20 CITY SCHOOLS FACE LOSING REVAMP CASH

A MULTI-million pound scheme to improve secondary schools in Coventry could be under threat.

The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme was introduced by the previous Labour government and aimed to improve secondary schools across the country.

In Coventry 20 secondary schools were up for getting a slice of £330million that was awarded to the city.

But Tory MP Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, said the BSF scheme is under review, which has caused concern to Coventry MP Geoffrey Robinson.

The Labour representative for Coventry North West, has highlighted two schools that desperately need funding in his constituency and raised this at a House of Commons education question time on Monday.

He said: “I asked: Will the minister confirm as soon as possible that two schools in my constituency – President Kennedy and Woodlands, where the buildings go right back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, and one of whose buildings is being held up on all four sides by scaffolding, will figure in the programme, and when can he confirm that to them?

“He replied the BSF project had been allocated on the basis of deprivation, not of the state or
dilapidation of the building and he will consider the two schools I mentioned and write back to me.

“So I guess I will have to wait to see what his response is.

“I don’t mind it (BSF) being reviewed but there needs to be structure and this is what concerns me.”

In a Hansard report of Monday’s question time, MP Michael Gove said he wanted to get “better value for money” as a lot had already been spent on consultations that haven’t resulted in schools being re-built yet.

He said: “My department is currently reviewing the BSF programme to ensure we can build schools more effectively and more cost-efficiently in the future.

“I intend to ensure we prioritise capital spending to ensure in areas of real need, the taxpayer and teachers are given better value for money.

“Under the last government a significant amount of the cash was devoted to BSF and was spent on consultancy and other costs, which did not contribute directly to raising standards or to employing a single builder or plasterer, or anyone else whom he would no doubt wish to continue to see employed.

“I therefore hope we do everything possible to ensure that we obtain better value for money from this programme.”

Woodlands School, in Broad Lane – which has one of its school blocks supported by scaffolding – was due to be one of the first schools in Coventry benefiting from BSF funding.

But headteacher Neil Charlton is worried the money could be lost.

“We have had scaffolding on one of the blocks for four years now, but I’d like to add that the school is structurally safe,” he said.

“Having said that, because we are an old building it needs improving – it’s an eyesore because it is more than 50 years’ old and doesn’t have double glazing.

“In the past four years I have personally put in hundreds of hours in meetings and proposals with this.

“Because the school is a listed building we’ve had to convince English Heritage that we should be able to modify it.

“And we should be getting £20.5million in BSF funding to re-build one block and re-design the other two.

“My school needs doing and it needs doing now, otherwise the fabric and quality of education to children will be detrimental.

“I can understand the BSF scheme may need to be reviewed, but I think schools like this one, which has gone so far down the road – we’ve even got planning permission – should be given the go-ahead.

“We’re down to two bidders at the moment, who would carry out the work, that is likely to start next February.”

No one from President Kennedy School was available for comment.

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

100 CYCLISTS NEEDED FOR GIANT LADY GODIVA

PEDAL power will be needed to push a 10-metre high Lady Godiva float from Coventry to London for the opening of the London 2012 Olympics.

Coventry’s Imagineer Productions has created a giant version of the city’s first lady through a project called the ‘Godiva Awakes Cycle Team’.

A team of 50 cyclists will be needed to transport Lady Godiva from Coventry to Rugby, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Luton, Waltham Abbey, Hapfield and finally London in July 2012.

The £500,000 project has been funded by the Arts Council England and is being commissioned through Artists Taking the Lead scheme – part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

The journey will begin in Coventry’s University Square where a giant chamber will be built, which Lady Godiva awakes from. It will be marked by a performance involving 2,000 dancers, actors, aerialists, musicians, pyrotechnicians and carnivalists.

The chamber will then remain permanently.

And to kick-off the project a recruitment drive for cyclists took place on Saturday at the Transport Museum.

In all, 100 people are needed to alternate during the 100-mile journey to the capital city that will alternate between locations.

On Saturday people were invited to cycle for three minutes and have their name entered into a draw for places on the cycle team.

Claire Maddocks, director of Imagineer Productions, said: “Godiva Awakes is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people off all backgrounds from Coventry and the region to be part of London 2012.

“We want everyone – from people who have never cycled before to real cycling enthusiasts – to sign up to be part of the team that will power Godiva to London in 2012.”

About 100 people joined in at the launch event on Saturday and postcards will soon be available for cyclists to enter their name into the draw.

Entrants should be aged 14 or over –families can enter with parents taking responsibility of children under 14 – with the results being announced in autumn 2010.

For more information visit www.imagineerproductions.co.uk.

CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL TABACCO

MORE than 115,000 counterfeit or smuggled cigarettes have been seized over the past year, in a crackdown on illegal tobacco across the city.

Trading standards officers have been carrying out regular raids on shops and car boot sales in Coventry, as part of a concerted effort to stamp out sources of illegal tobacco.

In the past month, raids have uncovered around 37,000 illegal cigarettes, as well as 400 packs of hand-rolling tobacco, and 150 sachets of fruit tobacco – which is often smoked in Shisha pipes.

Officers have also unearthed stashes of illegal tobacco hidden underneath floorboards, behind mirrors, and even in adjacent premises where a person passes the tobacco through a small hole in the wall.

Hamish Simmonds, manager of the city council’s Trading Standards office, said: “Despite fraudsters attempting to become more creative in their attempts to conceal their activities, we are achieving significant rates of detection.

“Those tempted to make a quick buck are warned the penalties for supplying such items are severe, and can include up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”

Trading Standards said that tell-tale signs tobacco is counterfeit include: an unusual taste, a cheaper price, poor quality printing on the packets, and the absence of health warnings.

They also said that many products found often contain dangerously high levels of poisonous ingredients – such as six times the amount of lead, and three times the amount of arsenic found in ordinary cigarettes.

Councillor Joseph Clifford, chairman of Coventry’s Smokefree Alliance, said: “It’s important to remember that it’s not just illicit tobacco which can endanger your health – there is no such thing as a safe cigarette.

“If you want help to quit, you can locate your nearest Stop Smoking Service by calling 0800 051 1310.”

Anyone with information about where counterfeit cigarettes or tobacco may be being sold, should contact Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

WORLD CUP LOUTS WARNED TO BE ON BEST BEHAVIOUR

FOOTBALL louts are being warned to be on their best behaviour as Coventry Police is appealing to landlords, supermarkets and community shop bosses to back the World Cup bid.

Officers have written to licensees to remind them of their responsibility as England strive for glory in South Africa, so they play their part in ensuring a trouble-free tournament.

Chief Inspector Ryan Howat, heading the police handling of the World Cup in Coventry, said: “Our licensing team will be working closely with licensed and off-licensed premises during the World Cup.

“We hope the tournament will prove to be a good opportunity for our communities to come
together and get behind the England team in a positive way.

“The nature of football is that it is an emotional game, and as such we are prepared for the possibility of fans becoming tense and agitated.

“Across the West Midlands, there have been sporadic outbreaks of trouble where major England games have been shown before, but as a region our fans are increasingly heeding the message.

“We want people to enjoy the games in a safe environment with, hopefully, England going all the way.

“If they can’t and allow themselves to become involved in disorder either through drink or a misplaced sense of patriotism, then they can expect to be prosecuted.”

Councillor Jack Harrison, chairman of Coventry City Council’s licensing and regulatory committee, added: “The key issue for us is that premises showing the World Cup do so in a safe
and responsible way while not ruining the enjoyment of their customers and the wider public.

