Green Lane residents urge council to clean-up subway

[dutchman]

RESIDENTS in Coventry are urging the council to improve a troubled subway in Styvechale.

Members of the Green Lane North Residents’ Group voiced their concerns at a meeting about the state of the subway, which runs under Kenpas Highway.

Coun Allan Andrews (Con, Earlsdon) has backed residents to try and improve the underpass, used by children at Finham Park School, which has problems with graffiti, litter and anti-social behaviour.

Coun Andrews said: “The subway has been one of those lingering problems for a number of years and no one recently seems to have taken the initiative to try and find a long-term solution.

“I have arranged to meet with council officers from Street Pride and Community Safety teams, as well highways officers and our CCTV team, to meet with me to discuss the issues affecting the subway.”

Nick Armstrong, who chairs the Green Lane North Residents’ Group, said: “The subway provides a safe way for the hundreds of parents and children to go to and from our local schools.

“We think it should be kept in the best condition possible to deter any form of litter, graffiti and anti-social behaviour.”

A residents’ meeting about the subway is due to take place in April.

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Light at the end of the tunnel in subway battle



ATTEMPTS to clean up a subway plagued by anti-social behaviour are working, according to a city councillor.

Coun Allan Andrews said huge progress was being made at the subway under Kenpas Highway in Stivichall.

Back in March we reported how he called for urgent improvements after meeting with residents complaining of graffiti, litter and anti-social behaviour.

The problems were made worse by the fact children at the nearby Finham Park School use the subway regularly.

But now those pupils are set to undertake an annual art project to paint and update murals at the site.

Missing bins have also been replaced while the subway has been thoroughly cleaned and the probation service has used people on community payback schemes to repaint it. Increased policing at peak times is also believed to be discouraging anti-social behaviour.

Coun Andrews, who was then chair of the Earlsdon Neighbourhood Forum, has since been named deputy leader of the Conservative group on the city council.

He said the response to the problem had been excellent.

"I called for a joint effort to tackle the problems that were blighting residents and pupils and that is exactly what has happened.

"Initiatives like the mural painting will hopefully give people a sense of ownership over their subway and help reduce anti-social behaviour.

"This issue was raised when I was chair of the Earlsdon Neighbourhood Forum and I was really keen to get a plan of action in place and demonstrate to people the real benefits of coming along to the forums, meeting members of their community and getting important issues dealt with."

- There are 18 neighbourhood forums that meet quarterly across the city. These are attended by councillors, street service experts and the police and aim to act on local concerns.