'Major Birmingham attraction’ facing closure amid financial challenges
Birmingham City Council has issued an update on the future of a “major attraction” in one of Birmingham’s bets-loved parks
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The Labour-run authority, which found itself engulfed by financial challenges, is embarking on a review of its parks management service as it looks to improve its situation.
The prospect of Kings Heath Park Garden Centre/Nursery facing closure has been met with backlash this month, with more than 3,000 people signing an online petition to keep it open as of today, January 30.
Moseley councillor Izzy Knowles (Liberal Democrats), who launched the petition, previously argued that closing the nursery would be “devastating” and “deprive Kings Heath Park of one of its major attractions”.
“We call on Birmingham City Council to recognise the importance of Kings Heath Park Garden Centre/ Nursery as a community asset and to do everything in its power to keep it open, growing and selling plants to the public,” she wrote.
One person who signed the petition said: “This is a wonderful community resource – a hidden gem that needs to be found and used by more people.
“Rather than shut it down, put some energy and funding into it.”
Coun Majid Mahmood, the cabinet member for environment, said earlier this month that the future of the nursery 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.”
Providing a further update at a council meeting, Coun Mahmood confirmed how it could possibly remain open in some capacity.
“No decision has yet been made to close it,” he said this week. “The decision has been that we can’t run the service as a nursery.
“The assets belong to the people of the city and if we can bring them to use, and not at the cost to the city council, that’s something I would be in favour of.”
He continued: “[Council] officers are exploring alternative uses – the direction I’ve given to them is to try and keep it open.
“As a council, it’s our duty to try to protect the assets we have for the people of the city but it’s the way we operate the service from that particular asset – that’s where we need to have the discussion.
“It may mean we go to a third party, a non-profit organisation.”
The council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September 2023 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.