“Bars showing the big games have been asked to ensure they have enough identifiable door staff and that their CCTV is working.”

The force is working with the Coventry Community Safety Partnership and will be distributing posters and beer mats to licensed premises across the city bearing the message ‘Not in My City’.

They encourage people to report aggressive and violent behaviour during the World Cup.

TIME CAPSULE TO BE BURIED IN DEVELOPMENT SITE

A TIME capsule giving a snapshot of Wood End in 2010 will be buried on site of a £360million redevelopment scheme.

Yesterday (Wednesday) the head of the Homes and Communities Agency Sir Bob Kerslake was due to visit Coventry to see first hand how the project has been coming along.

And the chief executive of England’s housing and regeneration agency was also due to help with the finishing touches to a time capsule that will be buried on site.

The capsule will demonstrate to future generations what life was like before the redevelopment took place and includes photographs of the site as it looks now, pictures of some of the oldest and youngest members of the community, press coverage on the project so far, coins, details of the current government and the price of living, such as a pint of beer, petrol, milk and bread.

Sir Bob also visited the location of the new Castle Wood School, due to open its doors in September 2010.

In total, the redevelopment of the area will see more than 3,000 new homes built over 15 years. Work will also take place to improve environment, including the construction of new roads, shops, green spaces and play areas.

The project is being led by Whitefriars Housing Group, in partnership with Coventry City Council, Coventry New Deal for Communities and developer partners.

Martin Smith, chairman of the Regeneration Action Team, said: “Residents have been closely involved in the plans since the beginning. We have taken part in everything from selecting the developers and architects to choosing the designs for the homes and neighbourhoods.

“The start of work on June 9 will be a day of real celebration for us, and the fact that Sir Bob Kerslake is visiting us, showing us that the Homes and Communities Agency is both interested and committed to our regeneration and redevelopment scheme, is just the icing on the cake.”

SPEND YOUR £20 BEFORE THEY GO OUT OF DATE

COVENTRY spenders are being warned the clock is ticking to spend old £20 notes.

The Bank of England is reminding residents from June 30 the £20 note carrying a picture of composer Edward Elgar is to be finally withdrawn from circulation.

It will be replaced by £20 note that was introduced in 2007 that bears the picture of economist Adam Smith.

The number of Elgar notes in circulation has already decreased significantly since the withdrawal date was announced in March, but people are being reminded to have a final check at home for the old notes, which can be paid into a personal bank account or used as a cash payment over the coming month.

After June 30 the Elgar note will no longer have ‘legal tender’ status. It is less likely to be accepted in payment, or in change, in retail outlets after this date.

For more information visit www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes.

TRIBUTES PAID TO CRASH DUO

A COVENTRY flying club has paid tribute to a father and son who died in a plane crash in Spain.

Former RAF man Bruce Hook, 63, and his son Ian, 26, died on Saturday shortly after taking off from San Luis aerodrome in Menorca.

It is thought the plane had just taken off when it nosedived, crashed and exploded, killing the pair instantly.

Mr Hook Snr, who lived in Worcester, was flying his own plane – a Beech Baron 55 in RAF colours – when the accident happened.

He was a member of the Armstong Whitworth Aircraft (AWA) Flying Group, in Coventry Road, Baginton, who said he was an “excellent pilot”.

John Stockley, AWA’s chief flying instructor said: “Bruce was a real gentleman who helped students through their flying courses.

“Everybody was shocked by the loss and it’s a real tragedy.”

Mr Hook and his son had entered a Beech Baron twin engine plane in the Air Race Menorca 2010 and were practicing when their plane nose dived and exploded.

Mr Stockley said the planes had to complete between 15 to 20 laps of a triangular aerial course.

The winner would have been the first plane to cross the finish line, but the competition was cancelled following the deaths.

Mr Hook, a father-of-two, had owned the Willpower Garage in Lapworth, Warwickshire, for 32 years.

Ian Hook, of Kenilworth, who was unmarried but had a girlfriend, was described as “the apple of his father’s eye” by a friend of Mr Hook Snr.

Stephen Esslemont, 44, who rents the garage forecourt in Lapworth, said: “He (Mr Hook senior) was well known in the community and everyone liked him. What’s happened is a shock to us all.

“He was a very quiet young man – kind and well-liked, like his father. A lovely young man. He adored his father and they had a good father and son relationship.”

A friend of Ian’s said: “I, along with many of Ian’s friends, are absolutely gutted and shocked at the news of the plane crash that has robbed us of Ian and Bruce. They loved their flying together.

“Ian was such a lovely guy, loyal to his friends, warm and caring to all who knew him, he will be missed by us mates and their families, to whom our thoughts are with at this tragic and very sad time.

“Bruce was a sound bloke too.

“They will both live long in our memories, memories that can never be taken away. The Aero Club has lost two great characters and members.”

Post-mortem examinations are being carried out on both men.

A Spanish government spokesman said: “A judge in Mahon (capital of the Balearic island) is overseeing the judicial investigation.

“He will be given the results of the autopsies and is likely to look at all the information about the accident and speak to witnesses.

“The investigation could take two or three months.”

MORE JOBS AXED IN THE CITY

ANOTHER 500 Coventry jobs are to be axed by the new government.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency – based at The Butts – will be scrapped. It follows the government’s announcement last week that it is to axe Coventry-based government agency Becta, with 330 job losses.

With a jobs freeze expected at a third city government agency – the Skills Funding Agency in Cheylesmore – about 1,000 jobs will be taken out of the city’s economy.

Labour politicians reacted with fury, saying it could plunge the city and country back into recession, with the West Midlands already suffering the country’s highest jobless rates.

The QCDA only moved into its award-winning new building at The Butts earlier this year, after relocating from London. Staff were told the grim news last Thursday.

The axe has been hovering since Prime Minister David Cameron announced last year the QCDA was top of his hitlist for abolishing such arms-length government agencies, called quangos.

Some staff had hoped for a reprieve after it was left out of chancellor George Osborne’s first round of £6bn public sector cuts announced on Monday May 24.

But education secretary Michael Gove wrote to QCDA bosses on Thursday May 27 confirming legislation to axe it will be introduced this autumn.

One worker, a Coventry resident who asked not to be named, said hundreds of workers gathered to hear Mr Gove’s letter read out.

He said: “Afterwards someone said it’s a bit like your husband having an affair and you’re denying it and denying it until he actually sits you down and tells you.

“There was an eerie silence and I saw one pregnant member of staff with tears in her eyes.

“That’s 500 jobs lost in Coventry. It leaves the people who’ve just moved here from London in a real mess.”

The QCDA closure is expected to be pushed through the Commons with majority support from the ruling coalition of Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs.

The coalition government believes it can cut government waste and bureaucracy to help pay down the £156bn budget deficit, while seeking to protect frontline services.

Before the election, the Lib Dems supported Labour in arguing such cuts should be postponed until next year when better economic growth is forecast, to prevent renewed recession.

Some of the QCDA’s work overseeing schools testing and the curriculum could now pass to the Department for Education and other organisations.

The Public and Commercial Services union has vowed to fight any redundancies.

Labour Coventry City Council leader John Mutton said: “The Tories are trying to decimate Coventry, just like they did last time, when we lost 60,000 jobs in one year and 20,000 in one day.”

