Schools Encouraged to Take Part in City Centre Regeneration
Coventry schools are being urged to have their say on the £1 billion plans to transform the city centre.
An ambitious masterplan, drawn up by architects The Jerde Partnership following widespread consultation by Coventry City Council earlier this year, was revealed last month. The plans include green parks and open spaces on top of new shops, a waterway following the path of the river Sherbourne with a new library at the heart of the groundbreaking design.
More than 1,000 people have already shared their views on the ambitious plans in the first two weeks alone, but now the Council is targeting Coventry's youngsters in a bid to get their ideas.
More than 300 people have already joined the Council's group to discuss the city centre on social networking site Facebook, and information packs and activities on how pupils can get involved have been sent to all 89 primary and primary special schools across the city and the 22 secondary and secondary special schools.
A 10 minute PowerPoint presentation with sound has been included in the packs to give pupils the background to the masterplan and explain the proposed improvements.
The planned activities are designed to help children and young people understand the ideas behind the masterplan and the exercises take as little or as much time a school can spare.
Exercises include asking young people to write to a retailer that currently doesn’t have a shop in the city centre about why they should come to Coventry or preparing a newspaper double page spread highlighting the proposals with prizes available to the best. All students will also be encouraged to take part in the consultation, so they can have their say.
Councillor Ken Taylor, Leader of Coventry City Council, is anxious for as many young people as possible to take part.
He said: "The people of Coventry have influenced this work from the very beginning and they have been clear about what they want. But young people are particularly important in this process as they will be the adults who will be living in, working in and enjoying our city in a decade or so - it's fantastic to think that they will be able to look back and say they played a part in making the transformation happen."
Councillor Taylor added: "I'm really pleased we've been able to supply this information to schools while the consultation is still taking place so they can have a real influence on their city's future, and I hope as many as possible can find time to take part."
Schools need to send all completed questionnaires, articles and letters by Friday 21 November 2008. More information is available by telephoning Faye Cockayne 024 7683 2391.
The school activities are part of a wider consultation across the city. People wanting to get involved should visit the city centre shop in the City Arcade, visit http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ or see the latest copy of Citivision, the council's magazine that is delivered to every home in the city. People with access to the internet can also join the Coventry City Council's masterplan group on the social networking website Facebook. The Council will also be taking the display from the shop at 2 City Arcade on tour – and this Saturday 18 October will be in West Orchards in the unit just inside the Smithford Way entrance.