AN eyesore site in the centre of Sutton Coldfield could be transformed into a green oasis if one town councillor's idea receives backing from the landowner.
Sutton Trinity Conservative town councillor, and The Station pub landlord, Keith Ward, proposed turning the undeveloped Brassington Avenue site into a green space, enhancing it by planting flowers, to transform it after it has lay barren for decades.
While proposals for the site have previously included a residential and retail complex, a supermarket and even tower block retirement homes including a swimming pool and cinema in recent years, the fact is nothing has happened to the town centre strip of land since the Gracechurch Centre was built 40 years ago.
Cllr Ward has come up with a colourful solution for the site, which could work in conjunction with the town's Britain in Bloom bid. Sutton's own TV gardener, Alan Gardner, is on board to give expert advice.
He said: “As an 11 and 12-year-old 40 years ago I lived the other side of Sutton Coldfield and went to Bishop Vesey's. Nothing's changed with the Brassington Avenue site apart from the colour of the fence.
“My initial idea was for the fence to be taken down and for a meadow of wild flowers.
“I have been told that that they only flower temporarily and a better idea may for bulbs, crocuses and daffodils. They have done this in Shrewsbury and it just looks spectacular. If we could do that in Sutton it would look great."
The plan would be temporary and at the bequest of PegasusLife which bought the land for its town block retirement home scheme. It would not include pathways and benches, but more of a free form planted area adding colour. It would not formally become a park but given the lack of fencing people would be able to access the site.
Cllr Ward said with any of the ideas for the land, with Andrew Mitchell MP most recently mentioning it being used as a car park allowing for more shop space at the Gracechurch Centre and the Station landlord saying he had also heard a cinema suggested, being 'at least five years away'.
At the town council meeting last week Cllr John Perks said: “All it would take would be for the top of the ground being broken and seeds planted."