Protesters call for Birmingham tower blocks to be demolished

Mar 7 2009 by Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

MORE than 200 people turned out in force to demand the demolition of two eyesore blocks of flats on a Birmingham estate.

Local residents were joined by Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne to protest about the future of Bayley and Stoneycroft Towers on the Bromford Estate. Birmingham City Council was due to demolish the 20-storey blocks four years ago after they became a magnet for anti social behaviour.

But after spending more than £1million of taxpayers’ money re-housing its tenants, the local authority has now made a dramatic ‘U’ turn by saying they had no choice but to refurbish the towers.

Mr Byrne, who is leading the protest, said he was delighted with the “fantastic” turnout.

“People are very angry and absolutely determined that the council hears the voices of the local community.

“We were promised as far back as 2001, and more recently in 2005, that these blocks would be blown up. But now the council is trying to blame 300 asylum seeker families ‘forced’ on them by the government to turn the towers back into social housing. This is ludicrous.

“The city’s asylum seeking families already have a roof over their heads and don’t need rehousing.”