Pre-match drinking - all change next season

[Jimbo]

Stick the entrance at the back, with access from either side of the pub into both roads. If they could build Stonehenge all those thousands of years ago, I'm sure that would be possible.

Nobody is saying the King Edward is Petra, but the area is so devoid of character these days it might as well be. We need to learn from the mistakes of our shameful past when it comes to bulldozing our heritage. Some towns forbid building over a certain height to preserve the character of the place, no matter how many jobs that might cost. It's about coming up with creative solutions, retaining the heritage and stimulating the economy. It's possible.

[pauliewalnuts]

Is it possible to do it financially, though? And is it worth it in the first place? It doesn't strike me as a particularly nice building, and as someone said earlier, it is mostly daubed in big letters offering bread and breakfast and enormous Sky banners.

I entirely understand your point about demolishing our heritage, I am just not sure how much there is in that building.

[silhillvilla]

Dont hold your breath

That would make a lovely site for a drive through Big John's.
Runs for cover.

[Jimbo]

I don't know, Paulie, how much does it cost to demolish a building? As you rightly say, money will play a big part in its future, but some people only see value in money. Others see value in art, architecture and aesthetics. But even if the building doesn't score very highly in that department, there's still value to be found in memory. Buildings hold memories and can give a place its identity. No wonder people are questioning Birmingham's civic identity when all it wants to do is destroy and reinvent itself every 40 years.

Frankly the fact that it has banners placed on it is not a good argument for demolishing it. The building may only have 100 years of history, but if it stays for another 100 years it'll be 200 years, and so on. And one thing is certain: even though it's not St Pancras station, it would still look ten times better than what will replace it. No, I haven't seen the plans, but I'm willing to make a wild prediction on that score.

[silhillvilla]

That building would prob cost about £50k to knock down, possibly less unless it's full of asbestos then it will be a lot more.

[rjp]

Balls!  I saw the title of this thread and thought we may have a chance of some decent beer in the official bars next year.  That's false advertising in my book.

I can understand that the nature of demand means I'm never going to get a great real ale selection but even a bottle of Newcastle Brown would be a massive improvement.

Sorry, carry on...

[Vancouver]

Living in a not very old and rapidly changing city, I can see some of the merits of knocking down and starting again. We don't have a lot of sentiment out here, but there are a few preserved old buildings. Unfortunately if you want investment and a lot of people to come, then you most likely have to knock down and start again.

[silhillvilla]

A blend of old and new is always nice, like Eastside Park.

[myf]

its being knocked down for junction improvements. id wager the industrial land will lie vacant for years.  all for job creation but none is guaranteed here, and the council has track record of over engineering its roads. sad IMO

[pauliewalnuts]

its being knocked down for junction improvements. id wager the industrial land will lie vacant for years.  all for job creation but none is guaranteed here, and the council has track record of over engineering its roads. sad IMO

It won't.

it is being done for a specific development

[Dave Clark Five]

Balls!  I saw the title of this thread and thought we may have a chance of some decent beer in the official bars next year.  That's false advertising in my book.

They used to do a cask ale in the Holte Pub, may do still for all I know, but you are only ever going to get racecourse beer in bars that only open occasionally. I would be very grateful for a pump serving Mad Goose, for example, but you could guarantee it would be vinegar.

[PeterWithe]

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/aston-villa-pub-king-edward-1727576?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Good news indeed, there may be plenty of Victorian buildings in the area but there is an awful lot more other buildings far more worthy of demolition to make space for a road.

Villa pub The King Edward VII given reprieve from demolition after planning error
7 Mar 2013 18:26

Councillors were wrongly told that popular Aston pub was derelict - and have called for scheme to be abandoned.

The King Edward VII pub in Aston

Bulldozers set to demolish a historic Birmingham pub have been halted – after mistakes were made in a planning report.

It has emerged that councillors making the decision to allow the King Edward VII pub to be knocked down were also shown pictures taken from the rear – rather than its impressive front which dominates the junction of Lichfield Road and Aston Hall Road.

A report to the city’s planning committee also wrongly claimed the building had been empty for 15 years and conservationists were not consulted before a decision was made.

The pub, which is popular with Aston Villa fans, was to be demolished as part of a scheme to upgrade the junction.

The owner has agreed to move to the derelict Aston Tavern nearby, which also more than 100 years old and in need of major restoration.

But chairman of the council’s conservation panel and planning committee Barry Henley has called for the scheme to be abandoned as the pub has both historic value and is a going concern.

Coun Henley (Lab, Brandwood) said: “We are talking about demolishing an excellent building which is locally listed, ripping out the interior and shipping it to a different derelict building. And I expect we the taxpayer are paying for all that.

“I am sure our transport engineers can design a scheme to improve the junction which does not require demolition.”

He was angry that although on the council’s list of historic buildings, the Conservation and Heritage Panel was not consulted on the King Edward VII demolition.

Other planning committee members were also angry they had been given the impression the pub was derelict.

Coun Peter Douglas Osborn (Cons, Weoley) added: “We have suffered enough from architectural vandalism in this city – this would be architectural terrorism.”

The Victorian Society had sent last minute objections saying the pub, which is in excellent condition for its age, is worthy of preservation.

Committee members could also see little justification for the junction upgrade as Lichfield Road is not one of the city’s most congested – although plans are being drawn up to create a major industrial site off Aston Hall Road over the next decade.

The committee voted to defer the planning application and demanded more consultation.

[Pete3206]

Good news

[Walmley_Villa]

Fuck me - wonder how many more 'errors' have slipped through the net..?

[Clampy]

Would'nt it have been better for the councillors to have a nose round a building before agreeing to knock it down rather than just look at pictures? Also whoever advised them it had been empty for 15 years should be maybe be asked how they came to that conclusion.