http://coventry.villagebuzz.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=126
What Coventry Really Needs
Ever since world war 2 the politicians in Coventry have been making the wrong decisions so the city and everyone in it are poorer and with a lower life quality. Other cities, even many in Britain, have shown how to do things better. We have persistent decline instead.
And now there is another fantastic opportunity to give Coventry a massive boost. And it doesn't even look like the politicians know or care about it.
The opportunity is to bring the next generation of Broadband here. 100 Mbits/second. This would lead to a massive upsurge in all sorts of modern businesses, but then this is obviously something the politicians know nothing about.
Let us look at this news story from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7841861.stm
In South Yorkshire an ambitious project aims to see Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) technology reach 550,000 homes over the next three years.
The project involves local councils, Regional Development Agencies and funding from the European Commission and the first houses should have their connections by the second half of 2009.
So if the South Yorkshire politicians are clever enough to put this together then why can't ours?
Coventry, although it is the 9th largest city in Britain, is compact because it is surrounded by greenbelt, the countryside is always near. There is no urban sprawl. The city centre is compact and walkable because it is defined by the inner ring road.
Coventry has a big and bustling traditional market. Something that has become increasingly rare.
Coventry has no areas of disproportionate ethnic population, has a low crime rate and no no go areas.
Coventry was the world centre for watch and clock making. It then became where most of the world's bicycles were made. Then most of the world's motorcycles. It was the centre of the motor car industry and of engineering in Britain.
Coventry has fantastic transport infrastructure, with the west coast mainline, the M6, the M69, lots of dual carriageways etc. And Birmingham airport is quicker to get to than it is for most people in Birmingham. Being in the centre of Britain is a huge transport advantage.
Coventry has one of the best transport museums in Britain, the home of Thrust SSC, and it is free. It is a sad reminder of what we once were. Alvis, Daimler, Hillman, Standard, and so on. All those dead companies. Currently they have a great custom motorcycle exhibition on.
Coventry has two universities which brings a young population. Warwick business school is world class.
Coventry has an excellent aviation museum: http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/hangar/mus ... ventry.htm
Coventry has one of the great provincial theatres, the Belgrade, which has just had a multi million pound refurbishment: http://www.belgrade.co.uk/site/scripts/ ... ectionID=4
Coventry has a great community theatre, the Criterion: http://www.criteriontheatre.co.uk/
Coventry doesn't just have soccer and rugby. It also has ice hockey and speedway.
Coventry was the world's first twin city, with Stalingrad.
Coventry has two famous cathederals. The ruins of the old one and the new one which is a significant piece of post war architecture.
Coventry has an excellent art museum/gallery, the Herbert. Which has just had a multi million pound refurbishment: http://www.theherbert.org/
Coventry is the home of the two tone music movement, which is gaining in popularity again.
Coventry's city centre was famously damaged by German bombing. The post war planners did more damage with their idealised socialist dogma. Now the whole City Centre is in the middle of major refurbishment. The transport museum, the Herbert, the Belgrade have all been massively refurbished and there is a huge amount more being done in what must be the biggest city centre regenerations in Britain. If you haven't visited for some time you will be pleasantly surprised by the transformation.
Coventry is within easy commuting time of London on the west coast line yet living costs are far far cheaper than in London.
Coventry isn't Birmingham, it isn't a massive connurbation. With 300,000 people it is big enough to have good facilities and small enough to get your head round.
