Historic streets in Birmingham city centre have been repaved with patchy tarmac, leaving residents furious. The work, carried out by National Grid staff near the 19th-century town hall, City Council House, and Colmore Row—home to 23 listed buildings—involved tearing up paving stones. However, after repairs, the original slabs were not replaced. Instead, the holes were filled with zig-zag lines of black tarmac, creating what locals call a 'shameful eyesore'.
Residents Express Anger
Wayne McNally, 48, who lives and works in the city centre, said: 'It's just typical of this inept city that we can't even look after the nice parts. We've had bin strikes and the council going bust, and now they are doing shoddy repatching jobs which look like it's been done by a dodgy bloke who knocks at your door asking if you want your driveway done. This is a really historic and beautiful part of Brum—and we haven't many of those left. It's a shameful eyesore and yet another embarrassment for this city.'
One city centre worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'There was an electrical fault underground. Our building, the restaurant next door, and many offices lost power. They dug it up twice to find the fault, but what's left is this horrible scar on the pavement. It looks terrible.'
Social Media Outcry
Many took to social media to vent. One user wrote: 'I thought it was a legal requirement to reinstate the surface as they found it? Who is responsible for accepting it at handover?'
National Grid Responds
A National Grid Electricity Distribution spokesperson said: 'We know the current finish on Colmore Row isn't what people expect, and we understand the frustration. A temporary surface is in place to keep the area open and safe while a permanent solution is implemented, which is standard practice. Reinstating the original granite slabs is more complex than standard paving. We're working closely with the council to agree the right approach, including responsibility, materials and delivery, and to restore the area properly as soon as possible.'
Metro has contacted Birmingham City Council for a statement.
