City Centre, what to go and what to build (1 Viewer)

[Sick Boy]

What difference will it make? The council have decided that the city will become a suburb of Birmingham.

 

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[Nathccfc]

Yeah, posted about that a month or so ago. I don't tend to go up there, but when to central six and didn't know whether I was allowed to pull out or not. The red 'shared' spaces are bonkers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors

I have to admit I actually don't think it's that bad and I reckon it works quite well.

 

[Otis]

I have to admit I actually don't think it's that bad and I reckon it works quite well.

I don't mind it now I know how the bleeding thing works, but the signage is next to useless. Seen many a driver looking baffled.

 

[Jack Griffin]

There's no links or patterns to the architecture. I assume the appalling market building is listed so we are stuck with it. The burgess and the street next to it just echo deprivation.

That needs to go, it has no true architectural merit whatsoever. Is there any way to delist an eyesore like it?

 

[Otis]

That needs to go, it has no true architectural merit whatsoever. Is there any way to delist an eyesore like it?

Yep. With a bomb.

 

[chiefdave]

If you're new to Coventry, that Friargate junction is a leaves you in complete buffudlement.

Drove that way to the match the other way. When you get to a junction there's absolutely no indication of who has right of way. Its a good idea to open it up but very poorly implemented.

 

[chiefdave]

That needs to go, it has no true architectural merit whatsoever. Is there any way to delist an eyesore like it?

It could 'accidentally' catch fire.

 

[pusbccfc]

Drove that way to the match the other way. When you get to a junction there's absolutely no indication of who has right of way. Its a good idea to open it up but very poorly implemented.

Just like the stupid roundabout on the A45/Broad Lane. Who designs the roads in Coventry?!

 

[Pipehitterz]

Drove that way to the match the other way. When you get to a junction there's absolutely no indication of who has right of way. Its a good idea to open it up but very poorly implemented.

use it all the time, people cutting up other cars every time i go there
dont think everyone realises 'both' lanes turn right and left, seen so much road rage up there its laughable
similar to skyblue way roundabout, people totally moving into the wrong lane , hilarious results ensue

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Went to town on the train today past all the sites The Anne Lucas station at the Ricoh looking as lovely as the day it was built, past the Butts stadium which probably is a little small for our requirements. Then walked into the fine City over that new bit over the ring road which is alright.

Finally ended up at the Transport museum which I haven't been to in more than 25 years and it was excellent (I am not really a car nut) it shows the fine history of Coventry but also makes you think a great shame that it has all gone, also got to see the bus from 1987 which I thought was great but my little boy said look daddy there is a fire engine over there, well worth a visit and free to get in although we put some money in the box.

 

[LastGarrison]

Went to town on the train today past all the sites The Anne Lucas station at the Ricoh looking as lovely as the day it was built, past the Butts stadium which probably is a little small for our requirements. Then walked into the fine City over that new bit over the ring road which is alright.

Finally ended up at the Transport museum which I haven't been to in more than 25 years and it was excellent (I am not really a car nut) it shows the fine history of Coventry but also makes you think a great shame that it has all gone, also got to see the bus from 1987 which I thought was great but my little boy said look daddy there is a fire engine over there, well worth a visit and free to get in although we put some money in the box.

I went in May just as it was being done up (haven't been since) but I was extremely impressed and another thing I feel us Coventrians don't take advantage of enough!

 

[Nick]

I went in May just as it was being done up (haven't been since) but I was extremely impressed and another thing I feel us Coventrians don't take advantage of enough!

I go to the Transport Museum, it is great for free! My daughter loves it in there.

 

[Otis]

I go to the Transport Museum, it is great for free! My daughter loves it in there.

It's brilliant! The Herbert is fantastic too.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

It's brilliant! The Herbert is fantastic too.

He wants to go to London again next as he wants to go to the natural history museum, but he is going to take his grandad to the transport museum as he has never been there.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

I went in May just as it was being done up (haven't been since) but I was extremely impressed and another thing I feel us Coventrians don't take advantage of enough!

I would imagine it is busy in the summer holidays and yesterday probably had about 100 people in there mainly pensioners, but also some Americans. The cathedral is the same I haven't been in there for probably 20 years either

 

[Liquid Gold]

I haven't lived in Coventry for a good while now but when I've been into the centre it looks terrible, not an advert for the city at all. There needs to be some coherent plan and identity put into place but with the greater Birmingham plan this will never happen.

