Plots and Plans

The following new plans have been submitted in recent weeks:

 Former Texaco Garage Site, Allesley Old Road – amendment (remodelling of internal staircore and apartments) to planning application reference 39201/H, granted on 16 May 2005 for demolition of petrol station and erection of three storey apartment blocks and associated works (ref. AD/2014/0050).

37 Warwick Street – demolition of existing buildings, and development of 19 x 2 bed apartments with associated parking  (ref.  FUL/2014/0012). A number of nearby residents have objected to this plan – see elsewhere in this issue.

11-12 Westminster Road – change of use of both properties and single storey extension to the rear to create 1 single house in multiple occupation with 20 bedrooms (ref. FUL/2013/2641). A  similar previous application last year was rejected on the grounds of over intensification of the use of the site.

 

The following plans have been approved in recent weeks:

 Earlsdon Park, Butts Road –  change of use of part of ground floor from A3/A4 (Restaurant/cafe/drinking establishment) to B1 (Office) and minor external alterations (ref. FUL/2013/2512).

Davenport Lodge School, 21 Davenport Road – Works to Conservation Area Trees: Horse Chestnut – 2m crown reduction (ref.  CT/2013/2453).

38 Providence Street – application by Lean Body Vision for change of use from an office (Use Class B1a) to a health, therapy and training facility (ref. FUL/2013/2201).  The new facility will employ 6 new full time staff and has an existing 14 car parking spaces.

 19 St. Andrew’s House, St. Andrew’s Road – extension and alterations to existing building to accommodate a secondary dining room in close proximity to the main kitchen at the front of the house in order to help improve the facilities for the residents and an improved front entrance area with better drive access (ref. FUL/2013/2401).

 

The following plan has been rejected:

 90 Craven Street (former Pails Bakery) – erection of a 13 bedroom house in multiple occupation (ref. FUL/2013/1779). Many objections were made by nearby residents and Chapelfields Area Residents and Traders Association (CARTA), citing existing overcrowding, parking problems and other issues. City planners agreed that the proposed development was out of keeping with the existing street scene, was an overdevelopment of the site, lacked off road parking and meant loss of privacy for neighbouring properties. See elsewhere in this issue.

 

The following plans have been withdrawn:

 Former Texaco Garage Site, Allesley Old Road – submission of amended details involving the remodelling of the left hand end stairs and adjacent apartments 1, 6 and 11 to allow for phased development to application 39201/H granted on 16 May 2005 for the demolition of the petrol station and erection of three storey apartment blocks, new vehicular access and associated parking and landscaping (ref. AD/2013/2498).

90 Craven Street (former Pails Bakery) – Conservation Area Consent for demolition of existing building (ref. CON/2013/2164).  Many objections were submitted by neighbours and CARTA opposing the loss of a historic building.

 All these plans (and others) can be inspected at the planning offices on the ground floor of the Tower Block, Much Park Street from 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and from 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday. Full details of all the applications and local residents’ responses can also be viewed via the city council’s website. 

 ECHO’s policy is to include in this section plans which are likely to have broader impact than on immediate neighbours. We do not therefore normally include house extensions, loft conversions etc. which should be notified to adjacent properties by the city council.

 

News and Views from Canley Ford

The last working party of the year in early December was on a mild sunny perfect winter day, a last chance to tidy up before the serious winter weather arrives. Most of the tasks are never ending like litter picking and mending fences. The ford itself seems alive, as it changes from day to day bringing silt, twigs and branches and even moving large stones on stormy days. We saw a heron hoping to catch a frog, and a moorhen searching among twigs on the waterfall. Then it rained and rained and by mid January it’s still raining but no hard frost or very cold weather. However this is very good news for all worm eating wildlife; because earthworms breathe through their skin, they have to come up to the surface when it rains or risk drowning. Earthworms are an important source of protein, particularly in winter; the blackbird is probably the best known earthworm eater, because it is such a regular garden visitor.

