MP Liam Byrne leads Bromford Estate tower blocks demolition protest

Mar 6 2009 by Paul Dale, Birmingham Mail

A MIDLAND MP is stepping up his campaign to force Birmingham City Ccouncil to keep a promise to demolish two crime-ridden tower blocks. Liam Byrne will today lead a residents’ protest outside Bayley and Stoneycroft Towers on the Bromford Estate. 

The 20-storey buildings were supposed to be knocked down more than two years ago after housing chiefs paid tenants £5,000 each to move out. Compensation payments reached almost £1 million and the council is spending more than £100,000 a year on trying to keep the empty blocks secure. But there is no sign of demolition going ahead, and officials are now considering refurbishing flats to offer them to asylum seekers.