The city where I currently reside, Bristol, had a similar look to Cov with a post-war precinct but it has taken so many great steps to expand the centre and has a great feel to it. Due to the lack of a ring road the centre feels massive, stretching from clifton village to Cabot circus and there are great bars that are always busy dotted all about the place.

Coventry needs rid of that ring road and to give itself something to be proud of. My girlfriends family live in Leamington and they say they've never been to Coventry in 10 years of living there because there is simply nothing to attract them. If you could look at it objectively then what exactly stands out about Coventry?

 

[ajsccfc]

I understand how the Friargate junction works now but it's just so much slower I go out of my way to avoid it. It was bad enough previously when people trying to turn into Henry's across two lanes would cause a tailback to the roundabout, but now it's an awful junction both ways there's no point even entertaining it.

 

[wingy]

I understand how the Friargate junction works now but it's just so much slower I go out of my way to avoid it. It was bad enough previously when people trying to turn into Henry's across two lanes would cause a tailback to the roundabout, but now it's an awful junction both ways there's no point even entertaining it.

I disagree
Have used it now possibly abou 20 times.
I now Actually prefer to drive @20mph through the centre of town.past the Uni down Gosford St and up through Stoke to the awful Ring road merger before you go up Sky Blue Way.
I'm not a fan of dropping the ring road as the previous poster suggests it serves this cities commuters very well

 

[ajsccfc]

It might be ok if you're going through, but using it to get on and off the ring road during rush hour is so much worse than when it was an ugly but functional roundabout.

 

[wingy]

It might be ok if you're going through, but using it to get on and off the ring road during rush hour is so much worse than when it was an ugly but functional roundabout.

Yeah that most likely could be true as haven't attempted to join the RR,but that's what I'm suggesting I go through town now as a preference no traffic lights and little traffic, quite pleasant.
Don't know which side you live but think you've suggested Stoke in some posts
I'd recommend giving the route a try.

 

[ajsccfc]

I've managed to find a new nippy route round the back of the Memorial and through Styvechale which works out lovely, but I know the way you mean, I tried it out of exasperation at the ring road queue and it was a lot less blood-boiling thankfully.

 

[Houdi]

Coventry 9/10 biggest City population wise in England and ranked about 59th in footfall suggest something is radically wrong. It's not like Coventry has an unemployment worse than most other major Cities, it shows how poorly served we have been over decades by our beloved Council.
Like most people who read the Skyscrapers forum have said and I agree, the Ring Road has been probably the biggest disaster ever inflicted on the City.A mainly 8 lane collar, that has choked and strangled the City to death.To build a ring road so close to the centre was utter madness,with junctions often only barely 200 yards apart. No other major City in Britain and indeed I imagine Europe has followed suit with good reason.
Friargate is a start in breaking the collar of the Ring Road, but more needs to be done. The trouble is so many people in Coventry still believe it is an asset, because it is all they have known. Cities should be vibrant and busy ours becomes a ghost town certainly at night. People moan about the growth of student accommodation, the trouble it is only Coventry University that is actually investing in the centre, without them investment would be virtually nil apart for Friargate.

 

[wingy]

Coventry 9/10 biggest City population wise in England and ranked about 59th in footfall suggest something is radically wrong. It's not like Coventry has an unemployment worse than most other major Cities, it shows how poorly served we have been over decades by our beloved Council.
Like most people who read the Skyscrapers forum have said and I agree, the Ring Road has been probably the biggest disaster ever inflicted on the City.A mainly 8 lane collar, that has choked and strangled the City to death.To build a ring road so close to the centre was utter madness,with junctions often only barely 200 yards apart. No other major City in Britain and indeed I imagine Europe has followed suit with good reason.
Friargate is a start in breaking the collar of the Ring Road, but more needs to be done. The trouble is so many people in Coventry still believe it is an asset, because it is all they have known. Cities should be vibrant and busy ours becomes a ghost town certainly at night. People moan about the growth of student accommodation, the trouble it is only Coventry University that is actually investing in the centre, without them investment would be virtually nil apart for Friargate.

Some of us remember the hideously slow commute around and through town prior to its introduction.
No thanks to going back to that.
It works brilliantly in allowing it's residents to swiftly navigate around the City.
Every set of lights and little tweak renders it a little less effective, so one day your wish will come.

