Action taken against unauthorised car park at Birmingham pub famed for being the birthplace of Black Sabbath
The unauthorised car park at a Birmingham pub steeped in cultural importance has been blocked off after a demand was issued to the owners.
The Crown in Station Street is known as the pub where Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath performed their first gig.
But despite the site’s historical importance, the pub has been vacant for many years while a campaign to save the city centre street and its venues has been ongoing.
The pub’s future is a cause for concern for campaigners, with its owners being accused of neglecting the site.
Toyoko Inn, the company which owns the Birmingham pub, has in the past insisted it has plans to restore the venue and ‘celebrate’ its heritage.
But in December, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported there was a fresh wave of concern among campaigners due to claims the site was being used as a car park despite not having permission.
Before this, Toyoko Inn was previously seeking approval for an extension of the car park use on the site for a three-year period.
Darren John, from the Save Station Street campaign, condemned the proposal at the time however and argued: “Toyoko will just twiddle their thumbs for another three years, neglecting The Crown despite their promises.”
But, in a move welcomed by Mr John, the city council ultimately decided to refuse the plans last summer, saying they would be contrary to current policy.
Despite the planning refusal however, it appeared the pub site was still being used as an unauthorised car park as recently as last month.
During a visit to the pub in early December, many of the car parking spaces around the back of The Crown were in use while a ‘Euro Car Parks’ sign was advertising parking from £4.50.
Birmingham City Council would later say an investigation was under way.
And then just days after an initial story was published, the council confirmed that letters had been sent to all parties advising them of the situation and saying the use of the car park should cease within 28 days.
A visit to pub today, January 6, revealed the car park has since been blocked off, with signs advertising parking now removed with just one lone car remaining on the site.
The Save Station Street campaign described it as a “small victory”, before urging Toyoko Inn to “refurb The Crown now or sell”.
A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said today that “the matter continues to be investigated in line with the Birmingham Local Enforcement Plan”.
“All interested parties of the land have been formally written to and advised of the planning situation and that the use of the land as a car park should cease by today,” they added.
The LDRS previously attempted to contact Euro Car Parks for comment through an online form on its website.
Similarly, contact attempted to be made with Toyoko Inn through a UK architecture firm which has previously acted as its agent.
‘Restoration works’
Toyoko Inn’s ownership of The Crown has proved controversial among campaigners fighting to ‘save’ Station Street.
But the company has previously said it has plans to not only restore The Crown but also build a new hotel.
A cover letter, included within the recent proposals, said the plans for the car park would have ‘enabled a stable revenue stream’ for the company, which would help with bringing forward a planning application for a major project at the site.
“At the time of writing Toyoko Inn are finalising their plans of the wider site,” the letter said. “It is the intention that the scope of the future project will deliver two connected and coherent elements.”
It continued that they included a new hotel with around 300 beds on the existing car park at the rear of the site and the restoration of The Crown.
“The pub is a historically important site and its new vision will reflect and celebrate this heritage,” the document said.
It argued the proposed scheme would also make an “important contribution” towards the regeneration of Southside District, with the economic impact predicted upwards of £4 million.
“Discussions and expressions of interest are well advanced with funders in respect of the restoration and construction works,” it added.
