and at the wrong time,” they said.
“The change in high street shopping patterns has been gaining momentum over the timespan of Friarsgate, making this project financially unviable.
“Lichfield is an historical tourist city with many individual shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs making it somewhere different to visit.
“It would be good to see all the small individual shops currently empty taken by more niche businesses and thus enhancing the city’s tourist reputation.”
Cllr Mike Wilcox, leader of Lichfield District Council has previously said the local authority will consult with residents to find a way forward for the empty Friarsgate site.
BSARA’s spokesperson added that the council needed to ensure it was listening rather than going through the motions when it comes to consultation.
“Lichfield District Council have got to sort out their financial position and make good use of the sites that they have already acquired rather than developing anywhere else on a ‘let’s do this on a whim’ basis,” they added.
“The time has now come for councillors and planners to have meaningful consultations with all parties interested in making good use of Lichfield’s assets.
“The days of box ticking are over. The council must learn from this debacle and listen to what is being said by individuals and organisations during consultation exercises.”