 

[Houdi]

Some of us remember the hideously slow commute around and through town prior to its introduction.
No thanks to going back to that.
It works brilliantly in allowing it's residents to swiftly navigate around the City.
Every set of lights and little tweak renders it a little less effective, so one day your wish will come.

Oh yes it get's people around the City Centre well, at the expense of a dead city centre. If its such a great idea you wonder why no other City has copied it. Why won't John Lewis come to Coventry because the footfall is so poor. How many who live in Coventry never shop there, but instead go to Leamington ,Leicester,Solihull or Birmingham.
Do Cities in North America build crappy little ring roads,well none I've ever been too have. Well you've had you ring road for 40-50 years ,and guess what a dead an unloved city centre for the same time.
Go to Nottingham,Birmingham,Cardiff on any Saturday night and they are bustling busy places, go to Coventry and you would think there has been a nuclear holocaust it is that deserted.

 

[wingy]

Oh yes it get's people around the City Centre well, at the expense of a dead city centre. If its such a great idea you wonder why no other City has copied it. Why won't John Lewis come to Coventry because the footfall is so poor. How many who live in Coventry never shop there, but instead go to Leamington ,Leicester,Solihull or Birmingham.
Do Cities in North America build crappy little ring roads,well none I've ever been too have. Well you've had you ring road for 40-50 years ,and guess what a dead an unloved city centre for the same time.
Go to Nottingham,Birmingham,Cardiff on any Saturday night and they are bustling busy places, go to Coventry and you would think there has been a nuclear holocaust it is that deserted.

I think you will find the reason no one shops in city centre any more is to do with the myriad satellite shopping centres placed around the edge of the City not to mention other towns on the cusp of the city now having the own outlets.
Debenham at Elliott Field for example
The city centre is large enough IMO.
What needs to change is how and what it is used for, again IMO.

 

[Otis]

I think you will find the reason no one shops in city centre any more is to do with the myriad satellite shopping centres placed around the edge of the City not to mention other towns on the cusp of the city now having the own outlets.
Debenham at Elliott Field for example
The city centre is large enough IMO.
What needs to change is how and what it is used for, again IMO.

I do think that first statement is untrue though Wingy. When I go down town it's usually very busy.

Saturday's are always really, really busy and we've also been down on a Sunday twice lately and really struggled to find a parking space anywhere at all (not Christmas).

A lot of people DO shop in the city centre. I'm down there a lot and it's probably only Mondays that are quiet.

 

[Grendel]

I do think that first statement is untrue though Wingy. When I go down town it's usually very busy.

Saturday's are always really, really busy and we've also been down on a Sunday twice lately and really struggled to find a parking space anywhere at all (not Christmas).

A lot of people DO shop in the city centre. I'm down there a lot and it's probably only Mondays that are quiet.

The footfall in the city is really really poor. Go to Leicester and go to Nottingham and honestly tell me they have less people in the city.

Parking? The city has little parking but I went two days before Christmas and the plaza was empty on the top 4 floors. No way did you go and struggle that is always empty.

 

[Otis]

The footfall in the city is really really poor. Go to Leicester and go to Nottingham and honestly tell me they have less people in the city.

Parking? The city has little parking but I went two days before Christmas and the plaza was empty on the top 4 floors. No way did you go and struggle that is always empty.

We did struggle. We obviously cannot go driving round trying to find a car park.

We use the same 3 or 4 car parks usually and usually we get in. Get to gauge which ones have space.

We struggled with the ones we went too and tried a couple of others. I didn't say all car parks were full, just that we struggled to find a space.

I know the Belgrade Plaza usually has spaces, but we didn't try there.

Oh, and how do you know about the footfall? I thought you said you hardly ever go into Coventry because the shopping is so bad.

 

[wingy]

I do think that first statement is untrue though Wingy. When I go down town it's usually very busy.

Saturday's are always really, really busy and we've also been down on a Sunday twice lately and really struggled to find a parking space anywhere at all (not Christmas).

A lot of people DO shop in the city centre. I'm down there a lot and it's probably only Mondays that are quiet.

