Call for community involvement in Birmingham station designs

Three new stations on the Camp Hill line in south Birmingham are set to reflect the rich and varied history of the area.

A number of heritage information boards will be installed at the stations as well as unique decorative fence designs.  Local communities are being asked for their creative input and ideas to celebrate the vibrancy of the areas around the new stations at Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road.

The cut-out patterns on the steel fencing panels will be shaped and designed to reflect and draw inspiration from local heritage.  These could include local figures such as J. R. R. Tolkein or families who lived in the area, such as the Chamberlains.

The stations are already under construction by VolkerFitzpatrick. They form part of the project led by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), to restore passenger rail services to the Camp Hill Line.

A number of drop-in sessions will take place in the coming weeks. Some are being hosted by WMRE while local community groups will be organising others.

The sessions will take place at:

• Thursday 16 November, 18:00-20:00: Gateway Youth Session (2a Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, B14 7RA: for age suitability and to book attendance, contact the All Saints Youth Project)
• Friday 17 November, 10:00-12:00: Stirchley Circle 22 (Stirchley Baths, Bournville Lane, Stirchley, B30 2JT)
• Friday 24 November, 11:00-12:30: Over 50s Friendship Group (Kings Heath Library, 2 High Street, Kings Heath, B14 7SW)

Open sessions will be taking place at:

• Saturday 18 November, 14:30-16:30: Kings Heath Library (2 High Street, Kings Heath, B14 7SW)
• Saturday 25 November, 14:30-16:30: Stirchley Library (8 Bournville Lane, Stirchley, B30 2JT)

Throughout this month, artwork will be carefully considered to determine their popularity and feasibility with the final three suggestions per station open for public vote on the WMRE website and social media channels, and a final design to be drafted before the year's end.