Stephen Rea
Birmingham City Council’s planning committee rejected proposals to build houses on Hall Green Stadium by a vote of 9-2 earlier today. Former boss Stephen Rea who headed the Save Hall Green Stadium campaign was jubilant after attending the planning meeting.
He said: “Things started quite badly when the case officer for the council told the planning committee why they should accept the housing plan. It was amazing, he was justifying why he was recommending overlooking so many points of planning policy. I think everyone was a bit down. There was even an implied threat that if his plan was rejected, they were obliged to appeal which would cost the council a great deal of money.
“I had my chance to speak and became quite passionate about it to be honest. Then gradually the different councillors got to have their say and the mood began to change. Some of the councillors spoke more passionately than I did about the need for housing but the loss of 300 jobs and a community facility that had been there for 90 years mattered to so many of them.
“Others talked about the impact of 200 houses, and probably 500 people on the local community that was already struggling for schools and health care. The local MP had also written a very strong letter to the council. When the vote came, we were a lot more hopeful and when it was announced, the place absolutely erupted with all the greyhound supporters.
“Yes, they will probably appeal but the nature of the defeat will surely have the council planners reflecting how they got it so badly wrong. In the meantime, we have gained legal protection for Perry Barr and are looking at options of achieving something similar a Hall Green. It is been a great day.”
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