What is it about Coventry? (3 Viewers)

[SkyblueBazza]

The average Joe in every other place may say "CCFC...what happened to them? They won the FA Cup cup once, years ago, didn't they?"

But did the story not begin oh so many years ago? With "Send him to Coventry!" perhaps? Then the city became the nation's sacrificial lamb in WW2. Then in its hour of need, the city's one great manufacturing base; rugby club; football club; speedway club fell prey to vultures, incompetents &/or ambivalents.

Who or what will come to the aid of the place & restore it to its former greatness & esteem?

And perhaps more importantly...when???


...onwards & upwards PUSB

 

---

[smouch1975]

ASDA.

Coming to a demolished factory site near you soon

Sent from my SM-N915G using Tapatalk

 

[wingy]

The average Joe in every other place may say "CCFC...what happened to them? They won the FA Cup cup once, years ago, didn't they?"

But did the story not begin oh so many years ago? With "Send him to Coventry!" perhaps? Then the city became the nation's sacrificial lamb in WW2. Then in its hour of need, the city's one great manufacturing base; rugby club; football club; speedway club fell prey to vultures, incompetents &/or ambivalents.

Who or what will come to the aid of the place & restore it to its former greatness & esteem?

And perhaps more importantly...when???


...onwards & upwards PUSB

Well it could be JLR if the government doesn't show it's usual disdain for our City.
Who mentioned us becoming the next silicon valley the other day too.

 

[SkyblueBazza]

Well it could be JLR if the government doesn't show it's usual disdain for our City.
Who mentioned us becoming the next silicon valley the other day too.

JLR promise is to be applauded...but they are the sole major car manufacturer now - the tattered remains of a once major industry in the area. In a similar vein to the tattered remains of football, rugby & speedway clubs.

...onwards & upwards PUSB

 

[dutchman]

A city-wide municipal high-speed wifi network of the kind many Scandinavian cities have would be a good start but it isn't going to happen as there are too many vested interests involved.

 

[Corrado]

Well if you listen to what Gilbert has to say Cov will be THE place to live in the next 10 years as.... we are getting a new water park

 

[martcov]

Well if you listen to what Gilbert has to say Cov will be THE place to live in the next 10 years as.... we are getting a new water park

Tbf things are moving forward after years of neglect.

 

[Corrado]

Tbf things are moving forward after years of neglect.

What by building new council house' and a new business district, I get that this may create more jobs (if it is ever completed) but surely firstly spending money on reducing crime and homlessness is money better spent

 

[martcov]

What by building new council house' and a new business district, I get that this may create more jobs (if it is ever completed) but surely firstly spending money on reducing crime and homlessness is money better spent

Bringing in more jobs and therefore wealth, may help in that respect. Money raised from business taxes could certainly be put to good use
. Not bringing in jobs and taxes would lead to more crime and homelessness- which nobody wants.

 

[Bumberclart]

Ever since the City was sacrificed during the blitz, it has been let down by successive governments.
I went into the city centre last year for the first time in 15 years, and it's heart breaking. What makes it worse is a trip to Birmingham last week. When you see the level of investment that has gone on there, it just seems a little unfair.

 

[Corrado]

Bringing in more jobs and therefore wealth, may help in that respect. Money raised from business taxes could certainly be put to good use
. Not bringing in jobs and taxes would lead to more crime and homelessness- which nobody wants.

I just dont buy it, its a gamble which I think the city cannot afford for example Spending 36million pounds on a new swimming pool when the current one is losing £2000/day! Trust me im all for smartening up the city but I really dont think having a fancy swimming pool is more important then the homless and crime rates

 

[shmmeee]

I just dont buy it, its a gamble which I think the city cannot afford for example Spending 36million pounds on a new swimming pool when the current one is losing £2000/day! Trust me im all for smartening up the city but I really dont think having a fancy swimming pool is more important then the homless and crime rates

We are getting a new pool because of the shit storm when they got rid of the last one. Also the new water park will be cheaper to run and offer higher profit services, and again the old one can be sold off.

You don't just "spend money" on social issues like crime, education and homelessness, they are symptoms of other social ills. Also council money has been massively cut and funds tend to come in lumps with strings attached.

For an idea of the decisions that have to be made, have a go at Newcastle Councils budget tool here: https://www.letstalkbudget.org.uk/

Moving the council offices allows them to sell off the old ones and run more efficiently as well as hopefully kick-starting a business district the city needs as there is less quality office space than similar towns.

Quality office space attracts better paid jobs and pays more business rates. Better paid jobs spend their money locally, buy nicer houses and put more council tax, improving local services and providing employment.