Watch other birds too: robins, song thrushes and even kestrels and tawny owls can also be seen feeding on earthworms. Many small mammals feast on them, moles eat little else, and hedgehogs love them. Foxes will eat many worms when there is little prey but earthworms provide the badger with 60% of its food. Earthworms together with fungi are nature’s most efficient and important recyclers. They eat their way through the soil, digesting any decaying organic matter and, in doing so, release minerals that plants can use. Famously hermaphroditic, earthworms are both male and female in one body, though it still takes two worms to reproduce. Charles Darwin called worms “the most important animal on the earth” while in ancient times Aristotle called them “the intestines of the soil”.

Flooding at Canley Ford.
Flooding at Canley Ford.

The house spider tries to stay indoors at this time of the year; there is no point in killing it, as it does an excellent job of destroying flies. It spins a large web, up to 300mm across, and sits in a tubular retreat in the corner. When it feels the vibrations of a trapped fly it hurries out, poisons its victim and eats it at leisure. In medieval times, a house spider was thought to be a good remedy for malaria, “gently bruised and wrapped in a raisin or spread on bread and butter” and a butter wrapped spider was thought to cure the plague and leprosy. The larger cardinal spider is supposed to have been named for frightening Cardinal Wolsey at Hampton Court.

Tamsyn planting.
Tamsyn planting.

As the years go by it gets more and more difficult to think of something new for the Christmas tree festival at the Methodist Church. As usual our small team rose to the challenge and were very successful – thanks to everyone who voted for us. The birds and animals have eaten most of the autumn berries but the beautiful black ivy berries should be ready in February and will attract song thrushes, robins, fieldfares, starlings and blackbirds. As with yew berries the seeds inside ivy berries are poisonous, but they too pass through birds’ intestines and are scattered in their droppings; with luck some will fall at the foot of a wall or tree, which will offer support for the seedlings that grow from them. Look out for signs of spring at Canley Ford, we saw yellow catkins, cuckoopints and snowdrops pushing up through the earth and woodpeckers and other birds calling to attract a mate.

The next working party will be on Saturday 1 March, 10am – 12noon.

Friends of Canley Ford

 

Night shelter gets under way locally

Coventry Winter Night Shelter (CWNS), a city-wide initiative that has quickly caught the public imagination, is up and running.  And St. Mary Magdalen in Chapelfields, “the church with the blue roof”, is pitching in to help.

It was late October when a night-time tour of the city centre with the rough sleepers team showed councillors that the extent of homelessness in Coventry was significantly greater than they had previously thought. With the city itself currently unable to meet demand, councillors issued a plea to local churches to set up a volunteer-run winter night shelter until the end of March. The faith community rose to the challenge, and a few short weeks later, the shelter is up and running. Operating on a rotating basis in a different church building each evening of the week, the shelter offers a meal and a bed for the night. As the space at each venue is limited, beds are made available on a strictly pre-registered basis – this also makes it easier to link the guests up with agencies able to help address the underlying problems that lead to homelessness in the first place.

The Revd. Stella Bailey, priest at St. Mary Magdalen, described the church’s involvement in the project (it has the Wednesday evening slot) as the latest stage in a journey that started with a conversation over coffee at the church’s Christmas fair two years ago. Fired by a desire to use the church’s large (but frequently under-occupied) interior to help the local community, opening its doors to the night shelter once a week is a vivid indication of how far Stella and the community at St. Mary Magdalen have travelled in exploring the way forward. It is, she told ECHO, an embodiment of the biblical injunction to “learn to do good; seek justice; rescue the oppressed” (Isaiah 1:17). “Being part of the CWNS is just an opportunity to make a small difference to someone’s life, giving them dignity as we live out our faith in a practical way”.  Jan Green, co-ordinator for St. Mary Magdalen’s involvement, reported that chicken casserole and bread pudding on the church’s first night of operation amply fulfilled CWNS’s expectation that guests be offered “exaggerated hospitality”.

Although many people from across the city have volunteered to help at the seven venues, more are needed (a Christian faith commitment is not a requirement). Prospective volunteers should be able to offer one or more of the following: an evening (7 – 10.15pm); overnight (10pm – 7am); or early morning (6.45 – 9am) shift. Volunteers are particularly needed for overnight and morning sessions. If you can help, even occasionally, please contact Nobby Clarke by email.

 

Concern over flats plan

 

Earlsdon Ward Councillor Allan Andrews has urged the city council to reject plans for a new development of 19 apartments in Warwick Street, which has caused significant concern in the community.

