[27
APR 00] NUNEATON & BEDWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS
Paintbrushes At Dawn In Fight Against Arena
Nuneaton
and Bedworth town centres are to get a lick of paint as part of plans
to spruce the area up as it prepares to do battle with the new
Coventry City arena.
Street
lights, traffic signs, posts, seats, benches and litter bins are all
to be freshened up to attract more shoppers to the area.
The
borough faces stiff competition from the new 45,000-seater arena and
concert venue, which will include a shopping complex.
Tesco
has already signed up for huge store on the site of the former
Foleshill gas works in north Coventry, and traders in Nuneaton and
Bedworth voiced fears that the competition could drive them out.
To
fight back, Warwickshire County Council and Nuneaton and Bedworth
Borough Council launched a £1 million scheme to improve the area.
Currently
there is a £247,000 shortfall on the various projects, which include
improvements in Congreve Walk, Mill Street and Leicester Street and
the market in Bedworth.
The
county council’s cabinet will decide next week whether or not to
make up the shortage in funds.
Changes
in Nuneaton include work in Harefield Road and Abbey Street, the River
Anker and the Corporation Street roundabout.
Decorating
work costing £52,000 is to start next week in Nuneaton and Bedworth
town centres.
All
the metal work will be painted black with gold trim and the schemes
are to be finished by mid July.
Cllr Dennis Harvey, Leader of
the Council, said:
“In recent years we have
tried to continually enhance and upgrade our town centres for the
benefit of residents and visitors alike.
”I am sure people will welcome the work which is being
done to refresh the pedestrian areas, ensuring that they remain
smart, pleasant places of which we can all be proud.”
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