Ambitious plans to make Coventry's canals a "jewel in the crown"

Work is ongoing to increase footfall



Ambitious work is taking place to help bring neglected parts of Coventry’s canal network back into use and make it ‘the jewel in the city’s crown’.

The Canal and Rivers Trust have led a Community Roots project for the past year to help improve the canal environment and promote it as a place to be.

Discussions with residents in that time have raised concerns over existing anti-social behaviour, said community engagement coordinator at the Trust, Nick Cleaver.

Activities such as litter clearing, cutting back vegetation and dredging the canal beds from Sutton Stop to Canal Basin are hoped to have a positive effect on the area.

But coupling it with increasing visitor traffic to the canal is seen as essential.

An ‘open day’ to event to promote this is taking place on Sunday, April 7, 10am-4.30pm, at the Canal Basin, offering events such as narrow boat trips, fishing tips and bicycle rides.

Mr Cleaver told a council scrutiny board on Wednesday: “The idea is to get a few hundred to come in and show them the benefits that can be gained by using the canal.

“If we can increase usage we can decrease some of the anti-social behaviour, the waste and blight we get on the canal, and decrease graffiti.”

The trust also has a plan to turn the canal network into a tourist attraction for artwork by well-known graffiti artists, who will put up new pieces of art to cover up some of the more “unsightly” tags.

Mr Cleaver said: “What that will do is attract a new audience to the canal.

“People actually come as tourists to see new street art. By working with certain people who are well-known we can actually improve the area around it.”

This plan is due to be trialled at the end of April on graffiti near access at Foleshill Road.

Other ideas include putting up signs along the canal telling visitors what attractions are in Coventry, Mr Cleaver said.

Council officer Andrew Walster added the authority is also planning to introduce bins along the canals to tackle litter.

Mr Cleaver said: “We are hoping after a few years the Coventry canal will be a jewel in Coventry’s canal really and a real haven for wildlife.”

Chair of the meeting Cllr John McNicholas praised the work as “extremely exciting”, but he also said he wanted to see “more appropriate” tenants at the Canal Basin to attract visitors.

However, Mr Walster said: “We do not have a great long list of people who want to relocate to the Canal Basin.

“We work very hard to keep the tenants who we have got there. We cannot pick and choose.”

What planet are these people on?

I agree with you Rebbonk I assume these people and councilors seldom use the canal tow paths had to laugh about the bins they like to set them on fire the bins they already have top of Lady Lane and the walk back of the Richo onto the canal and then they tip the rubbish from the bins in the canal and the rubbish well have they seen it as they never seem to clear it down by the New Inn Bridge or Lady Lane Bridge and then you have the tow path which is full of holes which sends any thing with wheels off course as for preventing anti social behaviour who going to stop them shooting the swans etc.

Last year I could nt get down the canal to Tesco as a very large padlock and chain was placed on the gate preventing the bikers racing on the tow path yet they could still get around the gate with their bikes but wheel chairs users could nt.