Labour Coventry North West MP Geoffrey Robinson said the Tories hated the state, and were driven by dogma to “take a machete to civil service jobs”, which would plunge the country back into recession.

Teachers’ unions in Coventry contest the closures will produce savings, saying the support of the city’s education quangos had saved individual schools time and money.

WARNING OVER WORLD CUP LOTTERY SCAM

COVENTRY Trading Standards officers are urging residents to be extra cautious for World Cup related lottery scams.

People are being warned to look out for bogus letters or emails that claim to be part of the Euromillions FIFA World Cup Super Lottery.

Councillor Phil Townshend, cabinet member for corporate and neighbourhood services, said: “Most scams like this can be recognised because they are received out of the blue, promising something for nothing and usually requesting money up front.

“A question to always ask yourself is ‘if you’ve never entered into a competition, how can you have won?’

“This scam is based on the well-known Spanish lottery scam which Trading Standards has warned about in the past and their advice is to bin any such mailings.

“You should never respond to such requests and should certainly never give personal information such as back account details. Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it usually is.”

Mike Lynn, of Coventry Trading Standards, added: “We have received a number of enquiries concerning this mailing which claims that the recipient has won £800,000 and asks them to forward bank account details for the prize money to be paid into.

“The mailing also contains a warning, asking the recipient to keep their win quiet and should not be publicised in any way so as to prevent fraudulent acts from the criminally minded.”

For more information on how to recognise a scam visit www.coventry.gov.uk/tradingstandards.

If you believe you may have been a victim of one of these scams or would live advice, then call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

FUTURE OF FIRESTATIONS STILL UNCLEAR

FIREFIGHTERS and residents are still being kept in the dark about proposed plans to axe seven fire stations across Warwickshire.

Campaigners are calling for a date to be announced when the results of the consultation on the future of Kenilworth, Warwick, Studley, Bidford, Brinklow, Fenny Compton and Bedworth fire stations will be made.

But until this date has been given, campaigners say they will not give up their fight.

Karen Scarrott, a protester who organised a march in Warwick, said: “They (the council) had put the decision on hold hoping that any point of complacency would set in, but residents are still passionate and I hope in my heart of hearts that all these fire stations are kept open.

“The stations provide a vital service when there’s an emergency, such as a fire or a flood, and we need them to be on our doorstep to react quick enough.

“There is a massive amount of public support, which was evident in the last march we did from Warwick Racecourse to Warwick Market, where 600 people turned up.

“We need to let common sense prevail, we want all the stations saved, not a situation where one might close, because that could cause a snowball effect for others to close.”

Fire chiefs first announced the modernisation plans last September and said it was not a cost-cutting exercise, but one to make services more efficient. But if the stations were to close the Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) said that about 100 jobs could be lost, and this has left morale low among firefighters.

Marcus Giles, chairman of the Warwickshire branch of the FBU, said: “Everyone has been quite worried because they have been left in limbo for so long.

“We were expecting a decision at some point in January, but now almost five months later, we still don’t know what is happening.

“Morale among the team is low, but they have to carry on with their job. We hope the proposal is changed so all the fire stations remain.”

The FBU said it was also concerned about plans to centralise five regional fire control centres to Wolverhampton, as this could lead to a further 100 job losses.

Chris Downes, regional secretary for the FBU, said: “It is just total uncertainty at the moment, and coupled with a potential move of the regional fire control centre to Wolverhampton, adds to the fear factor.

“The plan was to move five regional offices to Wolverhampton in 2007. But these plans have been delayed time and time again, plus there is a massive overspend on it.

The project started off costing £100 million, but this has quadrupled to around £420 million.

“The whole thing needs to be scrapped, someone needs the gumption to say so.”

A Warwickshire County Council meeting is taking place on June 18 at Shire Hall to discuss a proposal to keep all seven fire stations.

Chris White, new Conservative MP for Leamington and Warwick, is also backing the campaign to save the stations.

He said: “I’m not 100 per cent sure about what is happening, I am meeting with the leader of the county council (Alan Farnell), and chief fire officer Graeme Smith on June 18 to discuss things further.

“I will be putting a very vigorous case forward because there are good reasons to keep the fire stations open.

“In this area we have one of the most united groups of support for this cause from all sorts of levels, such as district and county.

“We have to make sure this consultation is about putting the best case forward, and get these proposals off the table.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

NURSERY CONSULTATION HAS STARTED DESPITE PROTESTS

A MOTION to stop a consultation on six nursery schools in Warwickshire, was defeated at a council meeting.

Six nursery schools – Warwick, Whitnash, Kenilworth, Stockingford, Bedworth Heath, and Atherstone – are now undergoing a consultation to see how best they should run in future.

At a full council meeting in Shire Hall yesterday Councillor John Whitehouse, (Lib Dem, Kenilworth Abbey), asked for the consultation not to go ahead, but it was voted against.

The consultation will explore three options for the schools: amalgamation with a local
primary school; developing them as children’s centres; or developing them as nursery school centres of excellence.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “We want to hear the views of all maintained nurseries before any decisions are made.

“We are determined to keep the knowledge, professionalism, and expertise contained within our current nursery schools, to ensure they have a better future.

“We have been working closely with representatives from the nurseries, and we are now keen to hear the views of parents and families about the good experiences that they have received.

“This will help us to secure, improve, and build on the outstanding education and good practice
that is currently available to produce the best possible outcomes for children.

“I must stress to parents that we expect that our proposals will secure long-term, sustainable nursery education and services for families and children.”

But Cllr Whitehouse said the consultation is a “time-wasting exercise.”

He added: “The decision that needs to be taken is how we are going to turn these nurseries into centres of excellence, because that option has been clear since January.

“We are wasting time and money with this unnecessary process.

“We tried to stop them, but I regret to say we failed.”

Members of the public can send in their comments to: Nursery School Consultation, Warwickshire County Council, Children Young People and Families Directorate, Early Years and Childcare, Saltisford Business Park, Ansell Way, Warwick CV34 4UL or via email at consultations@warwickshire.gov.uk.

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

GREENBELT VICTORY FOR RESIDENTS COULD BE CLOSE

VICTORY for campaigners opposing swathes of greenbelt land being bulldozed for housing could be closer than ever.

Councillor John Mutton, the newly-appointed leader of Coventry’s now Labour-run cabinet, has said he is strongly against building on greenbelt land around the city.

Cllr Mutton, who represents the Binley and Willenhall ward, said: “The Labour group has opposed the core strategy since the beginning as we don’t believe there is any need to build on greenbelt land.

“At the moment we are waiting for the government inspector to come back with their report following the consultation, which should be anytime now.

“We, as a council, will oppose any recommendation to build on greenbelt.

“I have no problems with building 22,000 homes on brownfield sites, but we do not endorse on building anywhere else.”

Under the previous Labour government’s Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), Coventry,
Solihull and Warwickshire would have to accommodate 82,000 homes – around 32,500 of this figure going to Coventry as it was identified as a ‘growth point’.

Under the RSS – now set to be scrapped by the new coalition government – the homes would have to be built on brownfield or greenbelt sites that were highlighted by the city council’s core strategy, by 2026.

This included a 3,500-home “eco suburb” in Keresley, areas near Longford, Eastern Green and Ash Green, and a 3,500-home estate on greenbelt land next to Finham which falls under Warwick District Council’s core strategy.

Sandra Camwell, chairman of the Keresley Parish Council, said: “Thank heavens Cllr Mutton has seen some sense in all of this. At the end of the day Coventry cannot support the amount of housing that was being asked to be built.

