CWK205 (2009)

The market is but I dunno about the tripe stall.

However, it may not be for much longer. There are (rather 'pie in the sky' in my view) proposals to redevelop whole swathes of the city centre based on futuristic plans submitted by US consultants 'Jerde'. The market would have to go (with the support of the traders who typically were not that long ago saying how wonderful it is and making a film about it). Problem is, English Heritage have listed it!

The problem with futuristic new designs is that they date so quickly don't they!

It's still there, but (IMO) is a shadow of its former self. I used to use the place regularly, but rarely these days.

This link may be of interest

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/covent ... ntre/78489

as may this one

http://www.rupert-fish.co.uk/interests/ ... story.html

Here's a birds eye view:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=sr12my ... %20CV1%201
but note that the you can't now drive up the ramp behind Woolies, thats for service vehicles, the entrance is via that new multi-storey in Corporation St at the top. Indeed the building at the bottom right is no longer Woolies, it's divided into three, A sports store, a pound shop, and Boots.

You can explore by dragging the map left/right/up/down.

Here's the Jerde master plan
http://www.jerde.com/media/images/exper ... sept09.jpg
Note the absence of not only the market, but all the other multi-storeys, the Library, Debenhams, Boots, the round cafe etc. though Broadgate seems to be completely pedestrianised with Godiva back in the middle.

Another thing, for some reason all the shoe shops in the precinct have become either opticians or mobile phone stores.

I think the general public have realised that resistance to these grand plans is futile after their protests over the Coventry Theatre, Broadgate canopy and new hospital location were effectively ignored.

Unfortunately the whole country seems to be going down the generic store route, if not the whole world. I was astonished to walk through a shopping mall in the Philippines to find a McDonalds, Body Shop, KFC, Vision Express, Pizza Hut, Apple I-store and two Starbucks.

I agree here, but Coventry rose after the war to become what it was in the 50s and 60s and look how it has deteriorated. It almost makes me weep. But progress, even in the form of Apple i-stores and endless mobile phone shope - anyone remember portable tranny radios? - happens and on un presupposed scales, and if anything can be done to resore the city centre, better still this beloved city to anything like prestigious, and without cars and car parks and no-go city centres, then bring it on. Its as if the life has been drained out of Coventry by the vampire thirst of the status of the car. Coventry made cars. Coventry doesnt make cars now - not like it used to, and look at the state of the city. Coventry had a precinct. It doesnt need to be turned into a "mall"