Coventry Evening Telegraph - September 16 1999

Confusion surrounds a new roadsign marking the way to ranks new forty million pound SkyDome in Coventry. Developer Morrisons has put up a sign by the Croft Road entrance referring to the complex by its working title, Leisure World. A company official claimed he was aware of the centre's new name and last week the new sign, directing traffic into the car park, was set in concrete.

The sign is currently wrapped in plastic and is not due to be unveiled until nearer the complex's completion date. Spokesman George Hulbert said "Morrisons has always called it Leisure World and I am unaware of any change." He confirmed Morrisons contractors had put up the sign. SkyDome general manager Trevor Ellard said: "Leisure World was only ever a working title. The name SkyDome was decided upon several months ago. It was announced in the Coventry Evening Telegraph and everyone involved in the project was informed."

The complex includes a nine-screen cinema, two nightclubs and a live music venue which will all be opened in October. A 4,000 seat arena will open nearer Christmas.

Coventry Evening Telegraph - September 20 1999

Robin Brabban has started his career as a head teacher at Coventry's Barrs Hill School with new intake of 11 year olds - the youngsters he hopes to shape into well educated, good citizens. Last year the Coventry secondary school was in the bottom half of the exam results league table. Now Barrs Hill's fortunes are on the up with a 10 per cent jump in the number of youngsters gaining five or more A* to C grade at GCSEs.

Mr Brabban, formerly associate head of an inner-city Birmingham school, is clearly relishing the challenges of continuing improvement at the Radford Road comprehensive. "This is a genuine comprehensive school. It is a community college and helps educate children and adults. I see the scope for Barrs Hill to play a major part in the regeneration of Radford and Spon End and am optimistic it will play its part in that. My impression is Barrs Hill is a very good and caring school with lots of positives."

Mr Brabban, former head of English at North Leamington School and currently chairman of a Leamington residents' association, is clear about the values a comprehensive education can give to tomorrow's adults. "It is a challenge to get children to take on board the fact they have perhaps got more potential than they realise. They have to accept their responsibility for learning. It is more than just about GCSEs, A levels and GNVQs; it is about teaching children to get on with each other, operating within a genuine community." He added: "I am very impressed with the staff here. They are very hard-working and have a real desire to make a difference. Teachers have to be constantly on the look out for opportunities for particular children. The school's job is to expose children to as much variety, challenge and stimulus as possible. Every one of us has our strengths. We have to exploit those strengths. We have to continue to improve, year on year."

Coventry Evening Telegraph - September 22 1999

It took four years of lobbying the city council before concerned families living in the Spon End area of Coventry had their pleas for traffic calming answered. A 35,000 pound scheme to put speed humps in Northumberland Road, Windsor Street, Waveley Road and Barras Lane to help enforce a new limit of 20mph finally got the go ahead last month.

Road surface markings to encourage drivers to slow down will also be put at the entrance to Minster Road and Upper Spon Street with cash from the Council's new safety fund. Although residents welcome action being taken at long last they fear the measures asked for back in 1995 are now out of date. Kevin Noble, chair of the Spon End Red Brick Residents' Association, said it was a step in the right direction but residents needed more than speed humps with the advent of major developments on their doorstep, such as Skydome.

Mr Noble said: "In the four years of petitionig, the issues have moved on so much and what the Council has not done is acknowledge how we have developed, grown and changed our views." During the four-year wait, the residents' association actually employed two research students to carry out detailed studies into problems in the area, and took a more strategic approach in trying to address the complex issue. They are now pushing for the area to be given a "home zone" status, designed to allow communities to reclaim their streets by introducing measures like a 5mph speed limit, giving priority to pedestrians rather than cars and making roads access roads only.

Colin Walker, member of the residents' association and chair of the Spon End Forum, said: "The measures being taken by the Council will not satisfy all of the perceived problems in the area, but they will go some way towards helping." Mr Noble added: "we are pleased that we have got somewhere and are happy with the 20mph zone, but we see this very much as the first step."

Coventry Evening Telegraph - September 22 1999

Two pieces of ancient maritime history have left dry dock at the start of a 100 mile voyage to London. The seven foot long scale model of a Viking longship and the 1.5m long cross-section of a Greek warship were taken to the capital by lorry, where they will form the centrepeice of a transport through the ages exibition at the Millenium Dome. They will be kept in storage until the Dome opens some time in December.

Both replicas were painstakingly handbuilt over a tense six week period by a team of four master craftsmen at Coventry Boatbuilders in Gloucester Street, Spon End. Workshop owner Malcolm Adkins said: "It has been an exciting project and to have our work on display in the Millenium Dome is great. It was getting quite fraught towards the end but we never miss a deadline."

The Viking boat is a tenth the size of a burial ship found at Gokstadt, while the trireme, based on a boat found near Kyremia in Cyprus, will give visitors an idea of how these complex warships worked. The arrangement of the oarmen in a trireme has been the subject of much controversy; the rowers, each with a oar, probably sat in threes on angled benches rather than in three superimposed banks as was previously thought. Coventry Boatbuilders also helped build a full-size trireme for a television series in the 1980s.

Coventry Evening Telegraph - September 25 1999

Councillors have signalled their displeasure at plans to advertise the new Coventry Skydome on the side of the building which fronts historic Spon Street. Members of the city council planning policy team said they were worried that signs advertising the huge new leisure development would not be in keeping with the conservation area. Skydome's Spon Street frontage includes doors to a bar and nightclub, although the committee was told on Thursday officers were not certain whether they were fire exits or public entrances. The main entrance is going to be on the other side of the building near the Co-op store.

Lesley Wroe, planning control manager, said officers and the developers had been "labouring long and hard over the Spon Street frontage to get a building which is going to be attractive in the conservation area." She said concerns included proposed lighting and illuminated box signs in Spon Street. "Negotiations are continuing with the applicants."

Cllr Dave Nellist (Soc, St Michaels) said: "I am not sure that right opposite the 12th, 13th and 14th century buildings we need any signs if they are just fire exits. They will obviously think the more advertising the better." And Cllr Bob Waugh (Lab, Westwood) said: "We are very touchy about Spon Street. We want the whole lot not only preserved but enhanced. I can't see how that will enhance it at all."

SkyDome is due to open later this year and will feature a nine-screen cinema, two nightclubs, a cafe bar, four restaurants and a 4,000 seat arena which will double as an ice rink and concert venue. Members granted permission for all signs on SkyDome except those facing Spon Street, which will be the subject of more discussions.

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