No I'm sure you're right Otis.
It's this perception that were missing out on something, when most of what I've reffered to is to do with socio economic factors and cultural changes ---peoples habits.
Online shopping, social interaction mostly through media formats, the Idea of everyone out on a weeknight doesn't fit anymore mortgages to pay, work pressure, drinking culture frowned upon.
The Idea that the ring Rd is a barrier to any of that is false IMO, try driving round or through Leamington, Rugby or Nuneaton on a Saturday or rush hour proves the value of our ring Rd.
The only obstacle to people utilising facilities and socialising more are people themselves.

 

[Grendel]

We did struggle. We obviously cannot go driving round trying to find a car park.

We use the same 3 or 4 car parks usually and usually we get in. Get to gauge which ones have space.

We struggled with the ones we went too and tried a couple of others. I didn't say all car parks were full, just that we struggled to find a space.

I know the Belgrade Plaza usually has spaces, but we didn't try there.

Oh, and how do you know about the footfall? I thought you said you hardly ever go into Coventry because the shopping is so bad.

So when you say you couldn't find a space you didn't actually go to a car park that's always empty?

I know about footfall as I have been to the centre on some occasions and it's deserted in comparison to those other towns I've mentioned. Nottingham is packed - there are queues to cross the main roads!

It's silly to say the city has much footfall. It's a known problem which even the council have acknowledged.

 

[wingy]

So when you say you couldn't find a space you didn't actually go to a car park that's always empty?

I know about footfall as I have been to the centre on some occasions and it's deserted in comparison to those other towns I've mentioned. Nottingham is packed - there are queues to cross the main roads!

It's silly to say the city has much footfall. It's a known problem which even the council have acknowledged.

Yes but what competition does Nottingham have and as you know and state the socio economic make up of Coventry Isn't up there with a County Town.
The need for huge retail operations are diminishing, the format of this City Centre needs to change to more Commercialised /populated direction IMO.

 

[Otis]

So when you say you couldn't find a space you didn't actually go to a car park that's always empty?

I know about footfall as I have been to the centre on some occasions and it's deserted in comparison to those other towns I've mentioned. Nottingham is packed - there are queues to cross the main roads!

It's silly to say the city has much footfall. It's a known problem which even the council have acknowledged.

You are the most argumentative person I have ever come across. Seriously! Lol.

Can you not go one single day without arguing with someone on here?

You now telling me where I should park?

I said we struggled to park and we did struggle to park. We tend to avoid the Belgrade one, because twice we have been stuck in there for over 30 mins trying to get out.

But you want me to park there because you say so? Okay.

I am in town all the time and it IS busy. You want me to say it's not busy when it is? You want me to say we didn't struggle to park when we did?

Is there some law that says if we struggle to get parked in the normal car parks we go to and nearly always get in, that we have to try every car park in the city?

The city centre is busy. Pretty much every time I go down and I am there at least twice at week (this is midweek NOT the weekend) and then on a Saturday or Sunday we usually go down with my wife too.

You really seem to have such a downer on Coventry and knock it at every given opportunity. Must say I find that a tad pathetic and a little sad.

I know Coventry isn't perfect, but it is busy and no, I don't go to Leicester or Brum or where ever else, because I don't feel I need to. We do visit Brum or Leamington on occasion, but usually find everything we want in Coventry, so it seems pointless going elsewhere.

Don't know why you are arguing with me. I go down town and it's busy, yet you seem insistent that I have to say it is not.

 

[Grendel]

Statistics tell the reality

Victoria centre Nottingham - annual footfall of 21 million

High Cross Leicester also 21 million

Royal Priors Leamington - 7 million

West orchards - 6 million

Guess you'd really struggle to park in Nottingham.

 

[Otis]

Not going to argue with you as it is pointless. Statistics can tell you many things.

Victoria Centre has 65 retail outlets and West Orchards 40.

How can you just base how busy a city is on one shopping mall within each city is beyond me.

I am in the town centre all the time and very rarely go in West Orchards. The shops there on the whole are not as good as elsewhere in the centre.

You have to admit you are just a very, very argumentative bugger. If you can point me in the direction of one single day where you have posted and not had an argument with someone I would be most grateful.

 

[Otis]

Was just going to add, that even people who defend Coventry are hardly going to defend West Orchards, which is a pretty poor shopping mall. I tend to only go in HMV and Marks and Spencer's and both of those you can access without even setting foot in the mall at all.

Wouldn't compare West Orchards with anywhere to be honest. The design was all wrong when it was built and the rest of the shops are poor, aside from Debenhams, HMV and M&S.