Friargate development

The pleasure was mine Tony, thanks for all the work you've done to get Trigger back Apparently, it was originally called Bucephalus after Alexander the Great's horse.

Thank you Bucephalus - that sounds like a disease!!

My first view yesterday of the "flash crossing" which cost over £21,000 Apart from that, very little progress seems have been made in the eleven months since I last photographed the area Oh . . . and the hoardings still carry this message ("Coventry's motorcycle speedway teams")

The big mauve building (March 2017) . . . . is, as promised, no longer mauve

£90m funding boost - report

I still can't understand why they are trying to knock up new office space when Friars House appears to have several thousand square meters of unoccupied flooring.

Thanks to Vincent Hammersley on the True Cov FB Page - Naiad is making a return! After a year of rigorous campaigning the Naiad is to be returned to public display. This famous piece of public art by internationally recognized artist George Wagstaffe had been hidden away from public view for nearly a decade. Eventually the city were forced to pay for the repair caused by its poor storage and theft attempts and store it in the Council House rather that the old gate house at Lady Herbert's Garden. Although I, like many Coventry people, will be happy to see her back it raises the question about the poor guardianship of our public art. There are many missing artworks in this city and our city council must also answer for their condition and whereabouts. Naiad will initially be displayed in the new Friargate foyer until a more appropriate setting is provided. Of course, its original location in the Earl Street Courtyard after this location has been restored would be ideal but this Grade 2 listed location is now owned by Coventry University and they have proved to be more interested in what they can take from this city than preserving our post war heritage. Pictured is Naiad as she was found in the old gate house.

Big changes as cost of Coventry station masterplan spirals (Coventry Telegraph) (actually relatively small changes to keep the project on budget). Peter.

Eaton House today "Coventry is a beautiful city . . ."

While in the city centre today my phone came up with an advert for Friars House (the 1980's office block just inside the ring road). While not currently requiring office accommodation I decided to click on the link and see what I could find out. The 11 storey building has 10 floors of offices which have been recently refurbished. The facilities available include lifts and toilets! Parking is available at 4 spaces per floor. Of the 10 floors of offices 4 1/2 are currently available (actually 5 1/2 as Economy Energy who have the 10th floor have ceased trading). One floor is individual offices & meeting rooms for daily hire. Two floors are taken by Coventry University The remaining 1 1/2 floors are taken by commercial tenants. Given all the empty space I wonder where the demand for Friargate will come from? Peter.

My thoughts exactly Peter

As 'reported' last year, Naiad is free!