The view of demolition works taking place on the former Birmingham Wholesale Market makes the future\u00a0Smithfield regeneration site\u00a0look even bigger than thought. A new park should be built on gigantic demolition site left by the former Wholesale Market say around 10,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The area would cover 14 hectares (34.5\nacres) compared with New York’s giant Central Park which is 341 hectares (843\nacres).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group claims that since there is\nlittle green space in the city centre compared to other major cities like\nLondon, Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Berlin this is the ‘last opportunity’ to\nestablish a landmark area of open and green space in the centre of Birmingham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CityPark4Brum campaign leader Jim Tucker\nsays: \u201cAs Birmingham continues to grow with more people living in the city\ncentre, it is vital that green space provision grows with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“As well as providing an attraction\nfor residents and visitors, city parks are known to improve public health,\nreduce air pollution and bring communities together.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I was dismayed when there was no\nthought for green space at all at first,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We think the council is listening\nbecause the 2016 masterplan had more reference to green space than the 2015\nvision for Smithfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Now we want a place at the\n(council) table (because of what) thousands of people are asking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You need a certain critical mass\nfor a park. This one could be called Birmingham Markets Park and have\neverything from markets to pop-cinema and festivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We think it should be up to to\ntwice the size of Eastside City Park and be real focal point with benefits for\nlocal residents, businesses, visitors and the NHS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“All these factors make sense\neconomically as well as culturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Parks and green spaces save the\nNHS millions of pounds each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe council should now do the right the\nthing and act on what thousands of local people want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And what better way is there of\nintroducing a clear air one for our city centre than to introduce a new green\npark?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We believe that the weight of\npublic support shows that we have earned the right to have a place at the table\nto work with the new developer to make this vision a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n