Following a meeting with local residents to discuss the proposals, Cllr. Allan Andrews has expressed his concern that the development will have an adverse impact on existing properties. The plans include 3 storey buildings with juliette balconies, which residents believe will create a privacy issue.

South Eastern elevation, from Warwick Street.
South Eastern elevation, from Warwick Street.

There is also concern from local people that existing apartments have not been sold or are still available to rent, bringing into question whether there is adequate demand for more flats in the area. Previous developments have been purchased by social housing organisations in recent years.

Commenting on the plans, Cllr. Andrews said: “It is clear to me that a number of residents object strongly to these proposals and I can understand why. Having met with residents who will be affected by this development, there is a clear view that the plans will negatively impact on them and these plans do not appear to be in keeping with this community.

“There are plans for 19 two bed apartments and parking provision is not adequate. Parking in Earlsdon is already a major source of frustration and this would add to an existing problem. There are major concerns about privacy with this 3 storey proposal being a very short distance away from people’s bathroom windows, with the potential for a balcony to be overlooking people’s homes. This represents a major privacy concern as well as impacting on people’s natural light.

“As a result of my meeting with residents, I have arranged for residents to meet with council planning officers to discuss this application and I have urged the council to reject this application in its current form. However, residents and I are not opposed to a suitable development in this location so we are willing to discuss what is acceptable to the community and I’m hopeful that the talks will be productive.”

The meeting with Planners is scheduled to take place on Monday 10 February. The closing date for the public consultation is Tuesday 11 February.

 

Pig farmers and prima donnas?

Diane greyscaleMany readers will remember Diane Cox, a popular and much missed therapist who offered a memorably firm massage at her Samadhi business in Earlsdon Street for 22 years, and inspiring Egyptian dance teacher who kept many Earlsdon women on their toes (and laughing!) every week.  Diane moved to South Africa last August to be with her new partner, though still keeps in touch and comes back every so often.

Since settling in Cape Town, Diane has turned her creative energies to the arts of painting and writing.  Her many Facebook friends have been awed by her growing painting skills, and now, with the (very practical) help of her partner Shawn, Diane has finally published a book she first wrote some years ago, and which we review below.  The book is a salute to Diane’s experience in the world of complementary therapy and spas, and the lessons each client brought to her.

Diane’s 30 years in the spa industry saw her working in exclusive health spas and travelling to Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan teaching massage and aromatherapy.  Locally she taught at Coventry Technical, North Warwickshire and Henley Colleges.  She was also employed by drug rehabilitation establishments, high street banks, Coventry University and Myton Hospice, and went on to set up her own workshops, meditation and spiritual awareness groups whilst also running Samadhi.

In addition to painting and writing, Diane now writes a blog containing a variety of pieces written about all facets of life she feels demand attention, and this year she is launching a new online meditation class, for those of you who fancy curling up on a Sunday evening, tuning in and floating away into a peaceful Monday morning.

Diane’s blog and links to her book can be found here.

Artwork, meditation class and other delights can be found at moonfiremagic.

 

Pig Farmers greyscaleReview of Pig Farmers and Prima Donnas – Tales from the Health Spa by Diane Cox, published through and available from Amazon.

Diane’s book is a series of amusing anecdotes from throughout the duration of her career as a beauty therapist. There are tales from the early days at college where she learnt (the hard way) that men are VERY different from women when it comes to massage as well as some inspiring stories about how she handled challenging experiences such as the first time she massaged an amputee, and being shouted at by angry naked men.

The stories jump about, but mostly it’s a chronological journey through a career that has seen Diane deal with people from all walks of life including, but not limited to, the aforementioned Pig Farmers and Prima Donnas. Diane writes in such a way that you feel as though you’re experiencing each tale with her; you feel her embarrassment as she tackles some truly hideous sounding wax jobs, her pain as she deals with other people’s losses and her anger as she defends herself against countless unwanted advances from male clients. The style is mostly chatty and light but where there are more sensitive subjects to tackle, Diane has a way of giving the reader just enough detail without pulling the mood down. If you’re anything like our ECHO reviewer, you’ll find yourself lost in her world of awkward encounters, enlightening experiences and woolly mammoth taming sessions.