“We need to look after what we have got at the moment and improve that before we start adding bits here and there on greenbelt fields.

“A lot of people who live near these sites chose them so they could be near the countryside, not so they can see it turn into a concrete jungle.

“I very much hope greenbelt won’t be used, there are plenty of brownfield sites the council can build on.”

Isobel Jacques, of Ash Green, added: “This is what we have been saying all along and we are glad to hear this news.

“Since the beginning we have never felt the consultation had been very good – as far as I’m concerned there wasn’t any consultation.

“Of course we’re still worried that building on greenbelt could still happen, but it’s
reassuring to know John Mutton is sharing our views.”

Conservative MP for Meriden Caroline Spelman, who has been appointed secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, said the new coalition government plans to scrap the RSS altogether.

“When I have visited Coventry, one of the biggest concerns felt by residents was on this
issue and rightly so,” she said.

“There are unfortunately too many brownfield sites in the city and these should be used first.

“We are planning to scrap the RSS, in which the previous government said how many houses should be built by 2026.

“Instead we are now going to leave it up to local authorities to look at their housing lists, to look at the demands, and work out how many homes they need to build in the area and how many.

“We also want development to be mixed, so it will include homes, retail parks and economic uses.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

STRANDED MOTHER TO RETURN TO COVENTRY

A MOTHER who has been stranded in Africa for the past five months is due to be reunited with her husband and three children.

Asha Omari, of Gerard Avenue, Canley, flew out to Tanga, Tanzania, to attend her mother’s
funeral in December last year.

She was due to fly back to England on January 13, but only got as far as Nairobi, Kenya, as she did not have the correct paperwork, and was sent back to Tanzania.

The paperwork was proof the 37-year-old had been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. This allows a person to live in the UK as long as they do not leave the country for more than two years.

Her husband Dessa Makoko, 57, frantically began to collect evidence she had ILR status,
and she had not been living in England.

Dessa, a part-time cleaner, said: “We accept we had lost the original document proving her ILR, she only had a photocopy, but she was granted ILR in November 2007.

“When she heard her mother had died, she wanted to be with her family.

“On her way back she got as far as Nairobi when she was told she couldn’t prove she had ILR, or that she had been in the UK two years previously.

“Straight away we sent doctors’ records and pay slips to prove it, but we didn’t hear anything back.”

Mr Makoko, who has been married to Asha for 16 years, had to explain to his three children, Farashuu, 13, Abdul, 10 and Aisha, seven, that their mother was stuck in Tanzania.

“My children were missing their mother so much, the youngest would cry herself to sleep.

“But now we are all so happy to hear she will be back within 10 days. We don’t know what’s changed, but it doesn’t matter.”

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: “A foreign national who has been granted indefinite leave to
remain in the UK will lose that entitlement if they cannot prove that they have been in the UK during the last two years.

“In light of new evidence provided in support of her claim, Ms Omari has now been granted an entry clearance.”

INCINERATOR PLAN COULD BE ON THE SCRAPHEAP

THE new leader of Coventry City Council has suggested plans for a new £1billion incinerator could be put on the scrapheap.

Project Transform – a joint scheme between the city council, Solihull Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council – would see the incinerator in Whitley, Coventry rebuilt to cater for more waste.

These plans have been bitterly opposed by many, including Warwickshire Liberal Democrats and green campaigners Friends of the Earth.

But there could be hope the plans are scrapped altogether after the recent elections saw Coventry’s Tory-run cabinet turn red as Labour took control.

And new leader of the council, John Mutton, said he wants to consider alternatives, including refurbishing the current Whitley incinerator.

He said: “If we put money into this PFI then we will have to look at cutting frontline services to fund it.

“The present incinerator can last until 2015 to 2020, so I have asked officers to work out the costing to improve the existing one.”

Councillor John Whitehouse, (Lib Dem, Kenilworth Abbey), who had put forward a motion at a county council meeting to delay the incinerator plans, said he welcomed the news.

He added: “I would very much agree with this idea, if we can refurbish the current one so we have more time to see where the targets for housing growth are going.

“If there isn’t the growth that’s expected and if recycling rates increase then we won’t need such a big incinerator.

“So yes, I’m very much in favour of this idea.”

The idea is also being backed by Friends of the Earth member Keith Kondakor.

He said: “I think it’s a great idea not to go ahead with it.

“There is a similar incinerator in Nottingham that was rebuilt for £14million last year so it’s obviously very do-able.

“Eventually we’d like to see it close down, but until there is new technology to make recycling easier, we have to keep the old one going.

“Fundamentally we are making less and less waste and our rubbish is becoming more valuable as natural resources are drying up.

“So it’s in everyone’s best interests to recycle more.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

ABIGAIL SET TO STRUT HER STUFF DOWN THE CATWALK

COVENTRY student Abigail Botcham is ready to make the grade as a design diva after impressing top fashion names Karen Millen and Anthony Campbell with her work.

The 20-year-old has made an early name for herself after winning just one of 11 places to show off her designs at London’s Graduate Fashion Week.

Abigail, of Davenport Road, Earlsdon, was among students who showcased their work to a panel of judges that would decide whether they would win a place at the event.

And fashion big guns Karen Millen and Anthony Campbell who were on the panel were so impressed with her work, they gave her a “golden ticket” to the prestigious show.

Abigail, 20, who is a studying fashion design at De Montfort University, in Leicester, said: “I’m really excited to see my work and it will be really good to see it on proper models going on catwalks.

“I have been interested in fashion since I’ve been at school and did a fashion design btec at City College, before going to DMU.

“For our final year project, we had a show selection for students’ graduation work that consists of six outfits.

“These have been designed and created by each student and my collection has taken
inspiration from the Russian Revolution – my clothes take some of the opulence the Russian tsars had by using Swarovski crystals and I have incorporated a military theme too.”

Fashion designer Karen Millen said: “What was impressive about the students was the really varied techniques they were using to create some really individual pieces that will look fantastic on the catwalk.

“It’s good to see the passion and involvement they already have within the industry they want a career in and that will definitely stand them in good stead once they graduate.”

Freelance designer Anthony Campbell, who has previously worked with Richard Nicoll, was also on the panel to help choose the students who should make the final cut.

He said: “It was a pleasure to be a part of a process which has helped to launch so many careers in the past.”

Abigail said she is inspired by designers Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton and after graduating wants to secure an internship in London.

LORD MAYORS' APPEAL RAISES £100,000

A MASSIVE £100,000 has been raised for the three charities chosen by Coventry’s Lord Mayor.

Councillor Jack Harrison is delighted after his civic appeal produced the highest total in
recent years – four times the average amount raised.

He has paid tribute to the efforts of businesses, residents, community groups and individuals who have supported the cause in the past year.

At the start of his mayoral term, Cllr Harrison picked three organisations that would benefit from fundraising events from May last year to May this year.

And the beneficiaries, who will each get around a third of the money raised, are the neo-natal ward, in Coventry’s University Hospital, in Walsgrave, the Transplant Games and children who are in the care of the local authority.

Cllr Harrison (Lab, Lower Stoke) said: “I am absolutely delighted with the fundraising efforts by everyone that has contributed.

“To raise £100,000 is great, but to know the average is usually £25,000, and to have done so during a recession, is even better.

“There have been so many memorable fundraising moments that have bought a smile to my face.

