Two Coventry tower blocks could be lit up to make a new attraction for the city centre, but some councillors have balked at the cost.

Proposals are being drawn up to install state-of-the-art lighting at Hillman House and Mercia House in the city centre.

The plans are secret at the moment, but involve using new technology that will create a “wow” factor.

The buildings will be lit in such a way that they can be used to portray information – and could even be used in weather forecasts on television.

That’s the extent of the information that Cllr Dave Batten, acting cabinet member (Development and Renewal) felt able to reveal at the moment until the issue has been cleared by all the necessary council committees.

He said:

“It will be unique to Coventry. It will start to put Coventry on the map.”

But socialist councillors are upset about the cost of the lighting strategy. The Hillman House and Mercia House project could cost up to £225,000.

Cllr Rob Windsor (Socialist, St Michael’s) said a survey of several streets in his ward near the Coventry City football ground had revealed a need to improve basic street lighting at a cost of £70,000, but the money was not there.

He said:

“It’s all very well making the city centre look good, but if people are afraid to go out at night it won’t be much good.

“We think that street level lighting should be improved in the area where people live.

“And if there are going to be improvements in the city centre then it should be at the entrance points where it is quite gloomy at the moment – places like Swanswell Pool, Far Gosford Street and the subways.

“And has anyone asked the residents of these flats what they think about having their building turned into a beacon?”

Cllr Batten said lighting engineers would be able to target the light very carefully so it did not irritate anyone.

And he added:

“This is not about lighting for street level, it’s about public art. It will attract more people into the city centre and that will help make everyone feels safer.”