COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Councillors in Coventry are looking at plans for housing and a new school on the site of the Massey Ferguson Tower in Banner Lane, Tile Hill North.



The iconic 16 storey tower was added to the tractor factory site in the mid-1960s but would be demolished to make way for the development.

The housing development is due to be considered by city planners imminently.

If planning permission is granted the tower will go and the area will lose its defining landmark.

The factory closed in 2003, but many ex Massey Ferguson employees feel attached to the tower.

However, Terry Brown, who worked for the firm for 28-years, said he understands the area needs development.

He said: "It's been there lying idle for quite some time and it's quite obvious it's not going to be used for any decent purpose so if something's going to be built in its place that's going to be a benefit to the area... then I think really it's time to go."

Terry Harvey, chairman of Tile Hill North Residents Association, agrees: "It's served its cause. We used to use it as a landmark when we went running but now it's going to come down."

Tractor production

At its peak, the factory at Banner Lane was one of the world's largest factories devoted solely to the production of tractors. However, after 56-years of production, it closed in 2003.

More than three million machines rolled off the production line between 1946 and 2003.

Since its closure, the site has been cleared of all industrial buildings apart from the 16-storey tower block and the Massey Ferguson Sports & Social Club.

Work has started on removing parts of the former Massey Ferguson tower block in Coventry ahead of it being pulled down in July.

At its peak, the factory on Banner Lane in Tile Hill was one of the world's largest tractor manufacturing sites.

The 16-storey tower was added to site in the 1960s, but closed with the factory in 2003, with the loss of 1,000 jobs.

A school is set to be built there as part of the regeneration of the area.

'Familiar sight'

More than 3m machines rolled off the production line between 1946 and 2003.

Internal fixtures and fittings are being removed ahead of the building being torn down on 8 July.

Richard Oldroyd, of developer Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said it was an end of an era for some.

"The tower block has been empty for a number of years and is a familiar sight for residents and former employees of Massey Ferguson," he said.

"It may be an end of an era for some but it is helping to open the doors for many future home owners hoping to get on the property ladder and will bring further enhancements to the community."

20A-Manor House wrote:There are 19 levels to the tower block.
I worked in number 2 gatehouse while AGCO were still on site, then I did a year and a half in the empty tower, (security). I know every square-centimetre of it.

Date set for Coventry's Massey Ferguson tower demolition


Massey Ferguson tower in 1981

A DATE has been set for the demolition of the iconic Massey Ferguson tower in Coventry.

The landmark tower which has stood in Tile Hill since the 1960s will be brought down to the ground on Sunday.

Residents living close to the site in Banner Lane have been told to leave their homes by 9am on the day and not return until an hour later.

The demolition, which has been labelled “blow down day” by the organisers, will see an exclusion zone around the area for up to three hours on the day, with limited access to areas for residents throughout the day.

Affected residents have been sent letters informing them of the details by demolition experts, Cuddy Group.

Rachel Lewis, from the group, said: “We have selected Sunday morning as this will cause the least inconvenience to residents, local businesses and the surrounding area.

“We apologise for this inconvenience, and request patience and understanding from residents on the ‘blow down day’.”

Explosives will be used to bring down the 16-storey tower.

A warning siren will sound five minutes before the demolition, and a warning rocket will go off 30 seconds before to warn people.

The Massey Ferguson social club in Broad Lane, Tile Hill, will open as a reception centre for residents who need somewhere to go during the exclusion hours.

As well as homes, shops in the precinct which lie within the exclusion zone will also be closed and buses through Banner Lane will be suspended for the entire day.

The tower has stood overlooking houses in Tile Hill since the 1960s.

It closed along with the factory in 2003. Planning permission for the tower to be knocked down was granted by the city council in 2010.

The demolition forms part of the next stage of redevelopment in the area which will see more than 800 new homes built.

A new school has also been designated for the site.

Massey Ferguson tower in Coventry demolished

The former Massey Ferguson tower on Banner Lane, Tile Hill, was demolished in a controlled explosion.

Coventry City Council streamed footage of the demolition. About 700 holes were drilled in the tower and filled with explosives. The building went down about noon.

Up to 150 people were earlier evacuated from 66 properties near the site.

The Lord Mayor of Coventry, councillor Tim Sawdon, and a six-year-old girl called Daisy, representing the Acorns charity, pressed the plunger.

Richard Oldroyd, of developer Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said 1,000 homes will have been built on the old tractor factory site when the area has been fully developed.

The land is also expected to form part of the site for a new primary school and playing field.

Demand for permanent memorial for Coventry's demolished Massey Ferguson factory

A COVENTRY councillor has launched an e-petition calling for a permanent memorial to the former Massey Ferguson factory.

The last remnant of the plant – the 16-storey tower in Banner Lane, Tile Hill – was reduced to rubble on Sunday and the site is set to be absorbed into the Banners Brook housing estate.

The tower block brought crashing down by 40kg of controlled explosives at the weekend was Massey Ferguson’s global headquarters for decades.

Now, Coun Steven Thomas has launched the petition on Coventry City Council’s website.

He is calling for suggestions for how the tractor manufacturer should be honoured.

Coun Thomas said: “Massey Ferguson was a huge employer in its time.

“Tens of thousands of Coventrians worked there and in its 1960s heyday the workforce reached 8,000 people.

“For over 50 years Massey Ferguson exported a little bit of Coventry around the world. By commemorating the factory we would also be honouring all the people who worked there.”

Coun Lynnette Kelly, city development cabinet member, pledged at the very least it would be honoured with a street name. Massey Ferguson have expressed support for some form of memorial.

Coun Thomas added: “I’m also keen to start a debate about the type of memorial we could see at the site.

“Other former factories have plaques, while someone wanted two roads on the new estate to be named Massey Close and Ferguson Close.

“I would invite anyone with creative ideas for a memorial to Massey Ferguson to write to me at the Council House and I will put forward all suitable suggestions.”

The petition is open until September 7 and will be presented to Coventry City Council later that month.

Visit http://www.coventry.gov.uk/petitions to sign.