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COUNCIL BLOCKS CENTRAL LIBRARY LISTING

27-09-2007

The Stirrer can reveal that Birmingham City Council has called on the government to issue an Immunity From Listing notice for the Central Library - a move aimed at killing off opposition to plans to demolish it and build a replacement in Centenary Square.

Regular readers will know that there's a small but spirited Friends of the Library group, who are determined to put the case for the preservation of John Madin's distinctive building in Chamberlain Square.

Birmingham-based architectural historian Andy Foster recently described it as a "masterpiece" (see link here).

A few years ago, the Twentieth Century Society attempted to get the library listed but their application to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport was unsuccessful.

There was talk of a renewed bid, but now the Council - in the forms of Regeneration director Clive Dutton - have moved to head this off, in advance of next month's unveiling of plans for a new library.

A spokesman confirmed: "The City Council has made a request to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to grant a Certificate of Immunity from Listing for Birmingham Central Library as the building is no longer fit for purpose.

"We have been developing plans over a number of years to replace the library with a new Library of Birmingham, a world-class centre for knowledge, learning and culture.

"The Library of Birmingham will not only be a state-of-the-art resource supporting Birmingham's knowledge-based economy and reaching out in particular to children and young people, it will also act as a major catalyst for the wider regeneration of the entire city centre and beyond.

"If existing Central Library were to be listed, this would have a catastrophic effect on the City Council's plans for not only the Library of Birmingham, depriving local people of the world-class facility we feel they deserve, but also for the future redevelopment of Paradise Circus and west end of the city centre."

(To see the architect John Madin talking about Birmingham Central Library on Stirrer TV click here)

And to see developer Gary Taylor who wants it demolished click here).

Should Birmingham Central Library be listed? And is it a "masterpiece"? Join the discussion on our Message Board.