Digbeth's regeneration to date has come from independent creative companies, not the city council, a head of a city company has claimed.

Simon Jones, creative director of Custard Factory Spaces - the company that owns and operates the arts & entertainment facilities at The Custard Factory in Birmingham - said that there was a lack of communication between developers, the council and local firms on the future of the area.

He added that there was a need for a public meeting between interested parties to make sure that local companies were kept involved in the process.

As a result Mr Jones has organised a committee called the Co-operative Development of Digbeth (CDD) to allow people to discuss issues including transport, planning, licensing, environmental health and public funding for Digbeth.

Simon Jones, Custard Factory Spaces creative director and chairman of the CDD, says "Birmingham City Council has been looking to develop Digbeth for many years now but the bulk of tangible activity has come from independent operators like myself.

"By organising the Co-operative Development of Digbeth (CDD) we can encourage nonreactive, forward thinking discussion aiming to resolve issues by upfront communication.

"The Custard Factory and The Custard Factory Spaces have already established Digbeth as the creative hub of the city with art activity that attracts international acclaim, and with sensible communication we can all achieve our goals without sullying what has been created here over the past decade."

The CDD is looking to organise a public meeting at The Custard Factory before the end of 2007 to discuss the topics raised by the ongoing regeneration of Digbeth.

Speakers from Birmingham City Council, property developers in the area and the local business community will be invited to attend and take part. Topics affecting all who operate in the area will be addressed and open to discussion.

Mr Jones said he was also looking for people concerned about the ongoing regeneration of Digbeth to get involved with the group by emailing Ed King at ed.king@bcguk.com.