Library of Birmingham: Thousands of books can't be reached

Staff at the flagship £188 million Library Of Birmingham couldn't access tens of thousands of books – because they couldn't reach them.

More than six months after the landmark facility was opened, it was branded ‘unfit for purpose'.

Furious students, researchers and academics are unable to access reference books and old periodicals because the library has not bought equipment to reach high shelves.

Officials told the Birmingham Post that health and safety concerns meant staff were unable to retrieve items requested by visitors for fear of injury. The situation means that six months after the library opened many visitors were still unable to use it for its primary purpose.

95pc of city events budget spent on Tory Party Conference

City MPs have hit out after it emerged more than 95 per cent of Birmingham's major events budget was being spent on the Conservative Party Conference.

Labour MPs in the region said a £1.48 million deal to bring the conference to the ICC was set up when Birmingham City Council was run by Conservative leader Mike Whitby – and left the budget hamstrung.

That cost to the taxpayer for the conference at the ICC from September 28 to October 1, left just £67,000 for the council to put on other events.

The deal to bring three Conservative Party conferences to the city was agreed under the previous council regime, led by Lord Whitby, but new leader Sir Albert Bore vowed to put an end to such events.

The £1.48 million was spent on hiring out the ICC, as well as security, transport and traffic costs.

New Street Station as seen from top of Rotunda

An impressive picture taken from the top floor of the Rotunda in Birmingham city centre showed how the new New Street Station is taking shape.

Birmingham Post photographer Jason Skarratt captured the vast building site with a rare glimpse of the central atrium which will allow natural light throughout the station and to all 12 refurbished platforms. The atrium will be revealed in the summer of 2015.

Cathedral Square improvements to tackle anti-social behaviour

One of the few green spaces in Birmingham city centre was given safety improvements to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Improved lighting and extended CCTV camera coverage was installed at Birmingham Cathedral Square, which sees thousands passing through it each day.

Colmore Business District (CBD) worked with Amey and West Midlands Police on the project to improve the area alongside Colmore Row.

Relaunch of Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bar

A champagne bar in Birmingham city centre was relaunched following a £100,000 facelift aimed at creating a warmer atmosphere for customers.

The Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bar, housed next to Marco Pierre White's restaurant on the 25th floor of The Cube, was refurbished following the signing of a new two-year deal by the French beverage brand to supply the bar.

Edgbaston-based upholstery company Mr McQueen led the five-week project to revamp the reception, bar, seating area and balcony and which has been carried out despite the venue remaining open throughout almost the entire process.

Experts criticise design changes to New Street Station

Network Rail was accused of cutting corners on the £600 million landmark New Street redevelopment after scaling back plans for the second time this year. The latest furore surrounded a revised planning application to retain and extend the old Navigation Street footbridge over tracks and platforms on the northern side of the station.

Library sweeps board at RIBA awards

The £188 million Library of Birmingham was the big winner at the 2014 RIBA West Midlands Regional Awards where it took home three of the four prizes.

The landmark building, which was designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo and opened in 2013, was named overall West Midlands building of the year by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

In addition, Patrick Arends from Mecanoo was named emerging architect of the year while the library's owner Birmingham City Council was crowned client of the year.

QC appointment for Liz McGrath

More than 150 colleagues, friends and family members gathered at St Philips Chambers to celebrate the appointment of Liz McGrath to the rank of Queen's Counsel.

Liz was called to the bar in 1987 and joined No 7 Fountain Court in Birmingham. A merger with Priory Chambers in 1998 led to the creation of St Philips where Liz has been an active member of chambers leading the family group for a number of years and acting as deputy head of Chambers.

Midland home designed by Edgar Wood on the market

The home owned by a Midland business legend went on the market this month.

In a 1911 book entitled Small Country Houses of Today, Upmeads in Staffordshire was described as being "fortress-like".

"It not only lacks anything approaching prettiness, which is all to the good, but presents an air of austerity which shows the designer's devotion to extreme simplicity and restraint," mused the author.

However, their views on the "boxiness" of Upmeads looks was not something they were presenting as a negative. Rather they were praising its "oddness" and "originality".

Upmeads, which is in Newport Road, Stafford, was then only three years old, having being built in 1908 for Frederick Bostock – owner of several local companies including Lotus Shoes and Evode Adhesives – his wife Mabel and their son, Anthony.

Review of 2014 - January

Review of 2014 - February

Review of 2014 - March