Contract row over library; COUNCIL REPORT: Fears no Brum architect is up for design.

Byline: By Emma Cullwick reports from Birmingham City Council

COUNCIL chiefs were accused of failing to ensure a contract to design the new multimillion city library would be clinched by a Birmingham architect.

Seven firms have been shortlisted to create the blueprint for the pounds 193 million new Library of Birmingham, adjoining Centenary Square.

However, the council has yet to reveal which firms have made it down to the shortlist.

Today, Coun Lynda Clinton (Lab, Tyburn) claimed none of those being considered were from the local area.

"What does that say about Birmingham when we see no local architects as good enough to be shortlisted?" she said.

However, council leader Mike Whitby insisted there were city architects amongst the shortlist.

"There is at least one firm with an involvement in Birmingham that we are considering," he said.

"But it's a credit to Birmingham that people from all over the world wanted to be associated with this development."

He said the final seven would offer a variety of styles from traditional to modern architecture.

However, last month the council's claims that the new design would be a "shocking" building drew words of caution from members of a council committee investigating the Library of Birmingham plan.

At the time, Coun Mick Wilkes (Lib Dem, Hall Green) warned that a piece of modern architecture similar to Selfridges, could be divisive.

"We do not want a building for which architects give themselves awards, but which a majority of people dislike," he said.

Coun James Hutchings (Con, Edgbaston) said: "We want a design which is suitable for Centenary Square."

Coun Ian Ward (Lab, Shard End) said he was concerned that with the pounds 193 million price tag, the design and function would be secondary

CAPTION(S):

WRITING'S ON THE WALL... the current Central Library's days are numbered.