Work set to start on new green space in Coventry city centre

Work is set to start this week on a new green space for Coventry city centre outside the Council House.



It is aimed at revitalising the huge space from the Council House to the magistrates court and police station.

Traffic will be vastly reduced, and new green areas, wider pavements and a narrowed road will give it a far more pedestrianised feel.

It is the latest stage in the ongoing regeneration of the post-war city centre, which last year saw the new look Broadgate unveiled.

A one way system will see the road narrowed from four lanes to one.

The traffic lights at the junction of High Street will go, and landscaping will include lawn and connecting sandstone paths.

Councillor Rachel Lancaster, Labour cabinet member for public services, said: “I’m delighted that we are set to improve the area outside the Council House.

“At the moment it is dominated by traffic and even though it is not a well-used road – all of the space is given over to vehicles rather than pedestrians.

“This work will correct the balance – widening pavements for pedestrians and greening the area in a similar style to the Bull Yard area.

“We are working hard to improve our city centre. It’s the shop window for us and we want to make sure that we set a really high standard that new investors will follow.’’

She said work, which includes replacing some trees in “really poor condition”, will be phased to minimise disruption and ensure “business as usual”

The work includes:

* A new one way system along Little Park Street, Earl Street, Much Park Street and St Johns Street

* Two new zebra crossings installed near to High Street and The Herbert Art Gallery.

* Speakers Corner will be relocated a few metres away from where it is now – in a new levelled area.

* The removal of all of the steps will make the area easier to use for disabled people or people with pushchairs, the council says.

* The new one width, one way road will have a beige coloured surface to “complement the colour of the Council House and the surrounding sandstone paving.”

'Green space' bid blasted as more city centre trees set for the chop

Protesters are up in arms at the latest council decision to remove more trees from Coventry city centre.

A new ‘green space’ to be created outside the Council House has come under fire from tree campaigners after it was revealed that nine maple trees are set for the chop.

The move follows the planned removal of several trees in Greyfriars Green as part of the Friargate Development, and environmentalists are furious at the latest decision.

The Coventry Tree Group has questioned the lack of public consultation by the council and why little prior warning was given about the removal of trees.

Pip Pountney, of Coventry Tree Group, said: “Sadly, we hear this so very often in Coventry and it is surprising how many trees are declared to be diseased when they get in the way of proposed development.

“Planning really does need to preserve the existing green infrastructure and this should be considered first whenever possible.

“The people of Coventry have asked for more green space and small areas have appeared but it is far from enough.

"Unfortunately, it appears that every time a tree grows to a satisfactory level of maturity in our city there is a very good reason for removing it or reducing the canopy so that it becomes unrecognisable.”

A council spokesman said that two trees would be planted for every tree removed, as was the case in Greyfriars Green.

He said: “The nine trees to be removed are all maple trees. They do not have tree preservation orders.

“They are in a poor state of health with a disease called sooty bark disease. This leads to a slow decline over a prolonged period of time.

"Two trees will be planted for every one we remove and this will be on top of the new trees we have planted in Cox Street and Pool Meadow and Little Park Street.

"The established oak tree and all of the street trees along the length of Little Park Street will be retained.”

The work is aimed at revitalising the space from the Council House to the magistrates court and police station.

Traffic will be vastly reduced with new green areas, wider pavements and a narrowed road providing a more pedestrianised feel. A one-way system will see the road narrowed to one lane.

The traffic lights at the junction of High Street will go, and landscaping will include lawn and connecting sandstone paths.

It is the latest stage in the regeneration of the post-war city centre, which last year saw the new-look Broadgate unveiled .

Yeah, Coventry really needs yet another patio doesn't it?