News

We are sad to report the death of Alan Dyer, the Chairman and Finance Director of the Coventry Canal Basin Trust and former University Lecturer. Alan was an artist, psychologist and writer and ran the artists’ studios at Coventry Canal Basin since 1985. Alan Dyer was born in Nelson, Lancashire in 1944 where he attended… Read more: Alan Dyer 1944 – 2025

On 14th May 2025, twenty-seven intrepid Coventry Society member braved the wild conditions of the Charterhouse Heritage Park to see for themselves what is planned for the area. Guided by Gareth Morgan of the John Muir Trust and Charlotte Stranks, the Council’s Conservation Officer, we walked around the more accessible parts of the Heritage Park… Read more: A Walk on the Wild Side

The Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) project has achieved a significant technical milestone with the construction of a 220-metre single-track demonstrator in the city centre. Installed along Greyfriars Road and Queen Victoria Road, this trial represents the first time CVLR’s innovative modular track form has been embedded within a live urban road. This milestone follows… Read more: VLR Takes Next Steps

The Coventry Society has objected to two proposals for self-build housing at Watery Lane, Keresley. The two sites are part of the Keresley Jubilee Wood, created in 2012 and protected in the current Coventry Local Plan of 2017. Jubilee Wood was created to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, being the 60th anniversary of… Read more: Objections to Building on Celebration Woodland

The National Trust has announced the date that the Charterhouse will re-open under their management.   From Wednesday 21 May, one of the Midlands’ finest historic landmarks will reopen as part of the National Trust! Coventry Charterhouse, a beautifully restored 14th-century Carthusian monastery, which is home to rare 15th and 16th-century wall paintings, picturesque walled… Read more: Charterhouse Re-Opening Date Announced

The Coventry Telegraph has reported that a business park set to create 1,000 jobs will be built on the outskirts of Coventry despite local concerns. Developers have gained the final go-ahead to build the industrial site on former green belt fields near the M6. City councillors approved further details known as reserved matters of the… Read more: New Coventry business park set to create 1,000 jobs

In the spirit of Monty Python, this might have been the question asked by members of Coventry City Council’s Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee during April. In response, the snappily named West Midlands Combined Authority came to their meeting to tell them. In a 27-page presentation with 3700 words, West Midlands officers “briefed” councillors on the many… Read more: What has the WMCA ever done for us?

Historian and CovSoc Committee member, David Fry, has been studying past editions of the Alfred Herbert Newsletter. These Newsletters are much more than just a works magazine and some articles give an invaluable insight into the thinking in the city at the time they were written. The article below is extracted from a 1957 edition,… Read more: Coventry in 1953/4 – The City Prospers…

The City Council has approved plans for the relocation of three libraries in the city to save money. Coventry City Council approved plans to move the services in Bell Green, Coundon and Holbrooks at a meeting held earlier in April 2025. The cabinet member for finance, councillor Richard Brown, said the relocation would save £625,000… Read more: Three Libraries to Move

Demolition of blocks in the former Spon End council estate has started. Housing association Citizen is working with The Hill Group to demolish Kerry House, Milestone House and Trafalgar House in Spon End. Coventry City Council, Homes England and West Midlands Combined Authority are partners supporting the delivery of the project. To start with, works… Read more: Spon End Demolition Commences