THREE MINUTES TO SAVE THE JEWELLERY QUARTER

24-08-2006

The fate of Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter hangs on a three minute presentation due to be made this morning at the council planning committee.

If plans for the redevlopment of the A E Harris engineering works go ahead in a designated conservation zone, it's feared the precedent could destroy the entire area.

One Jewellery Quarter source told The Stirrer: “The worry is that we'll get a snowball effect driving out many other businesses.”

That's why the 180 seconds allotted to the Jewellery Quarter Association to the put the case of the objectors today is so important.

It nowhere near long enough to put the case for the protection of a such unique place, but rules is rules.

Councilllors who have to make the decision would do well to ponder this.

We've been told that a number of traditional jewellery businesses are already being turfed out of their premises at the lease end in anticipation of more profitable developments ie more yuppie apartments.

Many in the area are talking openly about “the evictions” going on in their midst.

And that's before the Harris application has even been decided.

The Council could simply reject (or approve) the scheme today, but may decide to sit on the fence and refer it to the government.

You'll read first news of their decision here at The Stirrer.