Public inquiry over £150m Coventry road plan

A public inquiry is due to start into government plans to spend up to £150m improving a trunk road in Coventry.

In 1998 the then transport secretary Alistair Darling proposed upgrading the A45 and A46 trunk road at Tollbar Island in the city.

The plans included creating an underpass and widening the road and were proposed under the New Deal for Trunk Roads in England scheme.

The public inquiry is due to start at 1000 GMT and will last about two weeks.

The Highways Agency project manager Paul Nagra said the plans involved creating an underpass at the Tollbar Island junction, widening the A46 Kenilworth Bypass at the Stivichall roundabout from two to three lanes and building a footbridge over the A45.

He said the work would inevitably cause disruption to local traffic, but it would be kept to a minimum to allow as much traffic through as possible.

He said there had been 19 objections lodged against the plans and nine comments of support. The public inquiry takes place at The Holiday Inn Coventry-South, in Ryton-on-Dunsmore.

Whatever hapened to that open-air swimming pool at the Ryton hotel?

I think it went when the original Ryton Bridge hotel was replaced ... late 1980's or early 1990's possibly?

I think it went when the original Ryton Bridge hotel was replaced ... late 1980's or early 1990's possibly?

A pity. It used to create a favourable impression of the area for anyone visiting from that side of the city. It was also used a lot by residents of the otherwise recreational-facility-starved Willenhall estate.

I think it went when the original Ryton Bridge hotel was replaced ... late 1980's or early 1990's possibly?

A pity. It used to create a favourable impression of the area for anyone visiting from that side of the city. It was also used a lot by residents of the otherwise recreational-facility-starved Willenhall estate.

Indeed. Never used it myself as not a good swimmer but it has legendary status for a lot of people who grew up in those parts. Along with Brandon Lane fruit farm ... Strawberries mmmm