Summary

  • Updates on Monday 4 April 2016

  1. Senior councillor resigns over social distancing videopublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 10 September 2020

    Simon Gilbert
    Political Reporter, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    A senior Coventry councillor has resigned from his position after being filmed breaching social distancing rules.

    This week, a video emerged of Labour's Tariq Khan shaking hands, hugging people, receiving a garland and saluting to a camera in Edgwick Park, Foleshill, in August.

    City Council building

    The Conservative Party had called for a vote of no confidence and now an internal message from council leader George Duggins confirmed the news that Mr Khan has now resigned.

    It read that Mr Khan has requested 24 hours to "frame" his resignation and it confirmed that he had now stepped down from his post.

    Mr Khan will remain in the Labour Party and as a councillor for Foleshill.

  2. Confidence vote after councillor seen at large gatheringpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 10 September 2020

    A vote of no confidence is going to be held about a Coventry city councillor who was filmed breaking social distancing rules at a large gathering at the weekend.

    Tariq Khan, the Labour councillor for Foleshill, was filmed shaking hands and hugging people at Edgwick Park and the Conservative group on the council said he must resign from his post as cabinet member for communities and housing.

    Tariq KhanImage source, PA Media

    The council said it was investigating the incident, which it said was a "clear breach of public health guidance".

    Mr Khan and the Coventry Labour group haven't commented, but the council leader George Duggins said: “I totally support the council’s statement.”

  3. Wasps hat-trick 'unreal' - Barbearypublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 10 September 2020

    Wasps' teenage flanker Alfie Barbeary says his challenge is to consistently perform at the highest level after scoring a hat-trick against Leicester.

    Read More
  4. Cannabis found under floorboards in Coventry drugs bustpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 10 September 2020

    Police have discovered drugs with an estimated street value of £400,000 at properties linked to a Coventry landlord.

    Vacuum-packed cannabis was found under floorboards at one address belonging to a 44-year-old "rogue landlord" who has been arrested on suspicion of money laundering and drug supply.

    Cannabis found under floorboardsImage source, West Midlands Police

    West Midlands Police said officers had searched seven properties belonging to the man which are suspected to be linked to organised crime and the exploitation of immigrant workers.

    The force also found about £40,000 in cash - some of which had been hidden under a bed at one property - and about 400 cannabis plants.

    Seized cashImage source, West Midlands Police
    Bags filled with seized cannabisImage source, West Midlands Police

    Four men, aged between 23 and 36, were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences but have since been released under investigation.

  5. Progress in promotion celebration disorder probepublished at 09:27 British Summer Time 10 September 2020

    A CCTV appeal has helped West Midlands Police identify 10 people thought to be involved in trouble at a Coventry City promotion party.

    The force said the alleged violence broke out when two men carrying a knife approached a group of fans and it resulted in bottles and other missiles being thrown at police officers.

    Officers are still trying to identify these five people as part of the investigation:

    MenImage source, West Midlands Police
    MenImage source, West Midlands Police
  6. Coventry's Jones out with knee injurypublished at 20:53 British Summer Time 9 September 2020

    Coventry City winger Jodi Jones is to undergo surgery after suffering a third anterior cruciate knee ligament injury in as many years.

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  7. Barbeary hat-trick as Wasps thump Tigerspublished at 19:37 British Summer Time 9 September 2020

    Teenager Alfie Barbeary scores a hat-trick as Wasps thrash Leicester 54-7 to keep their Premiership play-off bid on track.

    Read More
  8. Petition calling for protection of former green belt landpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 9 September 2020

    A petition opposing development of Coventry’s former green belt and a review of the Local Plan have been submitted to the city council.

    The local authority's guidelines includes the principle of about 3,000 homes in Keresley and nearly 3,500 at Eastern Green. Almost 7,000 people are currently opposing this.

    KeresleyImage source, Google

    The council believes it must accommodate more than 42,000 new homes by 2031, but the campaigners say population figures from the Office for National Statistics are "flawed".

  9. Ring road upgrade to start in Novemberpublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 9 September 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A project to improve the ring road around Coventry will start in November, after getting £5m from the Department for Transport.

    The work on the carriageway will be carried out on the Swanswell Viaduct section, between junctions three and four and should be complete before Coventry becomes the UK City of Culture next year.

    Swanswell ViaductImage source, Google

    The work will involve strengthening the bridges and resurfacing the roads and the city council is contributing £250,000 of its own money.

  10. Police make 24 arrests over human traffickingpublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 9 September 2020

    Premises in Aberdeen, Glasgow, England and Romania were raided as part of the Police Scotland-led operation.

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  11. Probe into councillor's Covid-breach hugspublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    Tariq Khan was filmed shaking hands and hugging people at a gathering broken up by police.

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  12. People in Rugby asked to 'renew their vigilance'published at 16:46 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    People in Rugby have been asked to "renew their vigilance" after a rise in coronavirus cases in the town.

    The leader of the borough council Seb Lowe said the latest cases had affected "a small number of pubs and restaurants and two of our schools" and efforts were being made to test anyone who may have been affected.

    Seb LoweImage source, Rugby Borough Council

    Mr Lowe also thanked residents for doing "what's right for Rugby" up until now and said "because of that, Rugby has seen relatively few cases compared to elsewhere in the county and elsewhere in England".

  13. Cycleway into centre of Coventry approvedpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    The two-way route serving about 4,500 homes and six schools is expected to be finished next year.

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  14. Measures to make Rugby town centre saferpublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Rugby's town centre is going to have £96,000 spent on coronavirus safety measures.

    The money has come from the European Regional Development Fund.

    Rugby town centreImage source, Google

    The funding will pay for a website to allow people to book slots at independent stores, hand sanitiser stations, signs and other communications.

  15. New police appeal after football promotion violencepublished at 09:42 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    Police have released these pictures, showing 15 men they want to talk to in relation to an unofficial Coventry City promotion party.

    The West Midlands force said trouble broke out on the evening of 9 June when several hundred people turned out on Broadgate.

    Pictures of menImage source, West Midlands Police

    It said it has already identified an additional 11 people involved in the trouble and those men have either been arrested or had voluntarily come into a police station.

  16. Three town venues shut after positive testspublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Two pubs and a desserts business in Rugby announce measures.

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  17. Charity bike ride for consultant after Covid deathpublished at 19:58 British Summer Time 5 September 2020

    Vishna Rasia's colleagues are raising money to pay for a new echo machine for the hospital.

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  18. Walker earns Coventry win at MK Donspublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 5 September 2020

    Tyler Walker's late strike is enough to guide 10-man Coventry into the second round of the Carabao Cup after a 1-0 win at MK Dons.

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