Mystery photo reveals pavements could be replaced by travelators in Birmingham suburb

Twitter users in Birmingham are speculating on who could be responsible for a fake planning application notice relating to "airport-style travelators" to replace pavements in Kings Heath.

The notice - which appears to be a parody - is designed to look like a genuine planning application notification from Birmingham City Council.

The area where the travelators are supposedly being applied for is Springfield Road between the junctions at Melton Road and Billesley Lane.

The notice states: "Application for the proposed installation of airport-style travelators to replace existing pavement walkways."

It's been shared by Birmingham cycling account on Twitter, @brumcyclist.

The notice gives the deadline for comments on the application as February 29, 2022 - a date which does not exist - and anyone wishing to speak at planning committee is asked to contact Sue Gray.

The reference number for the planning application does not exist on the council's planning portal.

Transport in Kings Heath has been a hot-topic since the introduction of the low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) in 2020 - which has divided opinion.

The council has run a consultation on extending the Places for People project which could involve changes to the road layout in and around Springfield Road, Melton Road and Billesley Lane as well as further afield.

Among the proposals are modal filters at the junction of Springfield Road and Melton Road, a cycle lane along Billesley Lane and a one-way system at Melton Road.

Proposals were set to go before the council's Cabinet in January but were postponed in order for the council to "take more time to develop the preferred option".

A photo of the notice was tweeted by the @BrumCyclist account and retweeted by Laurence Braithwaite - who asked if Birmingham artist Foka Wolf was responsible.

Foka Wolf, who is known for imaginative spoofs, said: "Actually not. Maybe Joe Lycett??"

Comedian Joe Lycett - who convinced the Lord Mayor of Birmingham to cut the ribbon at the ceremony for his new kitchen extension in 2019 - has been contacted for comment.

Transport planner Mark Lever-Green tweeted: "The best bit is that someone in the council will have to enter this into the planning system so they don't reuse the reference number later in the year!"

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson has confirmed the notice is fake.