Council “committed” to the conservation of the Jewellery Quarter

• Mar. 2 by Alex Pegg (0)

Regeneration Councilor Neville Summerfield has stated that Birmingham City Council is committed to the future of the Jewellery Quarter despite the redundancies of the Jewelry Quarter Regeneration Partnership last year.

The promise came in a letter to the Jewellery Quarter Lobby, which was formed after the Jewellery Quarter Regenertion Partnership was disbaned in December 2009.

All four members of staff were made redundant leading to uncertainty among the public of the Jewellery Quarter’s future.

Response from Birmingham City Council

Neville addressed the Jewellery Quarter Lobby with a letter vaguely outlining the council’s plans for the Jewellery Quarter, claiming:

“The City Council remains committed to the Jewellery Quarter and will continue to support it in every way it can.

In coming years investment from the City Council in capital projects and the maintenance of its property will be circa £4m.”

Summerville also stated that his staff are preparing an Action Plan which will help them support the Quarter and monitor activity.

Aims of the Lobby

The Jewellery Quarter lobby, which is made up of The Jewellery Quarter Association, The Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative, Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum and The Jewellery Industry Business Strategy Group, aims to regain council backing during a bid for World Heritage Site status as well as a full time Birmingham County Council officer based in the quarter.

More information on the Jewellery Quarter Lobby can be found here and the Jewellery Quarter Lobby can also be followed on Twitter.