Birmingham City Council bosses are threatening legal action over a digital sign falsely accusing officials of criminal behaviour related to land and property deals.
The sign is fitted to the side of the former fire station building on Bordesley Green and seen by thousands of commuters and passers by each day.
The building is owned by developer firm Edward and John Brown which has been embroiled in long-running legal disputes with the council over property deals which they say has cost them more than one million pounds.
Their complaint dates back to 2008 and involved a development in Small Heath where the firm built and sold houses. Part of the development was on council owned land meaning the new home owners had no right of access to their properties.
This lead to huge legal dispute between the homeowners, the council and the developer which left the firm out of pocket.
The firm maintains the council has ripped them off and that they were the rightful owners of the land. They also claim the authority has refused to meet with them or fully investigate.
Company director Tom Joyce said: “I have been forced to resort to a situation where actions speak louder than words.”
He made a series of allegations over the council’s handling of the land sale and dispute and added that they had ‘treated him with contempt’.
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The city council has robustly dismissed the claims and warned that it could take action to have the sign removed.
A city council spokesman said: “The council is aware that an electronic sign is being displayed by a member of the public, which accuses the Local Authority of ‘condoning’ criminal actions by council officers.
“This sign is false and its accusations are entirely denied. No council officer has been charged or convicted of any criminal act. The council would most certainly not condone any such activity, if it were to occur.
“This false accusation is being presented on a sign, which is displayed on privately owned land. By doing so, the owner or occupier of that land may be committing an offence and the council is currently taking legal advice in relation to the same.”