ECHO survey

As some of you may be aware, we recently ran a survey asking local groups about how they prefer to receive local news, including their views and opinions about ECHO.  We sent the survey to members of NENA, SENA and CARTA and we also posted a link on our Facebook page. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey, we had a very positive response and can now reveal the results.

66% of people who completed the survey buy ECHO every month and 94% of them either read it cover to cover or read most of it. We also discovered that 87% of people share their copy with 2 or more people and that the most common age group amongst our readers is 41-65.

Out of all of the features and articles included in ECHO, general local news, news from local community groups and coverage of seasonal / special events were the most popular. Features on local individuals / groups and news about local shops and businesses also came out well as did theatre/drama news and the diary of events.

As well as asking specific questions about the current content of ECHO, we also asked for comments and suggestions on any improvements we could make or additional topics we could cover. We received lots of suggestions and we are currently looking into implementing a number of them including:

  • Additional information on other local groups / organisations – we always welcome contributions from local groups and would be more than happy to include information about others in the area
  • Change in layout and order – We are aware that ECHO has looked the same for a number of years and we agree that the month-to-month layout could be clearer in terms of regular pages for regular features so we will look into this
  • Classified section – we have had a classified section before and we are happy to look into re-introducing it but we would need to see about popularity

Thank you for all of your comments and suggestions. We hope you continue to enjoy reading ECHO. A more detailed summary of the results can be found on the website.

 

Criterion’s three angels appreciated

My Three Angels, December’s Criterion Theatre production, was a great choice to round off another successful year for the local theatre company. Sam and Bella Spewack’s Broadway play, based on Albert Husson’s French original, La Cuisine des Anges, was a delightful comedy, played with verve and obvious enjoyment by a cast comprising both seasoned regulars and relative newcomers.

Though Martin Willis’s late 19th century bourgeois set played it safe, the audience had little difficulty believing itself transported to the living room behind Felix Dulay’s failing general store in Cayenne, French Guiana, around the year 1910. Pete Bagley’s genial but unworldly Felix made it clear from the outset why his business was in trouble, as the redoubtable Madame Parole (Christine Ingall in a gloriously “grande dame” cameo role) swept in, demanding – and getting – yet more credit. But danger threatens. Felix’s domineering, coldly calculating cousin Gaston Lemare (John Fenner) has arrived in Cayenne by ship, and the news from the docks is that he’s angling to take over the business. With him is his nephew Paul (Callum Adey), former suitor of Felix’s daughter Marie-Louise (excellently played by the teenaged Daisy Bloor), but now engaged to another, in what appears to be an arrangement more financially advantageous to Gaston than amorous on Paul’s part.

Into this sticky series of situations descend – literally, as they are repairing the roof – three convicts from the local prison. Never did a more winsome trio set foot on earth on Christmas Eve. In no time, smooth talking author of a crime passionel Jules (an assured performance by Brian Emeney), fast talking conman Joseph (energetically played by Mark Wiszowaty) and young man-of-action Alfred (Jack Hawker, who shed a certain early awkwardness as the action developed) have cooked dinner and the books, as well as ringing up some unlikely sales – strictly cash only – in the shop.

But when the comic atmosphere takes a darker turn with the arrival of Gaston and Paul at the house, the “angels” have to work a bit harder to steer things financial and amatory to a successful conclusion. If the script, despite some excellent comic lines, was occasionally a bit clunky, director Nicole Firth hardly let it show – using the angels’ verve to keep things moving at a lively pace. Alfred managed to exude enough menace, ably assisted by his pet snake Adolphe, to suggest that a sticky end beckoned for Gaston. And so it eventually proved.

But in the long night while they wait to see whether the unscrupulous businessman will emerge from his bedroom or not, there’s space for reflection, too. On whether seeming virtue may merely cloak a secret criminality more cold-hearted than that for which the “angels” have been convicted in open court; and whether there is hope for them in life ? There’s just a hint, too, that Felix’s respectable wife Emilie (a nuanced performance from Annie Gay) might hanker after the suave Jules. In the end, with the prim and self-righteous Paul having met a – frankly – timely end after an unexpected appointment with Adolphe, it is left to the dashing lieutenant Espoir (Alexander Mushore) to suggest that Marie-Louise’s future may be about to get brighter. A comedy after all, then – and one the audience seems warmly to have appreciated.

