Summary

  • Updates on Monday 4 April 2016

  1. Spelling mistake directs drivers to city's 'caihedral'published at 15:43 British Summer Time 13 July 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Tom Davis

    A freshly painted road marking had to be changed in Coventry after workers made a spelling error.

    The wrongly spelt road marking

    Instead of directing drivers on the ring road to one of the city's most famous landmarks, Coventry Cathedral, they spelt it "caihedral" with the letter T not crossed.

    Before the council could make a change, one resident wrote the correct spelling under the words on the A4053, near junction five.

    The local authority thanked the "eagle-eyed" member of the public who spotted it and said the word had now been correctly spelt.

  2. Man charged after series of arson attackspublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 13 July 2020

    A man has been charged with arson after a series of fires in wheelie bins in a Coventry neighbourhood.

    Flames also spread to a house in one attack, causing significant damage.

    The 40-year-old from the city has been charged with six counts of arson and one count of arson with intent or reckless behaviour to endanger life, said West Midlands Police.

    He has been bailed with conditions to appear at Coventry Magistrates' Court next month.

  3. Row erupts over council's £1m loan to hotelpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 13 July 2020

    A row has erupted after Coventry City Council council loaned £1m to a luxury hotel.

    The local authority granted the loan, under emergency Covid legislation, which council leader Councillor George Duggins said would help Coombe Abbey safeguard its future.

    Coombe AbbeyImage source, Google

    The council is the majority shareholder in the hotel, which it bought three years ago.

    But Conservative Councillor Gary Ridley criticised the Labour-run authority for making the decision “without scrutiny”.

    The hotel’s managing director Richard Harrison, said the loan had been a “lifeline”, as it was unable to source funding through banks.

  4. 'Two weeks to save the circus'published at 00:03 British Summer Time 12 July 2020

    Performers from Circus Extreme say their industry faces collapse without support from the government.

    Read More
  5. 'Weaker' squads will incur no penaltiespublished at 22:00 British Summer Time 11 July 2020

    Premiership clubs will not be subject to selection penalties from the 14 August resumption, on a player-welfare basis.

    Read More
  6. Third murder charge after garage stabbingpublished at 10:15 British Summer Time 11 July 2020

    Pavandeep Daudher, 19, died from a stab wound to his thigh in March.

    Read More
  7. Tackling gangs to stop post-lockdown 'madness'published at 07:49 British Summer Time 11 July 2020

    Joseph Squire, who has spent time in prison, mentors young people in Coventry to steer them away from crime.

    Read More
  8. Police station development set for approvalpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    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.

    Police stationImage 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.

  9. Clubs 'supportive' of revised schedulepublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

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

    Read More
  10. Outdoor pool to remain closedpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

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

    Kenilworth lidoImage 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.

  11. Man released over body findpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    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.

    Sunnyside CourtImage 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.

  12. Plan for student accommodation set for approvalpublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    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.

    Artist impression of developmentImage 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.

  13. Couple bowled over by lockdown weddingpublished at 09:55 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    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.

    Media caption,

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

  14. Covid-19 cases double in Rugby as lockdown easespublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 9 July 2020

    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.

  15. Man arrested over illegal ravepublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 9 July 2020

    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.

  16. Bike mayor sees ‘golden opportunity for cycling’published at 01:04 British Summer Time 9 July 2020

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

    Read More
  17. 'It felt like a pauper's funeral'published at 00:49 British Summer Time 9 July 2020

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

    Read More
  18. Man suffers serious head injury in road rage attackpublished at 09:36 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    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.

    M40 slip roadImage source, Google

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