Plans to put more of a sparkle into Birmingham's 'golden mile' are to be considered next week as part of moves to breathe new life into the city's entertainment zone.
Businesses and traders on Broad Street will be meeting next Wednesday to consider ambitious plans to light up the bar and nightclub district.
The event, at Broad Street's Hyatt Regency Hotel, will also mark the launch of the area's new Business Improvement District (BID).
The BID will involve traders agreeing to pay higher business rates in return for a programme of environmental improvements, which will include the lighting. However, the BID will not officially be set up until May if the majority of traders in the Broad Street area agree for it to be given the go-ahead. Ballot papers for the plan are being sent out on April 18 and a result will be announced on May 27.
Gary Taylor, director of Brindleyplace developers Argent and chairman of the Broad Street Association, was confident Broad Street would become Birmingham's first BID. He said: "We have already had support from over 100 local businesses. Everyone I have spoken to can sense that Broad Street is really moving forward."
The lighting proposals being discussed next week include plans to create gateway features, set up big screen video displays and light up trees with coloured bulbs.
Broad Street could also see a number of its buildings illuminated by prestigious lighting company ETC UK. The firm lit up Buckingham Palace spectacularly during the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
The lighting plan also aims to reduce safety fears in and around Broad Street.
Other proposals include plans to appoint a new Broad Street manager, improve street cleaning and upgrade the local environment. Bars and nightclubs will pay two per cent of their business rates, offices and hotels will pay one per cent and businesses from surrounding areas will pay 0.5 per cent.
