Coventry City Council rethink Charterhouse sale

[dutchman]

The sale of Coventry’s historic Charterhouse building is being looked at again by the city council amid a row over who should own it.



A full report is being drafted by Coventry City Council over its decision not to take back the ancient Carthusian Priory of St Anne, off London Road.

City College – which acquired it from the council 20 years ago in a land transfer deal – is selling one of the city’s most treasured buildings on the open market after the council refused an option to take it back.

It comes days after the Telegraph reported campaigners had demanded to know who at the council made the decision and why.

A statement from Coventry City Council said: “The council did have the opportunity to buy Charterhouse.

"The pre-emption agreement was to buy Charterhouse at a price equal to open-market value.

“We didn’t take up that option for a number of reasons, one of which was that there was also no budget for running the property and given it is a Grade I listed building this would be at a significant cost to the public purse.

“The decision was taken informally by the cabinet member for city development (Councillor Linda Bigham) on the advice of a senior officer.

“However, a full report is currently being drafted for consideration by the council.”

The building was donated to the people of Coventry by Colonel Wyley in his will in 1940 for use as a museum and park.

It was then transferred to the FE college about 20 years ago – then Coventry Technical College.

Residents insist it should return to public ownership.

The Coventry Charterhouse Preservation Trust was set up two months ago by residents and businesses with the aim of taking over the running of the building.

Dave Griffiths, chairman of Charterhouse Residents Association, said: “That building should be handed back for nothing.

"It’s not their building and it never has been as far as we’re concerned. They shouldn’t be making one penny from it.”

Jim Edwards, director of estates at City College,said: “We’ve absolutely no problem with the council taking up their right.

"The agreement is that it has to be properly valued and that valuation has to be undertaken by an independent valuer.”

Asked if it could be handed over for a nominal sum – bearing in mind huge costs of repair and upkeep – Mr Edwards said that was “unlikely”.

[dutchman]

Coventry Charterhouse sale 'in doubt'



Campaigners fighting to save a 14th Century building in Coventry claim plans to sell it off have been blocked over an issue of ownership.

City College said it wished to sell the Charterhouse, off London Road, after assuming control of it.

But local residents say a 1970 scheme suggests the college is just trustees along with the city council and public.

The college declined to comment. Estate agents Shortland Horne said they were no longer selling the property.

The college took control of Charterhouse a number of years ago, but no longer have a use for it.

In September last year, a spokesman for the college said they were "going to go out to the market", adding they had an "obligation as a public body to achieve best value".

After speaking to lawyers, socialist city councillor, Dave Nellist, said he was confident that the Charterhouse would remain in "public use" because it was part of the Wyley Public Park and Museum scheme which dated back to March 1970.

He also criticised the fact that the public had not been able to decide on its sale in the first place.

'Legal ambiguity'

He said: "The fact it went through in secret and we didn't know until the signs went up meant that we had to do a lot of last-minute rushing around and pressure. But working with the local residents, it's been successful."

Dave Griffiths, chair of Charterhouse Residents' Association, said he was not happy at how the property was "passed over out of public control".

He said: "It just looked to us like legalised robbery was taking place and if we hadn't kicked up a fuss it might have done."

Labour councillor Jim O'Boyle said there appeared to be some "legal ambiguity about what could and couldn't be done".

"I feel fairly confident that the Charterhouse will be maintained in Coventry for Coventry people," Mr O'Boyle continued.

"It's been around for hundreds and hundreds of years and is a prized asset."

[Spuffler]

Was the Charterhouse where the Greyfriars Arts group used to meet in the 70s?

I and my wife married at Cheylesmore Manor House in '73; is it still used for the purpose? and the Toy Museum - where does that fit in with all this? It wasn't a toy museum when I lived in Coventry, so far as I'm aware; and I think I'm right in saying it wasn't a city gate...?

[dutchman]

Was the Charterhouse where the Greyfriars Arts group used to meet in the 70s?

Don't know anything about that I'm afraid. Maybe someone else does?

I and my wife married at Cheylesmore Manor House in '73; is it still used for the purpose?

Yes it is! Back in 1995 when I was registering my housekeeper's death I witnessed a wedding between a checkout girl I knew and her 'boyfriend' who was quite clearly a girl in drag! I said nothing as she was a good friend and no-one else in the building did either! I said nothing when I saw her back at work either as I figured it was no-one's business but their own.

and the Toy Museum - where does that fit in with all this? It wasn't a toy museum when I lived in Coventry, so far as I'm aware; and I think I'm right in saying it wasn't a city gate...?

It was one of the wings behind the gatehouse building in Whitefriars Lane and was totally destroyed by fire in 2009. It has since been rebuilt.