Opposition call in A34 flyover decision
Protesters against the demolition of the Perry Barr flyover have been given some encouragement after opposition councillors called in the decision.
Last week the cabinet of Birmingham City Council voted to go ahead with the £27.1 million regeneration of Perry Barr, a scheme which includes tearing down the A34 flyover.
This is despite thousands of residents objecting to the proposals by way of both petitions and consultation responses, with more than 15,000 signatures collected across several different petitions.
Both Conservative and Lib Dem politicians have also been vocal in their opposition to the plans, with mayor Andy Street, leader of the Birmingham Liberal Democrats Councillor Jon Hunt and leader of the Birmingham Conservatives Councillor Robert Alden all speaking out against them.
And they have now taken this one step further, by jointly making the decision to call in the decision.
The purpose of a call-in is to enable the overview and scrutiny committees to consider whether the cabinet should be asked to review its decision.
Speaking about the decision, leader of the opposition Councillor Alden said: “We urge Birmingham Labour, even at this eleventh hour, to heed the requests from Walsall and Sandwell councils and Highways England to suspend plans and look at the cumulative impact of all the work they are doing on the rest of the road and public transport network in North Birmingham and further afield before committing to £30m on a vanity project.
“This is going to cause residents in the north of the city horrendous issues for years for a four second increase in bus times and a one-two minute slowing of car times.”
This was a point echoed by Lib Dem leader and Perry Barr local Councillor Jon Hunt, who believes that local people are being ignored by the council.
“The views of the people of north Birmingham have been trampled over and their knowledge of how the roads work in this area ignored,” he said.
“Successful bus services are being put in jeopardy. The truth is that if you had £30 million to spend on climate change this is not how you would spend it. The evidence doesn’t justify the cost so a rethink is needed.”
