"BRUM RUNS OUT OF GLASS - NOW HAS TO BUY IT FROM AUSTRIA" - IT'S OFFICIAL

21-08-2006

Is this the most incredible repair job you've ever heard of?

The Stirrer has discovered that replacement glass for the tourist information “greenhouse” in New Street - due to be installed over three whole days starting on Wednesday - has been obtained from Austria.

Birmingham Council though is still being coy about how much the repair is costing taxpayers - they say it's “private and confidential”.

If you're new to this story, here's a quick catch-up.

The Stirrer recently noticed that the information point outside Waterstone's bookshop had a shattered glass panel, and it appeared to be held together at the top by a piece of sticking plaster.

It's been like that for months too, and we wondered if this was the least welcoming tourist office in the world.

We started making enquiries and at first the council told us the kiosk was Marketing Birmingham's responsibility.

But that wasn't entirely true; although the marketing folk work there, it's the council's job to repair it - and lo and behold, a week after we started poking our noses in, it was announced that new glass would be installed on Wednesday.

Fair enough? But a few questions have emerged which remain unanswered.

How long has the glass been in that condition?

Why do we have to go all the way to Austria to replace it? Are there no glaziers left in Birmingham.

Why is an apparently simple repair of one pane of glass taking three days?

And how much is the whole thing costing?

The council says: “The cost of the replacement work is a contractual matter and is therefore private and confidential.”

We disagree. In our opinion, it's a matter of public interest as every council taxpayer in Birmingham is contributing to it.

Rest assured - we will continue to be a “pane” in the backside until we know all.