“Earlier this week I was visiting children at Davenport Lodge, who had organised a cake sale, but a lot of the three and four-year-olds had fallen asleep during the assembly.

“Chief executive Martin Reeves took part in the Coventry Half Marathon to raise money and Stoke Aldermoor held their own version of Britain’s Got Talent to raise £300.

“The Sikh community also donated £1,000 – I thank them all, this has been a real community effort.”

The money at the neo-natal ward will be used to improve the facilities for parents who are visiting babies in the ward and to buy soft toys.

Funds going to the Transplant Games – events run for those who have received a transplant – will go towards people’s accommodation to get to the games.

And the money going to children in local authority care will be used to fund school trips which parents can’t afford.

Today (Thursday) the new Lord Mayor will be taking part in his mayor-making ceremony.

Councillor Brian Kelsey (Con, Bablake) will take over the reins from Cllr Harrison.

FLOOD-PROOF FURNITURE DESIGNED BY STUDENT

FLOOD-proof furniture that will help people safeguard vital documents has been designed by a Coventry University student.

For his final year project, Peter Miller has created a set of sofas that are able to rise 1.5metres above the ground and have water-tight compartments.

The sofa has been designed with special drawers built under a panel of the sofa that can be used to store paperwork and electrical goods.

Peter, a final year industrial product design student, said: “The seats of the sofa also fold down creating more space for items, maybe even as large as a television, to be stored.

“It also rises 1.5metres above the ground if the flood levels are increasing in the house to keep the sofa dry.”

Peter, from Leamington, has been working on the design since September last year and will be displaying a prototype of the furniture at a university show next month.

The 22-year-old said the idea for the design first came about when he was asked to do a research project.

“Every year we see on the news that in certain parts of the UK flooding is a recurring problem. There are some households in the UK that are still trying to get their homes back in order since the last floods,” he said.

“So when we did our research project, flooding was a big issue and I decided to theme my final year work on that.

“With five million households at risk from flooding, the furniture in our homes should have some practical element and the furniture I have produced will be able to protect items which would have previously perished in the floods from water damage.”

Peter’s work will be on show as part of the Coventry School of Art and Design Degree Show from June 5 to June 11 in the Maurice Foss building between 10am and 5pm.

Admission is free and open to the public.

TOP TEN PARKING TICKETS ISSUED 2009/10

TOP TEN PARKING TICKETS ISSUED 2009/10:

*Friars Road - 1,261

*Lower Holyhead Road - 1,055

*Daventry Road - 944

*Greyfriars Lane - 910

*Foleshill Road - 725

*Whitefriars Street - 674

*Queen Victoria Road - 577

*Cuckoo Lane - 456

*Warwick Lane - 421

*Much Park Street - 401

CITY CENTRE STREET IS HOTSPOT FOR PARKING TICKETS

MOTORISTS parking in a city centre street beware – it’s the number one hotspot for parking tickets!

Traffic wardens issued a whopping 1,261 tickets to drivers flouting the law in Friars Road in one year, the Times can reveal.

The number of tickets handed out, which equates to nearly 25 tickets each week from April 2009 to March 2010, were for parking on double or single yellow lines or for parking longer than permitted.

Other reasons why drivers were slapped with an instant fine of £70 – reduced by half if paid within 14 days – was because they had parked in a taxi rank, parked incorrectly or parked in a clearway.

A number of motorists have also been fined for parking in a disabled spot with no badge and parking in a bus stop.

Foleshill Road, in Foleshill, which is the fifth highest in the table, saw 10 people penalised for parking in a bus stop. A total of 7,424 tickets were issued in the top 10 Coventry streets favourite with parking wardens.

Martin Yardley, director of city services and development, said: “We make no apologies for issuing penalty notices. We do it to keep traffic moving smoothly and to keep pedestrians and other motorists safe.

“We all know how frustrating it is to be stuck in traffic because you’re having to wait to edge round someone who has parked where they shouldn’t.

“It also beggars belief when people think they can get away with parking in spots that are specifically designed and located for blue badge holders.

“Any revenue made from the collection of parking fines in Coventry is reinvested in improving traffic management and keeping the roads flowing.”

Coventry City Council took over as parking enforcers from West Midlands Police in 2005. But so far any money made from parking fines is being used to clear hundreds of thousands of pounds of debt which has mounted up setting the operation up.

In the last financial year (April 2008 to March 2009) the council raked in more than £1million, but only pocketed £27,000. It was the first year the scheme had made a surplus.

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

CITY'S NIGHT TIME HOTSPOT SHUTS

CITY centre nightlife has taken a hit as the biggest Coventry nightclub has shut with the loss of
nearly 30 jobs.

The 2,735-capacity Lava and Ignite venue, at the Skydome complex, closed suddenly with no warning after 10 years.

The final day of trading was Easter Sunday but employees were not told until an emer-gency staff meeting the following week.

Thirteen people have been relocated to other Luminar venues but 27 people have been made redundant.

The nightclub was owned by Luminar Leisure, which also runs Skydome-based JJs and the former Chicago Rock Cafe which closed a few weeks ago.

In February the group announced a rigorous cost-cutting exercise after reporting like-for-like sales for 2009 were down by nearly 10 per cent and that trade had been affected by the bad weather, although JJs is safe after Luminar said they were “very pleased with its performance.”

Peter Turpin, operations director at Luminar Leisure, said: “The decision was taken following consultation with the club’s management and staff.

“We have chosen to focus our attention on JJs, our other neighbouring club in Coventry.

“JJs is the busiest late night entertainment venue in the city and we are very pleased with JJ’s ongoing performance.”

JD Wetherspoon is understood to be interested in the vacant Chicago Rock Cafe, and another nightclub operator is interested in taking over the Lava and Ignite site.

Ian Fox, managing director of Targetfollow, which owns the Skydome, said: “As a landlord we have been marketing this space and got some good initial interest from another nightclub operator.”

The nightclub opened as Ikon and Diva in 1999 and changed to Lava and Ignite following a £2million revamp in 2005.

It won the Best Bar None Godiva Award the following year for customer safety.

Mick McLaughlin, of city centre promotions firm CV One, said the closure was a “real shame”.

He added: “We are hoping that whatever moves into the units will be able to add a new dimension to the locale.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

GODIVA FESTIVAL OUTRAGE

MORE than 2,000 people have joined a group attacking organisers of the Godiva Festival.

Creators of Facebook group CV One Stole our Festival have accused the company which manages the city centre, of killing the local element of the popular city festival.

They are angry because acts from outside Coventry and Warwickshire will be competing for this year’s Godiva Unsigned title.

The group has excelled in attracting more members than a general fan group of the Coventry festival.

Group organiser Martin Eaton wrote: “Our main aim is to get the Godiva Festival back to how it was when everyone loved it and to recognise and respect local talent.”

Thousands of posts have been left on the social networking site.

One reads: “The really annoying thing is Martin Reeves, chief executive of Coventry City Council, was in the paper a few weeks ago calling the people of Coventry unambitious.

“But, excuse me, Godiva started as a local community festival if I am not mistaken? It is now supporting the arts of another city which he wants us to get out from under the shadow of.

“CV One is partially funded by the city council. Anyone see the hilarity and yet total annoyance of this fact?”

Another said: “There are loads of bands in Coventry which would benefit from going on a stage and this chance is being taken away by random bands from Birmingham who no one knows. I’m very outraged.”