The council aren't allowed to borrow to build housing and police funds tend to come out of central government funding and council tax, which they can only raise by so much.

Just think for a second: do you seriously believe a group of people who have decided to dedicate their lives to public service and mostly for a left wing party for that matter, don't care about social ills? Or is it just that these problems are hard and the constraints numerous?

 

[ccfctommy]

Well if you listen to what Gilbert has to say Cov will be THE place to live in the next 10 years as.... we are getting a new water park

Homeless and crime will allways be prevailant no matter how much money you throw at it

 

[Nick]

We are getting a new pool because of the shit storm when they got rid of the last one. Also the new water park will be cheaper to run and offer higher profit services, and again the old one can be sold off.

You don't just "spend money" on social issues like crime, education and homelessness, they are symptoms of other social ills. Also council money has been massively cut and funds tend to come in lumps with strings attached.

For an idea of the decisions that have to be made, have a go at Newcastle Councils budget tool here: https://www.letstalkbudget.org.uk/

Moving the council offices allows them to sell off the old ones and run more efficiently as well as hopefully kick-starting a business district the city needs as there is less quality office space than similar towns.

Quality office space attracts better paid jobs and pays more business rates. Better paid jobs spend their money locally, buy nicer houses and put more council tax, improving local services and providing employment.

The council aren't allowed to borrow to build housing and police funds tend to come out of central government funding and council tax, which they can only raise by so much.

Just think for a second: do you seriously believe a group of people who have decided to dedicate their lives to public service and mostly for a left wing party for that matter, don't care about social ills? Or is it just that these problems are hard and the constraints numerous?

Can you get a photo with a hard hat and a shovel next to some homeless people? It doesn't work the same.

It does assume that people who will get jobs here will also move here and live here rather than just get in, get out for work.

 

[Corrado]

Homeless and crime will allways be prevailant no matter how much money you throw at it

Narrow minded attitude!

But it can be dramatically reduced by spending money on initiatives designed at reducing these

 

[Grendel]

We are getting a new pool because of the shit storm when they got rid of the last one. Also the new water park will be cheaper to run and offer higher profit services, and again the old one can be sold off.

You don't just "spend money" on social issues like crime, education and homelessness, they are symptoms of other social ills. Also council money has been massively cut and funds tend to come in lumps with strings attached.

For an idea of the decisions that have to be made, have a go at Newcastle Councils budget tool here: https://www.letstalkbudget.org.uk/

Moving the council offices allows them to sell off the old ones and run more efficiently as well as hopefully kick-starting a business district the city needs as there is less quality office space than similar towns.

Quality office space attracts better paid jobs and pays more business rates. Better paid jobs spend their money locally, buy nicer houses and put more council tax, improving local services and providing employment.

The council aren't allowed to borrow to build housing and police funds tend to come out of central government funding and council tax, which they can only raise by so much.

Just think for a second: do you seriously believe a group of people who have decided to dedicate their lives to public service and mostly for a left wing party for that matter, don't care about social ills? Or is it just that these problems are hard and the constraints numerous?

Nice to have a council spokesman on hand when you need one

 

[Corrado]

We are getting a new pool because of the shit storm when they got rid of the last one. Also the new water park will be cheaper to run and offer higher profit services, and again the old one can be sold off.

You don't just "spend money" on social issues like crime, education and homelessness, they are symptoms of other social ills. Also council money has been massively cut and funds tend to come in lumps with strings attached.

For an idea of the decisions that have to be made, have a go at Newcastle Councils budget tool here: https://www.letstalkbudget.org.uk/

Moving the council offices allows them to sell off the old ones and run more efficiently as well as hopefully kick-starting a business district the city needs as there is less quality office space than similar towns.

Quality office space attracts better paid jobs and pays more business rates. Better paid jobs spend their money locally, buy nicer houses and put more council tax, improving local services and providing employment.

The council aren't allowed to borrow to build housing and police funds tend to come out of central government funding and council tax, which they can only raise by so much.

Just think for a second: do you seriously believe a group of people who have decided to dedicate their lives to public service and mostly for a left wing party for that matter, don't care about social ills? Or is it just that these problems are hard and the constraints numerous?

No but you can spend money tackling the underlying causes, like domestic abuse, drug/alcohol addiction etc

 

[AVWskyblue]

In a couple of years all council spending will be decided and allocated by the new regional super council so how will Coventry fare the?

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[chiefdave]

Also the new water park will be cheaper to run and offer higher profit services, and again the old one can be sold off.

