First pictures of latest Coventry city centre redesigns

[dutchman]

This is the first look at latest plans for redevelopment in Coventry city centre.

These images reveal for the first time what the redesigns would look like – including the removal of the Canal Basin bridge.

The artists’ impressions of planned work at junction one of the ring road, Gosford Street, Lidice Place/Queen Victoria Road and Belgrade Square have been released by Coventry City Council as public consultation into the plans continues.

With the exception of Gosford Street, all the plans are still subject to the consultation feedback received and grant funding being secured later this month.

The start date for work at the Canal Basin will be set if external funding is secured, but work on Gosford Street is due to start this month and the other projects are due to follow in March.

Coun Rachel Lancaster, cabinet member for public services, said: “Our transportation team and our contractors will work carefully to ensure there is as little impact on local residents, businesses, the environment and local roads as possible and we always welcome the opportunity to tell people more about these projects and to answer any questions they may have.

“As the work progresses, there will of course be traffic management in place and unfortunately it is inevitable that there will be some delays, but I hope people will bear with us as once this work is completed, we can all look forward to a more vibrant, modern, welcoming city for both our residents and visitors.”

The planned work will see changes to pedestrianised areas and road layouts to tie in with recent changes at Broadgate, Council House Square and around Far Gosford Street.

In the build up to the changes, the council is hosting a ‘drop in shop’ in Smithford Way, in the city centre, this Friday and Saturday from 11am to 2.30pm.

Members of the council’s transport and major projects teams will be on hand to answer questions and explain the work.

Work at Gosford Street will be funded by Coventry University and a grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Lidice Place/Queen Victoria Road work would be funded with a Growth Deal grant and Belgrade Square would be funded through ERDF, Growth Deal money and private investment.

Have a look at what the redevelopments will look like below.


Canal Basin looking towards Bishop Street


Gosford Street with the flyover to the right


Belgrade Plaza


Lidice Place/Corporation Street

[dutchman]

Changes at Canal Basin blasted by residents and businesses



Planned changes to the Coventry ring road layout have been criticised by residents and businesses during a drop in session to discuss them.

Residents have raised safety concerns over proposed alterations at the Canal Basin bridge junction and business representatives have criticised potential reduced access for companies during a public meeting at William Batchelor House.

But council bosses have dismissed early concerns insisting the plans, which require European funding to be secured before they can go ahead, are subject to change as a result of ongoing public consultation.

Initial plans for junction one of the ring road include lowering speed limits in the area to 30mph, preventing anti-clockwise traffic from going onto the Foleshill Road - by diverting it down Leicester Row - and replacing the landmark Canal Basin bridge with a pedestrian crossing.

Alan Dyer (pictured above), chairman of the Canal Basin Trust which maintains the nearby Canal Basin, attended a meeting with planning officials at William Batchelor House on Thursday.

He said: “It makes sense as a traffic shortcut scheme to ease congestion and get from the ring road to the Foleshill Road.

“But it will drive a one-way busy main road through a community of residents and about 40 businesses. They need to do a proper community impact survey.

“Many of the residents here are up in arms. Some of the businesses are saying they will have to relocate, if they do the Canal Basin Trust will collapse.”

Residents in the area have started a petition against the plans to remove the Canal Basin bridge and re-route the ring road through Leicester Row.

Bill Dunder, who lives at William Batchelor House, said: “Within a year there will be 20 accidents and about four people killed or seriously injured.

“You won’t be able to get out of Leicester Row one end and I think the council could be leaving themselves open to legal challenges over petrol costs if people have to go further to get into the site.

“I personally don’t think there’s enough traffic problems at the junction now for them to make these changes.

“Take away the bus lane on Foleshill Road and that’s half the problem solved.”