But CV One has said they were only reacting to suggestions the competition should encompass the rest of the region.

Mick McLaughlin, marketing and communications manager, said: “We are very disappointed by the Facebook campaign, as we responded to the public’s request to encourage a wider range of live acts to apply to the Godiva Unsigned competition.

“We are also saddened that a proportion of these Facebook entries have resorted to personal criticism of CV One’s services, products and individual staff members.

“We appreciate that people can and should have the opportunity to voice their opinions but to single out individual staff members is, we believe, completely unnecessary and potentially libellous.

“This year, of the bands that entered the competition, only 19 per cent of the original entrants lived in Coventry.

“The remaining 81 per cent came from across the West Midlands region.

“It is wholly erroneous therefore to suggest that there is no Coventry representation in this year’s competition as some of the Facebook contributors seem to believe.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

SECOND BAN GIVEN TO PET OWNER WHO LET DOG STARVE TO DEATH

A MUM given a lifetime ban on owning animals after letting her dog starve to death was previously given a 10-year ban for a similar offence, the Times can reveal.

Wendy Shaylor, aged 41, of Coventry, appeared before city magistrates last Thursday because she abandoned her spaniel at her previous home in Achal Close, Foleshill.

The court heard she had left it there with hardly anything to eat or drink for two months, along with two cats, when she moved to Coundon with her children last year.

Shaylor, who now lives in Three Spires Avenue, Coundon, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog from July 1 to September 19 last year and six counts of failing to meet the needs of two cats and a dog between August 23 and September 19.

She received an 18-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

She was also disqualified for life from owning, keeping, or being in contact with any animal.

The body of the spaniel was discovered by RSPCA officers on September 18 last year after a neighbour alerted them to two cats scratching on the front windows of the home.

Gaynor Sutton, prosecuting, said both cats survived the ordeal, but officers later discovered the dog wrapped in a blue and white jacket and dumped in a black bag in the upstairs bedroom.

The decomposed body had been left to rot for at least a month.

The court heard that hunger pangs had hit her so hard she ended up eating bits of rubber and tried to munch on empty tin cans of food. She also made scratch marks on doors of the house.

Andrew Sharp, defending, said: “She admitted she had responsibility of the dog and cats at that address. She is very much to blame in this matter. She made attempts to feed them but it was woefully inadequate.”

He said Shaylor had been seen visiting the premises but “didn’t visit often enough”.

Herchran Boal, RSPCA officer for the Midlands, said in 1991 Shaylor was given a 10-year ban on owning animals.

She said: “I’m extremely pleased with the result, especially because she had got a lifetime ban.

“I know she got a suspended sentence, maybe because she has kids to look after, but I think she more than deserved being in custody for what she did.

“It was so horrific and callous to leave the animals in that condition.

“Going outside is what saved the cats, they probably caught a pigeon or two to survive.

“The whole thing was so inhumane.

“In 1991 Shaylor was actually given a 10-year ban from owning, keeping or being in contact with any animal.

“But yet she has done the same thing again, so that is why this is a pleasing result for the RSPCA.”.

DRUG ADDICT BURGLES HOUSE TO FEED HABIT

A DRUG addict who burgled a house to feed his habit, even though his sister died from an over-dose, has been sent to jail for two years.

Scott Bates, 26, appeared before Coventry Crown Court last Thursday charged with burglary.

The court heard how Bates, who lived in Clennon Rise, Henley Green, smashed the windows of a property he burgled last October and made off with about £600 worth of items which included a Playstation and jewellery.

Police investigating the incident found the offender’s fingerprints on a bag that was at the address.

When they interviewed Bates he claimed to have no recollection of the evening’s events because he had taken drugs.

He couldn’t explain how his fingerprints got on the bag.

Prosecutor Blondol Thompson told the court Bates had committed his first burglary when he was just 13.

Richard Murray, defending, told of Bates’ troubled upbringing, which involved his parents separating at an early age.

He said: “There is no secret as to what drives him to come before the criminal courts.

“His parents separated at an early age and since then he has lived a transient lifestyle.

“In short it’s a long road that Mr Bates has to travel to get himself law abiding and drug free. And he is starting to show the first shoots of doing just that.

“For the first time really he is looking at his life and wanting to change it.

“The last thing he wants is to be like his brother who has an entrenched drug addiction, or be like his sister, who died from an overdose – he nearly died himself.”

Bates, who had just finished a 36-week sentence for a different offence two weeks ago, had pleaded guilty to his charge of burglary six weeks into that sentence.

Judge Philip Gregory sentenced Bates to two years in jail.

He said: “You have been committing criminal offences since you were 13.

“You’ve proved yourself to be a determined thief.

“If you commit an offence of this nature again sentencing will start at three years and will
probably be a lot longer.

“I’m satisfied that nothing other than a custodial sentence can, in this case, be justified.”

SPEEDING DRIVERS CLOCKED

SPEEDING drivers in Westwood Heath are being targeted by residents using speed guns.

A section of Westwood Heath Road, between Cromwell Lane and Bockendon Road, is a 30mph zone, but motorists are regularly thundering past at speeds nearly double the limit.

To tackle the problem, residents have teamed up with West Midlands Police and have been using speed guns to clock fast cars all this week.

Residents and police community support officers have been monitoring traffic between 8am and 10am and then again at 3.30pm to 6pm since Monday.

In the first two sessions – held at peak times on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning – 122 drivers were clocked travelling at 35mph or above, with the fastest clocked at 57mph.

The community speed watch week, which finishes on Saturday, is spearheaded by PC Tony Ashton, of the Westwood neighbourhood policing team, who has welcomed residents’ interests.

“I have been made aware by residents that some vehicles are travelling in excess of the 30mph speed limit,” he said.

“It can be quite appealing for motorists to speed – it’s a long, straight road that only has houses on one side. But that’s not an excuse to break the limit.”

In the past three years there have been four accidents near Cromwell Lane.

The Times joined the team on Monday where about 70 vehicles were recorded travelling at 35mph or above.

Diane Holden, 52, a driver and Mike Holden, 54, a director, moved into the street almost three years ago.

They said: “As soon as we moved here we realised it was a fast road. We are on it every day and people are always speeding down it.

“It’s dangerous because there are children, people walking pets and other motorists that are at risk from speeding drivers.

“Hopefully our clear presence will send out a message to those drivers to be aware of their speed to stop future accidents.”

A ‘football’ system of notices has been created to warn drivers caught breaking the limit – speeding drivers will first receive a ‘yellow’ letter, then if they are caught again they get a ‘red’ letter warning them.

A third time means action will be taken.

Councillor David Skinner, (Con, Westwood), said: “For as long as I can remember this road has always caused problems.

“On one occasion two drivers were racing down Westwood Heath Road, one on either side of the road. If anyone was attempting to cross the road they would’ve been killed.

“Something needs to be done, I know the junction cannot be re-built because the costs would be absolutely astronomical, it would run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

“But surely there must be a cheaper option.”

Coventry City Council, which maintains the city’s roads, said the accident rate is not high enough for any intervention.

Paul Boulton, highways network manager, said: “Our intervention level is six accidents in three years, but four accidents is not something to be ignored.

“The junction near Cromwell Lane is in a Y shape, which is not one we use anymore.

“If that road was to be built now it would be in the T shape.

“Any work like that will require a minimum of £20,000 and depending on how much work under the road would need to be done, for example, if we disturb drains or power lines, could mean the figure goes up to what Cllr Skinner quoted.

