Michael visited the exhibition in Nurture Community CIC in Lichfield’s Three Spires shopping precinct over the weekend.  “It was interesting to see Gleeds Consultants’ vision for the City” says Michael Fabricant “and to meet Stephen Crighton from the firm.  This was less to do with what development there might be, but more about getting the basics right first. The confusingly-called ‘public realm’ is all about enhancing the routes through the City from the City station to Minster Pool and the Cathedral, improving the exterior lighting of some of the fine buildings in the City, and many other factors which will highlight the beauty of Lichfield.

“The cost of electricity has been a limiting factor in illuminating buildings like the Cathedral in the past, but with high intensity led lighting which uses only 20% of the electricity, more will be possible in future.

“An enhanced experience for residents and visitors alike including a fresh approach to the area now occupied by the surface Bird Street Car Park is something I would welcome.  I think this is something Cllr Liz Little and Doug Pullen and his team are keen to develop.”

The Lichfield city centre public realm strategy sets out Lichfield District Council’s ideas for improving public spaces around city centre area, linking into work on pedestrianisation, improved car parking, sustainable infrastructure and development of the Birmingham Road gateway site.

Michael adds:  “The exhibition in Nurture Community CIC has ended, but there’s still time for everyone to take a look at our plans and give their views by filling in an online questionnaire at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/publicrealmstrategy before the deadline on Sunday 11^th July.  I’m told that more than 600 people have completed the questionnaire so far.  This demonstrates the strong public interest in the future of Lichfield.”

Councillor Liz Little, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Major Projects, said: “Our Public Realm Strategy is about making improvements to the public spaces in and around Lichfield city centre and building on the overall proposals set out in our Lichfield City Centre Masterplan. We want to cultivate distinctive, local solutions with the people who know the city best, so engagement with residents, businesses and visitors to Lichfield city centre is always going to be central to this project.”