Dutton plays hard ball over library

By Paul Dale on Apr 9, 08 09:16 AM in Politics

An interesting intervention from city council regeneration director Clive Dutton when addressing a meeting of the seven architects shortlisted for the £193 million Birmingham library project.
After council leader Mike Whitby had finished with all the visionary stuff, in a speech which was both mercifully short and for once sounded pretty good, Dutton rose to put all those present straight over the matter of the Central Library in Paradise Forum.
The 1970s building would be demolished come what may, even if campaigners succeed in having it listed, Dutton said. "Whether or not that buiding is listed it will come down," he added for good measure.

He went on: "None of you should have any hesitation about the commitment of this city to relocation of the library. It will happen."
He was in effect repeating something that Whitby said a few weeks ago, but it was pretty strong stuff coming from a council officer. It was also somewhat disingenious.
Whatever he says publicly, Dutton cannot know for certain that the council would succeed in obtaining permission to demolish the library if the building is listed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
If we rule out the likelihood of a midnight raid by bulldozers, with Dutton at the head of the demolition crews, the best that the council could do would be to ask the DCMS for permission to flatten the building. A case would have to be made as to why it is not worth preserving the library and there might have to be a public inquiry, which would all take time.
No wonder the council is fighting so hard behind the scenes to obtain an immunity from listing certificate from the DCMS, which would create a five-year breathing space during which time the library could not be listed.
The last thing the seven architectural practices, who are committing time and money to the project, want to hear is that the whole thing might be delayed for several years by a row over the future of the Central Library.
The fact remains, however, that until the DCMS makes up its mind the Central Library will continue to overshadow this entire project.