BUS NEWS – ROUTE 188

ECHO previously reported, based on information on the Transport for West Midlands website, that from 5 January, NX Coventry service 2, Stagecoach Solihull to Balsall Common service 88 and Landflight Solihull to Knowle bus A3 will all be withdrawn and a new hourly Stagecoach service 188, Coventry to Solihull will be introduced.

This route was planned to serve areas around Solihull, Knowle, Balsall Common, Berkswell, Tile Hill and on into Pool Meadow and the main impact for the ECHO area is that between the Village Hotel and Pool Meadow it would cover the same route as Stagecoach route 51 through Earlsdon into the City. There would be various implications, including the reinstatement of 2 buses per hour in Earlsdon Street and Albany Road but the NX Sunday-only service 51 from Pool Meadow to Westbury Road via Earlsdon would be discontinued owing to low usage.

Now, just three days away from the proposed introduction of the new 188 service, its intended route and timetable are mired in confusion.

The timetable has been taken off the TfWM website and contradictory information has come from Stagecoach. It seems that the route into and around Coventry City centre has not been confirmed and it is uncertain whether it will run through Earlsdon as originally stated or go via Hearsall Common and Spon End, the route of the withdrawn NX no. 2 service. What does seem likely is that the route will not go into Pool Meadow and will instead terminate/restart in Hales Street outside the Motor Museum, as posted by a follower in response to our original post..

There is little time now to get confirmed information into the public domain and update all the information at stops along the route before Sunday’s implementation.


Former NatWest Bank Demolished

Despite being in the Earlsdon Conservation Area numbers 34 and 36 Earlsdon Street were demolished over the holiday period, seemingly without planning permission.
Ward councillors and concerned residents have informed council enforcement officers and we await the next update.

New Year Wishes

ECHO wishes a very Happy New Year to our readers, sellers, advertisers and contributors.
Our next printed issue will be the February 2025 one, copy deadline 20th January and on sale around 31st January.
In the meantime we will continue to keep you updated with critical news via our online platforms.

BUS NEWS

National Express Coventry will increase single journey bus fares on 5 January 2025, from £2 to £2.90.

This coincides with the increase in the government’s cap from £2 to £3 for a single ticket on 1 January.

Other prices are unaffected.

Also from 5 January, NX Coventry service 2, Stagecoach Solihull to Balsall Common service 88 and Landflight Solihull to Knowle bus A3 will all be withdrawn and a new hourly Stagecoach service 188, Coventry to Solihull will be introduced. This will be a long, partially rural route, serving areas around Solihull, Knowle, Balsall Common, Berkswell, Tile Hill and on into Pool Meadow.

The main impact for the ECHO area is that between the Village Hotel and Pool Meadow it will cover the same route as Stagecoach route 51 through Earlsdon into the City. There are various implications, including the reinstatement of 2 buses per hour in Earlsdon Street and Albany Road.

However the NX Sunday-only service 51 from Pool Meadow to Westbury Road via Earlsdon will be discontinued from 5 January. The reason given for this decision is low usage.

Crossword Errors

We apologise for any confusion resulting from some errors in the prize crossword clues in the December / January issue of ECHO.

The errors are:
• 2 across should say 4 across
• 6 across should say 8 across
• The clue for 15 down is missing

If you complete the intersecting clues around 15 down it should be obvious what the missing word is, and several entrants have already submitted their answers on this basis, but we will accept entries with this clue left blank.

Tony Back on the Tarmac

Legendary local charity fundraiser Tony Cunningham is attempting to repeat his “10-miles-a-day for a year” fundraiser for the charity Molly Ollys. His 2022 efforts raised £10750.

Tony’s new schedule started at 8am on Saturday 30 November in the War Memorial Park with the Lord Mayor, Cllr Mal Mutton, present to launch the event.

Molly Ollys supports children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to help with their emotional wellbeing, providing gifts to individuals and donating therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.

 

News from Earlsdon Park Village

This article was submitted too late for inclusion in the printed October issue of ECHO.


Here are a few things that have been happening so far in September and also what we have to come in October.


The brilliant Joey Linden brought his Freddy Mercury tribute act to the Village – he was fabulous and certainly had all the right moves! He sang all the Queen favourites, and his rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody was so good.