 

Forrest Medical Centre closure consultation

As a result of the 700-signature petition last year, a meeting was held in January with the Forrest Medical Centre practice manager, NHS managers and Cllr. Bally Singh regarding the closure of the Mount Street surgery planned for later this year. This will result in patients based there having either to attend the practice’s Canley site or registering with another practice.

Cllr. Singh argued that the consultation efforts had not been good enough to date and more needs to be done to find out about patients who will be disadvantaged by the move.

The NHS agreed to send out a mailshot to all Mount Street patients advising them of the changes, letting them know of alternative GP surgeries in the area and how to register if people decide to do so. The information will also allow residents to provide some feedback and possibly attend drop in sessions at the surgery. The NHS agreed councillors would be able to review this information before it is delivered to patients. A report will be compiled from this exercise and the move in general, which will ultimately be subject to council scrutiny.

Cllr. Singh told ECHO “The meeting with NHS officials was quite positive, considering the lack of consultation efforts so far by the Mount Street surgery. I urge the practice and the NHS to deliver on their commitment to engage more proactively with their patients, in order to identify those people who will be most disadvantaged by the surgery’s move to the Canley site.”

 

New residents’ association to be formed?

 

Residents in the Hearsall/Earlsdon area (that part which falls into Whoberley Ward, rather than Earlsdon
Ward, i.e. north of the main railway line) are planning to set up their own residents group so that the quality of life, amenity, and security can be improved. There is concern that the area, which has a high proportion of rented accommodation, needs more attention from council services and residents to ensure it becomes an even better place to live.

A leaflet that has been circulated in the area states: “Hearsall – Earlsdon is a beautiful, historic neighbourhood but it is deteriorating due to inattention and a handful of negligent landlords.

Our group would have some simple aims:

  • improve the appearance of the area and the quality of life for residents
  • promote community spirit and enjoy ourselves”.

A meeting has been arranged for Monday 3 February at 6.45pm, at the Spencer Club, Albany Road at which it is intended to agree the most urgent concerns and how to proceed. If you attend you will not be committing yourself to anything, just going along to find out. Children are welcome.

Residents can contact the organiser by email to: hearlsdon@yahoo.co.uk or leave their own contacts details at The Popping Cork, Melbourne Road.

A petition, placed in local shops, calls for efforts to improve the area and support measures for better security, such as gating etc.

 

The wording of the petition is as follows:

“Improve and secure the Hearsall – Earlsdon Area.

We, the undersigned residents, urge the council to improve and help secure the Hearsall – Earlsdon area in the council ward of Whoberley.

Many local roads and pavements are in need of repair. Powers available to local authorities are not being used by the council to enforce against estate/letting agent signs that constantly remain displayed, or deal with wheelie bins that repeatedly obstruct the pavements.

This area is identified by the local police as a burglary “hot spot”. The police have produced a report calling for better gating. We urge the council to use funding available to invest in a programme of gating repairs and new gates in liaison with residents and the police”.

Cllr. Bally Singh commented “I’m so impressed by the local residents working together to help make the Hearsall Earlsdon neighbourhood an even better place to live.”

 

Local author’s city history talk

As featured in the last issue of ECHO, Earlsdon writer and former Evening Telegraph journalist Pete Walters has written a history of the city, The Story of Coventry.  Unsurprisingly, given its cast of memorable characters drawn from the city’s eventful history, Pete’s work has excited a great deal of local interest.  And while he’s not on the literary festival circuit yet, Pete has nevertheless been snapped up by the talent-spotters at Earlsdon Library to talk about his book.

He will be speaking at the library on Saturday 15 February at 2pm. He tells ECHO that his talk will last about 45 minutes, with an opportunity for questions afterwards. If you haven’t already bought a copy, Pete’s story of the city whose common people regularly rose against their local overlords, and which added the “canary girls” to its population during the First World War, will have you enthralled. If you haven’t yet got a copy, you can buy one on the day (priced £17.99), which Pete will gladly sign for you.  (And if you’ve bought a copy already, you can take that along for him to sign).  The book is also available from Earlsdon Post Office, Waterstone’s, WH Smith and the Herbert Art Gallery.