BRUM RED ROUTE CONFIRMED

22-05-2008

Birmingham City Council has confirmed that the congestion busting Red Route on the A34 will be made permanent next month – despite bitter opposition from traders in Sparkbrook.

Although the “no parking” zone has been welcomed in other suburbs, the inner city proved to be another matter altogether, with shop owners claiming they’d be forced to close unless shoppers could park in the vicinity.

Their anger was also provoked by Cabinet Member for Transport Len Gregory who failed to deliver on his promise of a face to face visit (see link here).

Gregory certainly hasn’t covered himself in glory over the episode which has left some in Sparkbrook feeling that they’ve been ignored by the Council – even though dozens of additional off-street parking spaces have been provided.

An attempt by the Transport Scrutiny committee led by Cllr Martin Mullaney to engage with local businesses ended in farce, when he was accused of performing a “vanishing act”.

A complaint about his behaviour and subsequent comments on this website was rejected by the Local Government Standards Board (see link here).

It is difficult not to feel sympathy with the shop owners who are already facing tough economic times.

Improved traffic speed might be good news for commuters, but should not come at the expense of flourishing local communities.

If Birmingham truly wants to be a “global city with a local heart” it can not afford to ride roughshod over the interests of entrepreneurs who are creating wealth in the midst of our most economically deprived neighbourhoods.

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