The Lichfield Civic Society has criticised what it says is a lack of engagement with outside groups on the future of land earmarked for the doomed Friarsgate redevelopment.
Lichfield District Council has outlined its short term plans for the site after the creation of a working group to discuss a way forward for the land – now rebranded the Birmingham Road site.
But Lichfield Civic Society said interested parties should have been brought to the table earlier.
“The only public involvement so far amounts to anger and frustration,” a spokesperson said.
“The council doesn’t seem to understand that groups want active involvement, preferably starting with a blank sheet of paper.
“Why are they so concerned over having open discussions and active participation?”
Lichfield Civic Society’s comments come after it emerged that just two councillors had turned up to a meeting of the Birmingham Road Site working group before Christmas.
The chairman of the group, Cllr Tom Marshall, denied that the lack of attendance had prevented the gathering from being a useful one.
“Of course, the presence of only two councillors at the event was hugely disappointing,” he said.
“However, there were extenuating circumstances and the meeting was still extremely worthwhile.
“Because there is a widely-held desire to expedite the process in bringing forward a development, it was felt that a meeting prior to Christmas was important.
“However, all councillors tend to have busy schedules at this time and finding a date which suited everyone was impossible.
“I can assure everyone that the subject of the site’s redevelopment is being treated with great urgency, and no one underestimates the importance of making this a feature of Lichfield which will meet the needs of the district’s residents of all ages, and at the same time, help to promote the city as a popular tourist location.”
