Councillor's concern over city's archive clear out

A number of items, including plates and old tools, are earmarked for disposal

A number of items on a disposal list drawn up by Culture Coventry Trust (CCT) should be retained because of their links to the city, a councillor has said.

Photographic plates, crockery, bottles and a matchstick model were among things highlighted as important to the heritage of the city by Roger Bailey.

Nearly 600 pieces have been earmarked for disposal including vintage camera equipment and old tools from various shops around the city.

Marguerite Nugent from CCT, which manages the city's art collections and archives, said the body had never had a review into its archive and needed to reduce its collection.

Speaking at a Coventry City Council housing and communities meeting Ms Nugent said this type of clear-out was normal.

She explained that a review of their collection "had not really been done before".

However, Mr Bailey said he wanted to protect "anything with the word Coventry on it.

"There are reasons why you don't think they are relevant and I get that, but there are a number of plates with the coat of arms on and I think those sorts of things are important," he said.

Mr Bailey said it was a "shame" the items would not be used to create a scene of historical Coventry.

"If it has the word Coventry on, even if it's not in good condition, I have a problem with it going," he said.

"They are hard enough pieces to find, especially bottles and plates."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.