Birmingham City Council has made a U-turn on plans to auction off a local park, withdrawing it from sale after a public petition demanded its protection.
Petition forces council rethink on park sale
The land in question is a public open space on Weston Lane in the Tyseley area. It was scheduled to go under the hammer on 5 February with a guide price of at least £1.3 million.
The proposed sale prompted the Birmingham Liberal Democrats to launch a campaign to 'save' the green space. Jerry Evans, the Lib Dem candidate for Sparkbrook, argued the sale was unacceptable, stating on Facebook that Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East is "one of the wards with the least public open space per citizen in the city."
He criticised the Labour-run council, saying: "It is shocking that Labour is trying to sell it off. Labour is letting us down again, selling off our parks to pay for their mismanagement."
Council confirms park withdrawal amid wider asset sales
Following the outcry, a council spokesperson confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the land has been withdrawn from the auction. The Bold Wolfe auction website also updated its listing to show the sale was cancelled.
However, this reprieve for one park comes against a backdrop of massive property disposals by the cash-strapped local authority. Since declaring itself effectively bankrupt in September 2023, the council has sold off more than 1,000 properties and plots of land.
The total value of these 'assets' sold exceeds £250 million. The sales include:
- Homes and residential plots
- Shops and commercial premises
- Car parks and industrial sites
Financial crisis drives unprecedented asset disposal
The proceeds from these sales are being used to address two critical financial burdens. A significant portion is allocated to cover the cost of equal pay settlements, a long-standing issue for the council. The remaining funds are being used to meet previous budget deficits.
The council's severe financial troubles have been attributed to a combination of factors, including the equal pay liability, rising demand for services, and the problematic rollout of a new IT system. Labour councillors have also pointed to funding cuts during the previous Conservative government's tenure.
While the Tyseley park has been granted a temporary reprieve, the council's ongoing financial strategy suggests the pressure to monetise public assets is far from over.
