All the ways Birmingham's much-loved parks could change as critical city council budget decision looms
As one of Europe’s greenest cities, Birmingham boasts thousands of acres of parkland that offer a small escape from city life.
But plans for the future of Brum’s beloved green spaces have triggered controversy and disquiet in recent weeks.
Divisive proposals have been put forward by the crisis-hit city council, which needs to make around £150 million in savings in the next financial year.
Councillors will meet in early March to decide whether to pass a proposed budget that includes a second year of cuts to services and another hike in council tax.
The Labour-run council has found itself battling to balance the books amid Birmingham-specific mistakes, such as an equal pay fiasco and the disastrous implementation of an IT system, as well as the rising demand for services and previous funding cuts.
The huge list of proposed cuts and changes confirm it intends to continue with plans to introduce new charges at three Birmingham parks – a prospect which has deeply split opinion.
Other proposals include the possible closure of a ‘major attraction’ and plans to maximise income within the city’s parks.
Here are four planned changes affecting parks included within the proposed budget for 2025/26.
1) Car parking charges
Birmingham City Council is set to push ahead with plans to introduce car parking charges at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, Lickey Hills Country Park, on the Worcestershire border, and Sheldon Country Park, close to Birmingham Airport.
The proposals have been met with backlash however, with Coun David Pears (Conservative, Sutton Trinity) describing them as “unfair”.
“Time and time again, the Labour administration has attempted to introduce these parking charges,” he said.
“Every time, residents have been clear they strongly oppose these charges at Sutton Park.”
Council leader John Cotton said this month that it was important that the organisation looks at all options for raising income.
“I know sometimes these things can be unpopular and create challenges,” he said. “But I think we’ve also got a responsibility to look at every opportunity we have to generate income to bring the budget back into balance.”
Coun Majid Mahmood, the cabinet member for environment, said last year that Birmingham had “fantastic” green spaces across the city, including major parks with “great facilities”.
“But we need to be able to maintain them for the benefit of everyone,” he said in a statement.
2) Closure or transfer of Sheldon Country Park Farm
One new savings proposal was for the ‘closure or transfer’ of Sheldon Country Park Farm, a former dairy farm which the council says has been “superbly restored”.
Asked about the possible closure earlier this month, council leader John Cotton said: “I know we’re also looking at options around how we can partner with others around the provision of a number of these facilities, including the farm.
“One of the things I’ve been really keen to change in this council has been its approach to partnership and ensuring we are using every opportunity to work with others.
“You’ve seen some of that with the changes to youth provision, where partnering with others means we can deliver better results for communities.
“That’s how I want us to be approaching the issues around Sheldon and a number of other places.”
3) Plans to ‘maximise income’
Another savings proposal is for a review of existing ‘concession contracts/activities’ in Birmingham’s parks to maximise income.
There was concern recently when a council report stated that new ‘investment opportunities’ could be explored.
It said the authority was considering further ‘commercialisation options’ not yet developed in Birmingham, such as a high-ropes course at Cannon Hill Park.
Earlier this year, Moseley councillor Izzy Knowles (Liberal Democrats) said talk about commercial ventures had “thrown up an alarm bell”.
“I’m aware at the moment of at least two, possibly three, approaches from sports clubs to take over parts of our parks,” she said last month. “If that’s going to happen to the detriment of other users, I’m not sure that is a good thing.
“We’ve got to be very careful about long-term leases for parts of our parks to commercial organisations.”
On the possibility of a high-ropes course, she continued: “We’ve already got commercial organisations in quite a large space in Cannon Hill Park.
“Whether the park is suitable for another commercial venture – it’s not Sherwood Forest.”
Responding to these concerns, cabinet member for environment Coun Majid Mahmood said: “They [commercial ventures] are not taking up valuable space the public uses.
“For example, if you’ve got a large space which is used for community events, we wouldn’t allow a commercial operator to come in and take over.”
On the high-ropes course, he said it would take up a “small space” that wasn’t being used during previous times he had visited.
“It doesn’t have an impact on any of the rest of the park which is being used,” he said.
“We do have a budgetary situation with the parks,” Coun Mahmood added. “We don’t have the money we want to have in order to develop them.”
4) Possible closure of nurseries
The budget also includes a proposal for the closure of Kings Heath Park Garden Centre/Nursery, which more than 3,000 people have signed a petition to keep open.
Coun Knowles previously argued that closing the nursery would be “devastating” and “deprive Kings Heath Park of one of its major attractions”.
“No decision has yet been made to close it,” Coun Mahmood said recently. “The decision has been made that we can’t run the service as a nursery.
“The assets belong to the people of the city and if we can bring them to use, and not at the cost to the city council, that’s something I would be in favour of.”
He continued: “[Council] officers are exploring alternative uses – the direction I’ve given to them is to try and keep it open.
“As a council, it’s our duty to try to protect the assets we have for the people of the city but it’s the way we operate the service from that particular asset – that’s where we need to have the discussion.
“It may mean we go to a third-party, a non-profit organisation.”
There is also a separate savings proposal for the closure of Coleshill Nursery.
Staff would be relocated to grounds maintenance duties elsewhere if it goes ahead.