It seems to be the general perception of dear old Brum. Though I've lived for over 30 years in southern Ireland, where my mother's from, I class myself as a born and bred Brummy. Most people I've met abroad or here believe after visiting there, that they have never seen so many ugly structures in one place and, try as I might I find it hard to disagree. It's a dumping ground for bad architects bad ideas. New St Station is the ugliest station in Britain. ( I didn't say that? ) The New Bull Ring is an ugly mess. Another shopping precinct. As well as obliterating the view of the church, old people need a stair lift to get from St Martins upto High St, it's that steep and exhausting. The Albert Speer or Central Library is a concrete bunker that would of been the envy of The Reich. Hitler would still be here if he'd had one of them. It belongs on the atlantic wall. The dropping of Masshouse Circus has made way for confusing roadmarkings ( road graffitti ). A lesson in how to get lost on a straight road, that leads to a plethora of more gruesomely ugly apartment and office buildings. In fact the new Eastside is going to increase the size of the city centre by 25%. It's all ready taking shape. By the look of it it is already on course to help Birmingham scrap all the way for it's place in the uglies lists for the next 50 years! Shame! It's the people in the council, planners etc, that allow this to happen and you vote them in. They have no thought, no vision, just mediocrity! They don't love the city of a thousand trades. The engine powerhouse of Great Britain. The second city of England. It's sad but it's true. They just don't care enough.....