On Saturday 14 September the Village held a sales Open Day – this is where members of the public can come into the village and have a look around the facilities and apartments which we have available. This is a great opportunity for prospective residents to see how life at the Village is. To compliment the Open Day we held a Barbecue on our 2nd Floor Terrace area and a steel pan band (Tropikal Vizions) provided the entertainment. The sun shone and the food, atmosphere, company were fabulous. A good time was had by all those who attended.


We have Natalie Knight coming to the Village on Friday 27 September with her Karen Carpenter tribute – we have a few tickets available for this show. These are £10 per person and can be obtained from Elaine on 024 7771 8047.


The following events are due to take place in October:
1. Tuesday 1 October @ 8pm, Bistro Show featuring Anne Marie Marlow, this is a free show and the Bistro is open to non-residents.
2. Saturday 5 October @ 7.30pm, Saturday Night Dance with David & Hazel Lombard. Tickets cost £4 per person (these dance nights are extremely popular so it would be best to contact Elaine on 024 7771 8047 prior to the day to check availability).
3. Friday 11 October @ 8pm, Showtime with Countrified (a Country and Western Band). Ticket costs are £12 for non-residents and must be purchased in advance – please contact Elaine on 024 771 8047 prior to the day to check availability.
4. Tuesday 15 October @ 8pm, Bistro Show featuring Steve Cesari, this is a free show and the Bistro is open to non-residents.
5. Friday 18 October @ 7pm, Coventry Cambrian Society will visit the Village and will hold their Annual General Meeting followed by a talk by Ted Richards, entitled “Norman Biggs – Death by Poison: An Unfortunate End to a Welsh Sporting Legend”
6. Tuesday 22 October @ 8pm the Bavarian Boys join us to celebrate Octoberfest. This will be a themed night and food will be available along with music to sing and dance along to.
7. Friday 25 October @ 8pm , Showtime with Geo Bello (a Soul and Motown singer). Ticket costs are £12 for non-residents and must be purchased in advance – please contact Elaine on 024 7771 8047 prior to the day to check availability.
8. Tuesday 29 October @ 8pm, Bistro Show featuring Lucas Rush, this is a free show and the Bistro is open to non-residents.
9. Every Friday afternoon and Sunday evening we have a Bingo session at the Village – if you are interested in coming along, please give Elaine a call for further details.

Yoga and Tai Chi classes continue to take place on a weekly basis. Chair and Hatha Yoga takes place on Thursday mornings and Tai Chi takes place on a Friday morning. Costs per class are £5 per person, payable via Reception on the day. Please contact Reception on 024 7771 8040 for further information.

Classes run by Coventry Adult Education continue at the Village and include the following:


Crafts – Intermediate Embroidery Monday 10am Craft Room
Line Dancing for Beginners Monday 2.30pm Village Hall
Dance Fusion Monday 3.45pm Village Hall
Lyrical Contemporary Dance Monday 5pm Village Hall
Flamenco Dancing Monday 6.15pm Village Hall
Line Dancing for Improvers Tuesday 6.15pm Village Hall
Ballet Improvers Tuesday 7pm Village Hall
French Improvers Wednesday10am Craft Room
Art – Higher Acrylic Painting Wednesday 6.30pm Craft Room
Ballroom & Latin Thursday 7.45pm Village Hall

Anyone wishing to find out information / enroll (regarding classes for the Summer term commencing in April should contact www.coventry.gov.uk/adulted or 024 7697 5200.


We will be holding our Christmas Fayre this year on Saturday 30 November. If you are a local market trader and would like to join us on the day, then please give Elaine a call on 024 7771 8047. Please note that anyone wanting to join us MUST have public liability insurance.



Photo (supplied) BBQ on the terrace

11 Bus Stop Suspended

The number 11 bus service through Earlsdon is now being disrupted. This is the bus stop outside the library which was suspended earlier this week and, a reader has suggested, could remain closed until the school goes back after the summer holidays.

Hopefully it won’t be that long. There is a temporary stop outside Taylor’s butchers, a shorter walk than to/from Warwick Avenue. Once the work is done outside the library, the work crew will move across to the stop outside Elsie Jones House.