Coventry voted an ugly city

Naming a University in a large city after a small town ten miles away was an absolutely idiotic decision. It's rendered even more imbecilic by the fact that the University was setup to be a University in Coventry, which at the time was one of the largest cities in Europe that didn't have a University! What could be used as a powerful marketing tool is rendered almost useless by the name! And having "Warwick Arts Centre" that's not even in Warwick? It's absolutely ridiculous. Beyond ridiculous. Why does this city get blighted by so many poor decisions? It is so typical of Coventry - it's the home of one the UK's top Universities, but it's named after a different town!

You'll be pleased to hear that Coventry University has been voted the top new university.

By the Guardian, apparently. (33rd in the UK) Meanwhile, it's ranked 701st in the world on the QS University site. (Warwick is 64 or somewhere)

So, this topic was started 10 years ago, with some interesting posts. With all of the changes over the last 10 years, how do we Coventrians feel now?

A great idea reviving this one, Mick! Personally I think a lot has improved in recent years, although there are still a few things to moan about, like Broadgate, but I think we're stuck with its plainness and lack of greenery now. Even there, however, if we want to look on the positive side we could say that Broadgate can now host classic car displays and small fairs! But walking down the Upper Precinct and into Market Way is now quite a pleasure, thanks to the planting of shrubberies, the water features, naiad, and the removal of the escalator & ramp which ruined the view of the spire. etc. And then there's the newly relocated and improved Coventry Cross, the reopening of the bridge into Hertford Street, the layout and planting around the Council House, and several other things that I can't recall right now. Lots more to do yet, but let's keep the Coventry mug half full, eh!

I agree that Coventry looks much better. I still find the Burges and Corporation Street a bit grungy but they're much better than they were. If there was one practical thing I'd like to see it would be that the junctions of the ring road were given big numbers (decorative signs but clear), so that it was obvious which was which.

It's almost optimist or pessimist again. Work & play, I've probably spent more time travelling as anyone. Coventry, possibly not the most picturesque of locations. For me it's perfect to live in. If I didn't live here, then I might not visit. I have had golden opportunities to live anywhere in the UK, jobs offered to increase the lure, but Pam & I were never persuaded. Living in a northern suburb, Holbrooks, from leaving my home, I can be in the City centre in twenty minutes by bus, or train when they are running. Ask someone to do that from a Birmingham outer suburb. Within fifteen minutes soft walking, I'm in the leafy area of Corley if that's what I want. Watching things that go Moo & Barr! Sometimes, some of us especially journalists need to look at the full picture, just a bit further than the end of their noses. Escape to the country tele' makes me smile. When I ask, where's the nearest whatever is needed. My mum & dad lived in a beautiful home in the middle of Cornwall, but for the last six years of their lives, they were prisoners in their own home for seven months of the year. Idyllic! Is that what we call it. Even now, ask folk living in Bodmin, how long the battery lasts on their get to the shops trolley. It's a joke of the conversation there. The only bit of flat land was in their lounge. Until recently, my cousin lived near to Withiel, a few miles away. The hillside was so steep, that he had ground level access to both floors of his home. He's now moved to near St Austel, as like most as we age, he needs services.

Some valid points, Rob, and I love the glass half full approach. But I guess the never-ending redevelopment of Coventry is a problem for many, as we see a city in decline compared to its former glories. In my 50 something years I've seen massive changes that I don't approve of. The big thing most of us forget that this has been the lot of Coventry seemingly forever. From its initial entry into the British history books with the nunnery destroyed by Cnut, to Henry VIII's dreadful hand, to the rise and fall of the city's bicycle, motoring and engineering industries. I know that people bemoaned the loss of Little Butcher Row to the city planners before the Blitz. I know that people weren't happy with the rebuilding of the city and the pedestrianisation in the 1950s. I'm sure in 2050, there will be new controversies, fresh decline, another rebuild, more ideas to stay relevant. Of course, there's nostalgia in everything. When I was a kid Coventry played the top sides at rugby and football, rode against the best at speedway, and there were jobs aplenty. The Coventry Evening Telegraph was a force to be recognised with and we still had lots of independent stores, before the coming of the 'hypermarket' and then the redevelopments in the city centre that meant you could be anywhere in the country. My biggest moan remains the high-rise developments that hide the Three Spires. The Axa Equity and Law 'Dallas' skyscraper (for those of a certain vintage), the Ikea wart, the award-winning car park off the ring road, the rise of Cov Uni apartments... Cov has never been redeveloped sympathetically, IMHO, showcasing the best of what it had; instead always chasing the dreams of some would-be architect and visionary with little regard for what we have or had. And I include Gibson in that. I now live outside Truro, in Cornwall, and am constantly struck by how dominant the cathedral is on the cityscape here. You catch glimpses of it from wherever you maybe. This is a little oil painting I did of the view from the playing fields at my six year old daughter's school. Here's another of my oil attempts, the cathedral from a local park on the river. I would dearly love to get the sketch pads out and capture the Three Spires - 'my' Three Spires. My current work in progress is based on a pic I took before my grandmother's funeral a couple of years ago. A lot of blocking out before the real painting begins. I'm a hobby painter, not very good, but have a number of the village I live in, the river I live on, Truro, around Cornwall. But Coventry will always be my city, my 'home' and an inspiration. Mark

First of all, gorgeous paintings, Diesel. In my opinion it seems that Coventry has always been striving to recover from the destruction of WW11 and has had so many groups waving designs, money and ideas put forward that it seemed to have no cohesion. I remember shopping with my mum in the market opposite where the Belgrade is and the temporary shops where Sainsbury's is now. When they dug the hole for Owen's we peeped in the hole where you observe the building's progress - was very exciting. The open area from Broadgate with the shops on either side- and the nice loos - was a fantastic sight. Very modern and perfect to for the swinging sixties with the fabulous Locarno(sigh). EVERYBODY who was anybody came to the Coventry theatre and a bit later, the Belgrade. The worst things I can think of were underground crossings which were dangerous and dirty. The ring road is very confusing - I can't tell how many times I've missed my exit and usually know where I'm going! The thing with Coventry is never stops trying and I'll love it forever.

Hi lindatee2002, hi all, My mum told me how trying that I was. I'm so glad that I don't drive anywhere nowadays, are as the folks that get prosecuted for driving through the latest bus/gates. Thank all for you comments on this. We're all learning all of the time.

Not really relevant but an independent view recently recorded. This may not appeal to you. American tourist.

Who else knew we have a "Phil Silvers Archival Museum? and, where is it?

Mick, didn't she say Fargo site.

Hi argon. Didn't listen to anything, just read the bit of text.