The current pool costs £2K a day to run, that's £730K a year.
The water park is costing £36m and the 50M pool £14m, that's £50m in total.
The council have stated the pool will not be self sustaining so the taxpayer will still need to contribute to running costs - I don't buy the idea that the profit from one will cover the other when you look at other council owner water parks.

So for the cost of the replacement pools you could keep the existing facility open for nearly 70 years.

What's the value of the existing facility? Its a listed building so limited in what it can be used for.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Just think for a second: do you seriously believe a group of people who have decided to dedicate their lives to public service and mostly for a left wing party for that matter, don't care about social ills? Or is it just that these problems are hard and the constraints numerous?

While I'm mostly with you on the services and investment thing (and am probably more left wing than the current council!) it doesn't, of course, mean they can't make mistakes.

I'd agree entirely with this.

You don't just "spend money" on social issues like crime, education and homelessness, they are symptoms of other social ills. Also council money has been massively cut and funds tend to come in lumps with strings attached.

Not sure in the slightest of the merits of moving the council offices however. That seems slightly dubious (am a big fan of tradition leading to a sense of permanence and thus social stability, and also keeping things in a central area if nothing else) but I'll run with it, as something am not so keen on but not the biggest deal.

The waterpark idea however seems pretty much in the recent Coventry tradition of not letting things get old, and moving on to create other things to decay over time.

Am quite prepared to accept the issue is central government ssqueezing funds and forcing councils to act like business, but CCC does seem to often take a short-term view on things, to my mind.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

It does assume that people who will get jobs here will also move here and live here rather than just get in, get out for work.

As Coventry's cheaper than a lot of the surrounding areas to the south, it's not an unreasonable assumption to make.

 

[dancers lance]

I'm doing some research at the minute for a new build in Coventry that involved demolishing an old stable, we have to meet shed loads of criteria as it is in a conservation area. I have been trawling through loads of old photo's (pre war) and it's heartbreaking, this was a beautiful city.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Saw some bloke absolutely spark out this woman in front of the Co-op in Earlsdon on Saturday night. About 6-8 blokes were standing outside the social club just watching like it was the fucking theatre. I know it's not just Coventry, but this city does seem to hit a lot of lows!

 

[Gazolba]

They used to make jokes about Coventry on Monty Python.
I had an old boss whose wife was from London. When he told her I was from Coventry, she said "Coventry, there's nothing much there, is there?". I think that's probably most people's view. On many maps of England, Coventry is not even marked, they have Warwick marked instead.

Monty Python (before 1987 obviously):
Presenter (Eric Idle): Good evening. Tonight is indeed a unique occasion in the history of television. We are very privileged, and deeply honoured to have with us in the studio, Karl Marx, founder of modern socialism, and author of the 'Communist Manifesto'. (Karl Marx is sitting at a desk; he nods) Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov, better known to the world as Lenin, leader of the Russian Revolution, writer, statesman, and father of modern communism. (shot of Lenin also at desk; he nods) Che Guevara, the Cuban guerrilla leader. (shot of Guevara) And Mao Tse-tung, leader of the Chinese Communist Party since 1949. (shot of Mao; the presenter picks up a card) And the first question is for you, Karl Marx. The Hammers - The Hammers is the nickname of what English football team? 'The Hammers? (shot of Karl Marx furrowing his brow- obviously he hasn't a clue) No? Well bad luck there, Karl. So we'll go onto you Che. Che Guevara - Coventry City last won the FA Cup in what year? (cut to Che looking equally dumbfounded) No? I'll throw it open. Coventry City last won the FA Cup in what year? (they all look blank) No? Well, I'm not surprised you didn't get that. It was in fact a trick question. Coventry City have never won the FA Cup. So with the scores all equal now we go onto our second round, and Lenin it's your starter for ten. Teddy Johnson and Pearl Carr won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959. What was the name of the song? ... Teddy Johnson and Pearl Carr's song in the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest? Anybody? (buzzer goes as in 'University Challenge'.' zoom in on Mao Tse-tung) Yes, Mao Tse-tung?

 

[dutchman]

I had an old boss whose wife was from London. When he told her I was from Coventry, she said "Coventry, there's nothing much there, is there?". I think that's probably most people's view.

The reaction I get, particularly from Londoners/Southerners is "Coventry? 'Red Robbo', car workers on £600 a week, always on strike, always moaning about the Blitz and that bloody cathedral".

 

[SkyblueBazza]

The reaction I get, particularly from Londoners/Southerners is "Coventry? 'Red Robbo', car workers on £600 a week, always on strike, always moaning about the Blitz and that bloody cathedral".