“There are hundreds of other roads in Coventry that need work on first, but if we had extra money then it’s certainly something we can look at.

“In the meantime a short term solution could be to improve line markings and have warning signs.”

This year the city council has £350,000 to spend on improving city roads.

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

DAD GREW CANNABIS NEXT TO DAUGHTER'S TOYS

A DAD who grew about £10,000 worth of cannabis plants next to his daughter’s toys avoided a prison sentence by the “skin of his teeth”.

David Ward, aged 32, grew between 50 and 60 plants when he was living in Dunrose Close, Wyken.

He appeared before Coventry Crown Court last Thursday and was given a 52-week prison sentence
suspended for two years.

The court heard neighbours alerted police to the situation on September 8 last year because they initially thought the home, which Ward shared with his partner and her three children, was being burgled.

But when officers arrived they discovered the plants growing in a tent in an upstairs bedroom.

As the house was unoccupied at the time, they decided to lie in wait to catch the offenders. And the next morning Ward entered the house with another man who escaped.

Blondol Thompson, prosecuting, said: “In a police interview Ward told officers he was forced into cultivating the plants at his home when he had taken some drugs, but could not afford to pay for them.

“He said the man had told him to grow some drugs in his house to wipe the debt. One of the lamps in the room used had his fingerprints on it, which Ward said could’ve got there because he kept his daughter’s toys in that room.”

Ward, father of three and an ex-fairground ride operator, refused to say who was forcing him into it and pleaded guilty to a charge of cultivating a class B drug.

Judge Philip Gregory told Ward: “You played an important role in cultivating a small cannabis factory. Anybody who operates or cultivates a cannabis factory should go to jail.

“And whether this was a gardening role, as you claimed, or a more serious organisational role you could not complain about a custodial term.

“It is only with the greatest of hesitation that I have been persuaded by your barrister that I can just suspend your sentence.

“You have avoided going down those steps to prison by the skin of your teeth.”

Ian Speed, defending, described his client as “educationally inadequate”.

“He has little understanding of what he is doing and the serious nature of it,” he added.

Ward claimed his drug dealer delivered the plants to his home and forced him to set up the drug factory.

Police estimated his crop was just three weeks away from harvest and expected to produce more than a kilogram of cannabis.

HERBERT COULD WIN £100,000 ART FUND PRIZE

JUDGES deciding which British museum or gallery should win a £100,000 cash prize have been on a tour of the Herbert.

The venue, in Jordan Well, is one of 11 across the country in the running for the prestigious Art Fund Prize.

It has made it onto the long list and now the judges have to decide whether it will make it onto the final shortlist of four.

The cash prize would be a major boost for the museum, which has suffered from a £30,000 funding cut from Coventry City Council.

The Art Fund judges will decide which museum or gallery demonstrates originality and imagination based on a project completed last year.

They are basing their decision on their visits and also comments from the public on why their favourite venue should win.

Chief executive Ludo Keston said: “Being nominated is another way the people of the city can see the way their museum is valued in the wider world.

“It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff team who work tirelessly to ensure that we bring history and the arts to life in the city every day when we open our doors. The visitor’s response to our work has been astounding with over 310,000 visitors passing through our doors in the last year alone.

“We hope to have even better news to announce when the judges of this prestigious award have finished their deliberations later in the year.”

After the tour, judge Kathy Gee, said: “It’s a tremendous achievement to be on the list.

“It’s wonderful to see so many families enjoying the variety of stories and treasures that The Herbert has to offer.”

The Herbert was recently named the Best Family Friendly Museum in Britain by The Guardian Family Friendly Awards.

Voting and commenting for the long lists closes on May 7, announcement of the shortlist opens on May 17 until June 18, before a winner is titled on June 30.

For more information, or to vote, visit www.artfundprize.org.uk.

PUB LICENSEE IS FINED £600 OVER FLYTIPPING

A LICENSEE has to pay £600 for failing to prevent flytipping.

Balwinder Singh Thukral, aged 51, of Burbages Lane, Rowleys Green, was fined and ordered to pay the costs for failing to take appropriate checks to prevent flytipping, which included a sofa being dumped and bags of rubbish.

The case was brought after Coventry City Council’s environmental crime unit received a complaint that a large amount of waste had been dumped in Church Walk, Allesley and Jubilee Crescent, in Radford, last April.

Officers visited the site and found evidence among the waste which linked it to The Vault public house in High Street in the city centre.

A visit to the premises showed the public house was closed and undergoing extensive refurbishment.

Mr Thukral was served with a notice under the Environmental Protection Act that told him to provide evidence regarding who he had employed to remove the waste.

During the investigation it was found Thukral had not taken appropriate checks to prevent the flytipping.

He pleaded guilty at Coventry Crown Court on Wednesday April 7 where he received a fine of £250 and ordered to pay costs of £350.

Joy Adams, the council’s principal environmental health officer, said: “All businesses have a legal duty of care to ensure their waste is taken to a licensed waste site by a registered waste carrier.

“As part of their duty they must also keep a record through waste transfer notes so as to prove that their waste has not been flytipped.

“As part of the city council’s fight against flytipping, officers from the environmental crime unit are regularly visiting businesses to check they have got appropriate waste contracts.”

Any business wishing to check whether a waste carrier is registered or for further information can call the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506 or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

COVENTRY'S CAR INDUSTRY GETS A BOOST

DUTCH firm Spyker Cars looks set to create 40 new jobs as it began its production of supercars in Coventry this week.

The group switched assembly of its new Aileron supercar from Holland to a new plant at CPP Limited, in Wheler Road, Whitley.

In order to meet new production targets, CPP will look to create around 40 new jobs, taking its workforce to about 150 workers.

The news follows Spyker’s announcement last November to scale up production and reduce costs related to the manufacturing process.

Spyker founder Victor Muller, chairman Vladimir Antonov and managing director of CPP, Brendan O’Toole, visited the plant based on the Seven Stars Industrial Estate earlier this week.

Mr O’Toole said: “Against a general backdrop of decline in UK car manufacture in recent years, this provides very positive news, not just for CPP but importantly for Coventry.

“Spyker is a world renowned name in the design and production of exclusive cars and CPP is extremely pleased to now be playing a larger part in that success story.

“We have established a very good working relationship over the last decade and this announcement allows us to take this relationship to the next exciting stage.”

CPP has established a new bespoke 20,000 sq ft assembly plant close to its headquarters and can produce five cars a week in one shift.

Mr Muller said the move was a “landmark in the history of Spyker” which was founded in 1875.

He added: “This move makes sense on many different levels.

“CPP has been producing our body panels for 10 years and we have an extremely close working relationship with the company.

“More than half our components are sourced from the UK, so moving here will bring us considerable efficiency savings which is vital for a car company of our size.

“In addition, this area has probably the richest heritage in car production of any region in the world.

“CPP has shown that the tradition of quality is very much alive and well in the Midlands region and in Coventry in particular.

“Coventry has been at the forefront of quality automotive design and production and Spyker wants to be a lasting part of that. We are already starting to establish links with the two universities in the city. This marks a new and very exciting era for Spyker.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

POTHOLE HELL IN COVENTRY STREETS

COVENTRY has finished nearly bottom of the pile when it comes to filling potholes that are plaguing the city’s streets.

This is the finding of a new league table published by CTC, a national cyclists’ organisation.

