A leading city councillor has hailed 2022 as an historic and exciting year of recovery and growth in an interview with the boss of Birmingham’s main entertainment district.
Reflecting on the past 20 months, Cllr Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, said the Commonwealth Games and the long-awaited tram extension would be ‘game changers’ for the city.
Interviewed on camera by Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, Cllr Zaffar said there was much to look forward to.
“We’ve had a difficult 20 months but we’re about to turn a corner and I can feel it here on Broad St,” said Cllr Zaffar, who has just recovered from Covid himself. “People are excited, they’re out and about again. There’s a lot to look forward to.”
Speaking outside The Exchange in Centenary Square, Mr Olley outlined the developments that have gone ahead despite the challenges of the pandemic.
He said: “We’ve got a brand new bit on the front of Symphony Hall, we’ve got the Repertory Theatre revamped and ready to go. The library is still very new and probably the best example of a municipal building in the country, and we’ve got the very best coffee lounge in Birmingham.”
Then filmed with the new Metro track behind him, Mr Olley added: “We’ve had a few false starts and there’s no tram at the moment but it’s coming.”
Cllr Zaffar agreed and said: “I understand the challenges and the sacrifices made by the businesses and everybody else but when the tram does come it’s going to be a game changer.
“The Birmingham story is an incredible story and 2022 is going to be one of the most important years in that history. It’s going to be a year that we remember as a catalyst for major change.”
He added: “Soon the world’s attentions will be on our city and we will deliver the best ever Commonwealth Games but, more importantly, the legacy from the games will be second to none. After the tough 20 months we’ve had, Birmingham is raring to go.”
The full interview video can be seen on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/westsidebid/status/1488135944637198339?s=20&t=AIdfUjvzJukziwQ92lEt_A
