Demo Against Cuts Affecting People with Learning Disabilities

Spon End based charity Grapevine, which helps people in poverty, disadvantage and isolation, will take around 200 supporters plus public service union Unison reps to a demonstration outside Coventry’s Council House on Thursday 23 January. The event coincides with the second and final council consultation meeting at the same venue which invites local people to express their concerns about the impact of proposed budget cuts on Coventry communities directly to councillors.

The demonstration is a reaction to “reference 25” in the council’s list of tough savings proposals for 2025/26 which will mean about half as much money (45% less) available for voluntary sector services helping people with learning disabilities like Help and Connect by Grapevine, which helps 80 people a year. Help and Connect helps people get out of crisis, make a plan for their lives, solve problems, have more people to turn to with a problem, stay safe, stay healthy, get and keep a job, be less isolated, make friends and have a better life.

The council’s consultation period on these cuts will end on 28 January with the closure of its online public survey. More information is available on the link: https://letstalk.coventry.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2025-26

A petition against these cuts is live until 7 March: https://edemocracy.coventry.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=565&TPID=59415270

Memorial Park car park petition

The council is reconsidering its plan, dropped a year ago, to start charging for parking at Memorial Park for all parking.

The current three hours free parking at the park could be lost and motorists would be charged £1 for up to one hour, £3 for 1-2 hours and £3.50 for two to four hours.

So far 750 people have signed a petition against this.

Go to:

Coventry City Council, www.coventry.gov.uk

Search for ‘Petitions’,

Select ‘Current e-Petitions’.

The wording is as follows:

Cancel proposed increased car parking charges at the War Memorial Park.

We the undersigned petition the Council to cancel the proposed increased car parking charges at the War Memorial Park.

Increasing the parking charges at War Memorial Park should be cancelled because it disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of the community, including families with children and individuals who rely on the park for exercise and well-being. Higher fees will discourage people from visiting the park, leading to reduced physical activity and social interaction, which are crucial for a healthy community. Additionally, the increased charges will cause displacement parking, burdening local residents with congestion and inconvenience. Cancelling the proposed charges will help maintain the park’s accessibility and ensure that it remains a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone.

This ePetition runs from 02/12/2024 to 28/01/2025.

Bus Route 188 – the Final Version?

This latest post on the the TfWM website from Friday 3 January is hopefully definitive.

Please note that the route into Coventry city centre is confirmed as via Hearsall Common and Spon End both ways and not via Earlsdon Street and Albany Road.

In the City centre, the route will be via St John’s Church and Corporation Street both ways then arriving/departing from Stand HS1 in Hales Street (not Pool Meadow) with a maximum “layover” time of 6 minutes.

The route between Balsall Common and Tile Hill south will be the same as service 87, not going via Berkswell.


TFWM Route 188

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.