Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

Plans to convert an old police station in Coventry into flats is set to be given the green light, two years after a previous bid to demolish it failed.

Image source, Google

The old Tile Hill police station, at the junction of Tile Hill Lane and Tremelay Drive, was one of three sites sold off back in 2015 in a money-saving review for West Midlands Police.

A mixed house and flats plan was rejected by the city council in 2018, but a fresh application to build eight two-bedroom flats and seven one-bedroom flats was submitted in March.

The plans, which would span across two three-storey buildings and a further one two-storey building with car parking, have been recommended to be approved by council officers ahead of a final decision by a planning committee on 16 July.

Premiership Rugby says protecting "the integrity of the competition" is why clubs have a congested revised schedule.

An outdoor pool in Kenilworth will remain closed despite the government announcing they would be able to open from Saturday.

Image source, Warwick District Council

Warwick District Council said the Abbey Fields lido would remain closed for the rest of the season as it hadn't been given enough time to prepare the facilities and staff had been furloughed.

A decision to close and redevelop the outdoor pool was taken by the council in 2019 - this year was set to be the last time it was open to the public.

The council said it couldn't confirm the pool had now closed for good.

Coventry Live

These are some of today's Coventry Live headlines:

• Second bid to bulldoze part of former Coventry pub, external
• MP blasts 'cruel' axing of free hospital parking for NHS workers, external
• Appeal for witnesses after man charged with assaults in Coventry, external

A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter has been released and will face no further action after the death of another man.

Warwickshire Police were called to Sunnyside Court in Nuneaton shortly after 14:00 on 2 July, where a man in his 50s was found dead.

Image source, Google

The force said a post-mortem examination concluded there were no suspicious findings, and a file would be prepared for the coroner.

The 46-year-old man from Nuneaton has now been released.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

A 14-storey student accommodation block in Coventry city centre to provide almost 500 rooms is expected to be passed by city planners.

Image source, Vita Student

Applicant Vita Student has put forward plans for the purpose-built student block towards the edge of the ring road on Warwick Road.

The plans have been recommended for approval by council officers ahead of a committee decision on Thursday 16 July.

The scheme consists of 496 studio apartments across one 12-storey block and a second 14-storey block.

Marian McNamee
Reporter, BBC CWR

Heidi Crowter and James Carter reflect on their wedding that almost didn't happen.

Heidi, a Down's syndrome campaigner from Coventry, married her fiance at the weekend after lockdown restrictions were eased across England.

More than 1,000 people watched live online.

The number of coronavirus cases in Rugby has doubled in the past week as lockdown measures are eased.

The local authority said the number of cases increased from 3.7 per 100,000 people last week, to 7.5.

"While the number of cases is still low, the increase is the 25th largest nationwide," the council said, with leader Councillor Seb Lowe adding the rise in cases was "concerning".

"I would urge every resident to take precautions and do what is right for Rugby," he said, urging people to wear face masks and maintain a 2m distance from others.

Police investigating a planned illegal rave in North Warwickshire have arrested a man.

Tickets were being sold online for the unlicensed music event, but Warwickshire Police has asked people not to turn up.

The 39-year-old from Coventry is being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.

Coventry Live

Here are three stories from the Coventry Telegraph today:

• Council building forced to close for deep clean, external
• Artist's social distancing work to be displayed, external
• Man arrested after police discover plans for illegal rave, external

Coventry's cycling champion is hoping to lead a pedalling revolution in the city.

The cost of cremations in the UK has continued to rise despite reduced services on offer during the pandemic.

A 27-year-old man has been treated for a serious head injury after been hit with a glass bottle in a road rage attack in Warwick.

Warwickshire Police said it happened on Saturday evening, on the slip road of the M40.

Image source, Google

The force said two cars pulled over and one couple got out of their car to attack another couple.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A new operator is wanted for the Priory Visitor Centre in Coventry in time for it becoming UK City of Culture next year.

The centre, which features history exhibits, closed in 2019. It's built in the ruins of the city's first cathedral, which was uncovered in 1999 after an archaeological investigation by the city council and Channel Four's Time Team programme.

Image source, Google

Carole Donnelly, a founding director of the last group to run the centre, Coventry Priory CIC, said it was "the heart of the city centre", but warned it needed money to pay for things like security and lighting.

Coventry Live

Some of the Coventry Live headlines today include:

• Business 'caught' running in back garden without planning permission gets go ahead, external
• Buzz Bingo in Coventry announces re-opening date, external
• Hospital trying to prevent another Covid-19 outbreak, external

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

A new fleet of pure electric buses has taken to the roads of Birmingham and Coventry for the first time.

It's part of a major investment by bus company National Express, which has pledged to switch totally to zero-emission vehicles over the next decade.

A change in the law has also cleared the way for electric scooters to be legally ridden on the roads.

The West Midlands is one of several areas taking part in a year-long trial, which it's hoped will initially take the pressure off public transport while social distancing is still in place.

Three people have been arrested after a car containing suspected stolen goods was intercepted and stopped by officers on the M40 in Warwickshire at the weekend.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

The vehicle was linked to high value Shop lifting offences in Rugby, said Warwickshire Police.

The car and property shown was recovered, the force added.

A stuck kitten has been rescued after climbing into the engine of a car in Warwickshire this morning.

Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

Crews removed the wheel of the car and were able to rescue the cat unharmed, said Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The incident happened on Common Lane, in Kenilworth just after 07:20.

Heidi Crowter married partner James Carter in Coventry on Saturday but guests were limited to 30.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

A Coventry hotel is to receive a £1m rescue package from the city council to offset coronavirus lockdown pressures.

Image source, Google

Council Leader George Duggins said the loan to Coombe Abbey Hotel would “ensure the future” of the council-owned hotel while the hospitality sector struggles with losses from the pandemic.

The move was approved by council chief executive Martin Reeves through emergency powers meaning the decision was not publicly debated by councillors.

It has sparked criticism that the decision was pushed through without scrutiny and has been branded a "taxpayer bailout" by the Conservative opposition group.

The council purchased the hotel for a reported £11m in 2017 and handed it previous help such as a £1.95m loan last year to facilitate a GoApe assault course.