MULLANEY "VINDICATED" IN LISTED BUILDING ROW

21-05-2008

Birmingham Councillor Martin Mullaney claims he’s been vindicated by the city’s Planning Department in the row over a listed building in Balsall Heath. The controversy led to both Mullaney and his Lib Dem colleague falling foul of the local government Standards Board.

The two councillors were ordered to apologise to developer Safdar Zaman after allegedly trespassing on his land to make a film about the deterioration of the old Tram Shed on Moseley Road (see link here).

Hendricks refused to say sorry and has since served a month’s suspension.

Mullaney is still awaiting the outcome of an appeal, but in the meantime John Culligan, an Assistant Director at Planning Department has confirmed that a number of his concerns were justified.

An historically important wall, for example, had been damaged – though it’s not clear when, or by who – and plans to replace it by Mr Zaman have not been carried out.

Fears that work was being carried out without planning consent were also justified, as officers discovered on August 9 last year.

Culligan writes: “From this visit it was ascertained that the works being carried out were not strictly in accordance with approved plans. The applicant was strongly advised to cease works and to submit a further application that detailed the works that they sought to carry out on site.”

Following a further visit in September, similar issues were again identified, and Culligan says: “It was apparent during this site visit that the details submitted in the application differed from those that had been carried out on site.

"At this stage the conservation officer and planning case officer informed the applicant, Mr. Zaman, and his agent, on site, that carrying out works to a listed building without the necessary consent is a prosecutable offence and that all works should stop immediately."

Mullaney said, “this pretty much vindicates Ernie and myself”.