...and the lack of a decent football team

...onwards & upwards PUSB

 

[RB1992]

Look at Dresden now, compared to Coventry. And weep.

There was a perfect opportunity post-Blitz to make Coventry the envy of the UK in terms of architecture, infrastructure etc. Instead we rebuilt as quickly using ugly grey concrete blocks.

It really does feel like I've been born in the land that time and people forgot.

 

[Gazolba]

Look at Dresden now, compared to Coventry. And weep.

There was a perfect opportunity post-Blitz to make Coventry the envy of the UK in terms of architecture, infrastructure etc. Instead we rebuilt as quickly using ugly grey concrete blocks.

It really does feel like I've been born in the land that time and people forgot.

Or Frankfurt or Nurnberg. Absolutely gorgeous cities. I totally agree, Coventry could have been rebuilt better than ever. I actually think the upper and lower precinct was excellent, but the overall planning was terrible. Much more money and effort was sunk into rebuilding Germany than us.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I actually think the upper and lower precinct was excellent, but the overall planning was terrible.

The actual plan for that was inspired (pun intended). Problem is, there always ends up a compromise somewhere and the problem nowadays is buildings aren't even allowed to get old before being torn down and replaced by the latest fashion, so it lacks any kind of coherent identity.

 

[fernandopartridge]

We are getting a new pool because of the shit storm when they got rid of the last one. Also the new water park will be cheaper to run and offer higher profit services, and again the old one can be sold off.

You don't just "spend money" on social issues like crime, education and homelessness, they are symptoms of other social ills. Also council money has been massively cut and funds tend to come in lumps with strings attached.

For an idea of the decisions that have to be made, have a go at Newcastle Councils budget tool here: https://www.letstalkbudget.org.uk/

Moving the council offices allows them to sell off the old ones and run more efficiently as well as hopefully kick-starting a business district the city needs as there is less quality office space than similar towns.

Quality office space attracts better paid jobs and pays more business rates. Better paid jobs spend their money locally, buy nicer houses and put more council tax, improving local services and providing employment.

The council aren't allowed to borrow to build housing and police funds tend to come out of central government funding and council tax, which they can only raise by so much.

Just think for a second: do you seriously believe a group of people who have decided to dedicate their lives to public service and mostly for a left wing party for that matter, don't care about social ills? Or is it just that these problems are hard and the constraints numerous?

TBH I think the water park is a good idea, but, I did read the council business case for it. Shows how much the council officers take the councilors for absolute mugs (which they are). The projections in it were heavily skewed in favour of the more expensive option.

 

[fernandopartridge]

We are getting a new pool because of the shit storm when they got rid of the last one. Also the new water park will be cheaper to run and offer higher profit services, and again the old one can be sold off.

You don't just "spend money" on social issues like crime, education and homelessness, they are symptoms of other social ills. Also council money has been massively cut and funds tend to come in lumps with strings attached.

For an idea of the decisions that have to be made, have a go at Newcastle Councils budget tool here: https://www.letstalkbudget.org.uk/

Moving the council offices allows them to sell off the old ones and run more efficiently as well as hopefully kick-starting a business district the city needs as there is less quality office space than similar towns.

Quality office space attracts better paid jobs and pays more business rates. Better paid jobs spend their money locally, buy nicer houses and put more council tax, improving local services and providing employment.

The council aren't allowed to borrow to build housing and police funds tend to come out of central government funding and council tax, which they can only raise by so much.

Just think for a second: do you seriously believe a group of people who have decided to dedicate their lives to public service and mostly for a left wing party for that matter, don't care about social ills? Or is it just that these problems are hard and the constraints numerous?

Should have given you more credit for a good post TBH

 

[fernandopartridge]

Look at Dresden now, compared to Coventry. And weep.

There was a perfect opportunity post-Blitz to make Coventry the envy of the UK in terms of architecture, infrastructure etc. Instead we rebuilt as quickly using ugly grey concrete blocks.

It really does feel like I've been born in the land that time and people forgot.

The irony is that both labour and conservative governments at the dawn of the cold embraced socialist architecture and ideals as much as the eastern bloc did!

 

[dutchman]

The irony is that both labour and conservative governments at the dawn of the cold embraced socialist architecture and ideals as much as the eastern bloc did!

That's because in the immediate post-war years there was a national consensus that the conditions which existed before the war; starvation wages, the workhouse and the means test, must never be allowed to return.

That consensus ended in 1979 with the election of the Thatcher government.

 

[Captain Dart]

On the up?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-38212517