It shows that Coventry has only managed to fill 16 per cent of the potholes reported on the site, placing it 192th out of 212 authorities across the country.

The table is drawn up online at fillthathole.org.uk and allows
road users to report a pothole, which is then sent to the local authority in charge to fix.

Debra Rolfe, CTC campaigns’ coordinator, said: “Potholes pose a significant risk to cyclists, they’re a nuisance to car drivers but if you cycle over a deep pothole, you could be seriously injured.

“It’s essential that highway authorities and councils get road defects fixed as quickly as possible. That’s why CTC is asking all road users to report potholes on our website as it will make it safer for everyone using the roads in Coventry, as the council will know where the problems are and should be able to fix them faster.

“Our website has received
a record number of hazard
reports this January – the
highest monthly total we’ve ever seen.”

Coventry has had on-going troubles with potholes and the recent cold spell has led to more opening up across the city.

Residents of Woodway Lane are so fed-up with the situation they have likened the potholes in their street to the surface of the moon.

Retired resident Derek Jones, 79, said the road can be “treacherous” for motorcyclists who are unfamiliar with the road.

He added: “The road has never been properly maintained, they patch it up again and again, but don’t do the job properly.

“It is really very bad, when you’re driving along it’s so bumpy and dangerous for
motorcyclists, especially those that aren’t familiar with the road. They might fall off their bikes.”

Councillor Ed Ruane (Lab, Henley) is calling for an urgent review of road maintenance in the city to combat the growing problem of potholes.

He said: “Woodway Lane is in a shocking condition and is very dangerous to drive on due to the number and size of
craters in the road.

“This is a serious issue which has been reported to the council time again by residents and myself.

“Many motorists in the city have become used to swerving around the potholes in the road to prevent repeated damage to their tyres and suspension on their cars.

“This sort of driving will
inevitably lead to accidents.

“It would be safer to drive a moon buggy down Woodway Lane and many other roads in our city which have more
similarities with the surface of the moon than a city road.”

Elsewhere in the city,
residents in Jobs Lane, Tile Hill, have been collecting hub-caps which have fallen off the tyres of cars which have hit potholes in the road.

But Coventry City Council maintains it is doing all it can to repair the uneven roads that have left motorists potty.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of this website, however we don’t know whether the figures accurately reflect how many potholes have actually been fixed.

“More than 2,000 potholes have been filled, compared to almost 1,500 last week, while the Bobcat planing machine was used in various locations to help resurface stretches of road where there are a number of potholes.

“This brings the total number of potholes filled to more than 4,700 in the past three weeks.

“Plans for work include Kingfield Road, Foleshill, as well as continuing to repair priority potholes. To report a pothole call Coventry Direct on 0500 834 333.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

NEW BREATHE EASY GROUP LAUNCHED

A NEW service to help people living with lung conditions will be launched in the city.

The Breathe Easy Coventry group will help patients that suffer Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD is the name for a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways disease.

The move comes after NHS Coventry, which is bringing the service with the British Lung Foundation, conducted a survey to seek the views of COPD sufferers in Coventry.

They found that patients wanted a support group in the city as the closest ones were in neighbouring Leamington or Warwick.

Esther Peapell, head of patient and public involvement for NHS Coventry, said: “We are pleased we have been able to respond to the needs expressed by these patients.

“The setting up of this group is a good example of what can be achieved when we work closely with the community.

“This process benefits not just the service users, it also helps us to learn how to be more responsive and provides services that the community needs. Next year we will be developing this partnership process and setting up similar groups for people with other conditions.”

Marina Harbin, 74, of Tile Hill, said: “I’ve been suffering from emphysema for the past five years and used to feel isolated and alone.

“My friend and I previously travelled to Leamington Spa to get support. I’m really pleased – not just for myself, but for other people in the community who are suffering from a lung condition they will also benefit from the support.

“It’s marvellous to have this group in the city.”

The group’s launch takes place on Friday February 12 at the Methodist Central Hall, Warwick Lane, city centre, at 2pm.

After that the group aim to meet on the second Friday of every month at the same venue.

For more information call Roy Goddard, on 07752 657223.

'LEWD MAYOR' TOLD TO APOLOGISE

COVENTRY’S former “Lewd Mayor” Andy Matchet has been instructed to sign a letter of apology to an ex-council equalities officer who lodged a complaint against him.

Last week a standards committee panel issued a 10-working day deadline on the already suspended Earlsdon councillor to sign a letter by Friday February 19.

Failure to do so could lead to further penalties by the standards committee.

The letter is one of the two sanctions that was imposed on the Conservative party member last November when the council standards sub-committee issued a three-month ban on him as councillor.

It ruled he had broken the code of conduct with an “inappropriate” conversation about sex at his own Lord Mayor’s Ball in 2008.

Cllr Matchet’s ban began on January 5 after he lost an appeal. But he is yet to agree to sign any apology letter ahead of his return to office in April.

He has also been suspended from the Tory party.

It comes after 27-year-old former equalities officer Laura Slegg complained about his alleged conversation with a 45-year-old charity chief executive Ms X, after the pair had danced “flirtily” and discussed sex, allegedly initiated by him.

Ms Slegg accepts she also took part in some of the conversation. She then went home after the talk and made notes about what had been discussed.

Ms X did not want to complain, but Ms Slegg provided the only evidence of the boozy chat with her notes.

Cllr Matchet had told the appeal tribunal he felt Ms Slegg had been prejudiced against him because of his age and sex.

The proposed letter was sent to Cllr Matchet’s solicitors, with a return date set for January 22.

But the office is yet to receive the letter, which will be passed onto Ms Slegg, and so a new date has been set.

Christine Forde, the council’s monitoring officer, told the standards committee: “Should Andy Matchet fail to provide the letter of apology, that could amount to a further breach of the member code of conduct and be the subject of investigation.”

DANCE WORKSHOPS CREATE A SPLASH

A GROUP of girls have put on their dancing shoes to give them more confidence.

Regular evening dance sessions have been taking place at the Broad Street Young People’s Centre, in Broad Street.

It has enabled about a dozen 11 to 17-year-old girls to become accomplished performers and grow their confidence.

Clare Loughlin, senior youth worker at the centre, said: “The dance workshops have given the girls so much more self-belief than they had before. They create their own routines, which range from flapper moves to street dancing, and choose the music.

“As well as developing new skills, they feel they are being taken seriously because they can see their ideas are being listened to, and they have gained the confidence to perform on stage.

“They also have the opportunity to use other facilities here, such as the recording studio.

“We are now planning to hold street dance and hip hop workshops for boys later this year.”

And because of this success dance workshops will be featuring in Splash – a half-term holiday programme for 14 to 19-year-olds in Foleshill.

A dance workshop will be held next week on Tuesday evening and another on Saturday afternoon.

Other activities young people can take part in include drama and cookery workshops, art and crafts, music recording sessions and football.

Staff from Coventry Connexions will also be on hand during half-term to provide advice and information on health, careers, money, education and much more.

About £5million of government money has been made available to young people in Coventry between 2008 and 2011 through the Positive Activities for Young People programme.

PAYP provides intensive activity-based activities, targeted at young people at risk of negative outcomes, such as involvement in anti-social behaviour and crime, as part of Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Aiming High for Young People strategy.

The girls taking part in the dance sessions will perform at the Ricoh Arena on Friday March 26 to celebrate the achievements of PAYP in the city.

For more information about the Splash programme or the term time dance workshops, call the centre on 024 7678 5179.