Fears for future of Birmingham's parks

The Labour-run authority, which continues to face huge financial challenges, is embarking on a review of its parks management service and will explore new ‘investment opportunities’.

In the past few days, Birmingham residents have been offered a glimpse of some of the changes which could be introduced in the city’s green spaces.

One example, according to a council report, is the consideration of further commercialisation options not yet developed in Birmingham, such as a high-ropes course at Cannon Hill Park in Moseley.

Kings Heath Park Garden Centre/Nursery also faces closure, sparking an online petition which had been signed more than 2,600 times as of Thursday, January 23.

Speaking at a meeting this month, Moseley councillor Izzy Knowles (Liberal Democrats) said talk about commercial ventures had “thrown up an alarm bell”.

“I’m aware at the moment of at least two, possibly three, approaches from sports clubs to take over parts of our parks,” she said.

“If that’s going to happen to the detriment of other users, I’m not sure that is a good thing.

“We’ve got to be very careful about long-term leases for parts of our parks to commercial organisations.”

Addressing the cabinet member for environment, she said she would like to know more about the high-ropes course being considered.

“We’ve already got commercial organisations in quite a large space in Cannon Hill Park,” she said. “Whether the park is suitable for another commercial venture – it’s not Sherwood Forest.”

Moving onto the prospect of Kings Heath Park Garden Centre/Nursery facing closure, Councillor Knowles added: “I’m really sorry but it’s devastating.

“It is such a popular nursery and it will not be a popular decision to close it – I think it’s a shame.”

In the online petition, she wrote: “Kings Heath Park Nursery has served the local and wider community for many years providing a large variety of good quality, competitively priced plants in an attractive and welcoming setting within the park.

“Closing the nursery will deprive Kings Heath park of one of its major attractions.”

‘Difficult decisions will have to be made’

Majid Mahmood, the cabinet member for environment, said at a recent council meeting that Kings Heath Park nursery, and whether it stayed open, was currently being reviewed.

“But there is a significant loss attributed to Kings Heath Nursery unfortunately,” he said. “Unless we can think of ideas to bring in additional income to the nursery, it’s going to be difficult.

“Everyone is aware of our budgetary position in the council, some difficult decisions will have to be made.”

Turning his attention to the concerns over commercial ventures, Councillor Mahmood said: “They’re not taking up valuable space the public uses.

“For example, if you’ve got a large space which is used for community events, we wouldn’t allow a commercial operator to come in and take over.”

On the possibility of a high-ropes course in Cannon Hill Park, he said it would take up a “small space” that wasn’t being used during previous times he had visited.

“It doesn’t have an impact on any of the rest of the park which is being used,” he said.

“We do have a budgetary situation with the parks,” Councillor Mahmood added. “We don’t have the money we want to have in order to develop the parks.”

The council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September 2023 by issuing a section 114 notice, before signing off an enormous wave of cuts to local services.

It was facing Birmingham-specific issues, such as an equal pay fiasco and the disastrous implementation of a new IT and finance system, as well as the rising demand for services and funding cuts.