Coventry to Bid for City of Culture

[Lex]

Wasn't sure whether to put this story here, or the 'Today's Funny News Story' thread.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-25220520

[rebbonk]

I saw this a couple of days back. Someone's got to be having a laugh

[Shizara]

Whichever thread you put it under it might make a great subject for some of our stand up comediennes.

[Lex]

I posted a thread about Hull getting the title on the grounds they're getting a yogurt ((bacterial)culture in yogurt - get it?); maybe Cov's going for the same thing?

[rebbonk]

Nah, we ain't that advanced Lex

[Lex]

This has got some serious backing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-26274788

*muffled guffaw*

[rebbonk]

Someone's really having a laugh. Apart from anything else the city simply can't afford it. And my honest opinion of that idiot Anne Lucas would get me banned from this site. Frankly, I wouldn't urinate on her if she was on fire!

[Lex]

The bid's actually happening!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-33145577

[rebbonk]

I find it bl**dy hilarious that the Council's cutting back everywhere yet they can find an unspecified (as yet) amount to support this.

One of the alleged cultural points is the Godiva festival. - I think the Council want to scrap that!

All in all, it's a joke, and a pretty unfunny one!

[Margaret]

That made my husband Hee Haw with laughter!

Yes, we all think of Coventry's glorious medieval past, its plays, its churches, when we think of Coventry today!

And of course its just barmy for the City to promote Culture in the singular when it virtually has none and only the multi-culturalism and the wonderful things that it brings us is what the City constantly keeps banging on about that it stands for.

[Lex]

It's still being thought about: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35773288 . The City Council don't seem too bothered, though, seeing as they cut the funding for the priory exhibition, forcing it to close.

[rebbonk]

The City Council don't seem too bothered, though, seeing as they cut the funding for the priory exhibition, forcing it to close.

The council have a record of squandering money on unnecessary things whilst cutting back on essentials. But cutting back on articles of cultural interest whilst trying to win the city of culture is clearly barmy.

[Lex]

Maybe the council got wrong end of the stick, and think the city's getting a yeast factory.

[rebbonk]

I tell you Lex, if ar$eholes could fly, Coventry Council house would be an airport.

[Lex]

That would be an interesting sight! Maybe their thinking is 'If Hull got it, maybe we're in with a chance too'

[rebbonk]

That would be an interesting sight! Maybe their thinking is 'If Hull got it, maybe we're in with a chance too'

Well, I think we can beat Hull's greatest export...

Link (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12195372/Ronnie-Pickering-picked-for-Celebrity-Big-Brother.html)

[Lex]

Well, Cov's in with a chance then.

[Lex]

It's still being thought about: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35773288 . The City Council don't seem too bothered, though, seeing as they cut the funding for the priory exhibition, forcing it to close.

Good to see it reopening: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-40056170

[rebbonk]

Sadly, I suspect it will be short lived. Even as a social enterprise it will need funding, but I wish them well.

[Lex]

Coventry's made it onto the shortlist. If it's up against Stoke & Sunderland, and Hull won last time, Cov. might be in with a chance: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40611161

[rebbonk]

I actually think this whole thing is a case of 'The emperors new clothes'. I really can't see this benefiting the city financially.

[Lex]

There are a lot of people who take an interest in urban decay, Coventry might do quite well out of this ;)

[rebbonk]

That actually made me laugh. Thanks Lex ;)

[Lex]

Not a problem :)

[Lex]

Oh God, Warwickshire's in on the act now: http://www.stratford-herald.com/78735-warwickshire-backs-coventrys-city-culture-bid.html

[rebbonk]

The Emperor's new clothes!

Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large groups.

[Lex]

Create a sentence that includes the words 'barrel' & 'scraping': http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42272675

[rebbonk]

I can only pray that this doesn't cost the citizens

[cathidaw]

I see the council are 'giving away'27 Historic buildings in Coventry to a trust to look after.
Wonder where the 'saved' money will go. I guess into the same mysterious purse as the parking money.
PS
I've just heard we are now becoming the City of Culture!!

[rebbonk]

I see the council are 'giving away'27 Historic buildings in Coventry to a trust to look after.
Wonder where the 'saved' money will go. I guess into the same mysterious purse as the parking money.


As always with CCC, I smell an unsavory whiff. But as always, nothing will ever be proven.

[Lex]

This isn't going to happen in time for 2021: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-42745007

[Lex]

What a load of rubbish: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventrys-city-culture-win-can-14174325

[rebbonk]

What a load of rubbish: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventrys-city-culture-win-can-14174325

I'd like to see him put his money where his mouth is. If the city of culture is worth so much to Coventry, I expect that in the non too distant future we'll get a year off our council tax.

[Lex]

Hull had an economic boost when it was City of Culture, but it looks like most of the extra jobs were temporary: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43485141

[rebbonk]

I think it's a case of the Emperor's new clothes. One city gets suckered and refuses to admit it and so the charade continues.

[Lex]

The budget for the City of Culture preperations has beem set: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/how-much-council-spend-making-14751036

[rebbonk]

From a council that claimed it was broke and has slashed frontline services to the most needy! - Bastards!

[Lex]

There's always plenty of cash to pay for vanity projects.

[Lex]

A big part of this article seems to mostly be playing on the past: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/city-of-culture-2021-coventry-12426781

[rebbonk]

That's a very old (and sarcastic) article written by Simon Gilbert who has since moved to the BBC. However, looking at recent violent crimes in Coventry and its' standing in an international safety table, I think the whole city of culture thing is becoming a big joke. To my mind, the only culture that Coventry has is the sort that grows in a petri dish.

[Lex]

More money the City Council 'hasn't got' is being thrown at the city of culture: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-city-of-culture-extra-15119326

[rebbonk]

The Emperor's new clothes springs to mind.

I've seen it before with big companies, one gets taken for a ride but others think they're onto a big secret so follow on. In my honest opinion this is nothing different. Coventry tax payers are being taken for mugs by the ars*holes that we have elected to represent us because they haven't got an ounce of real world experience between them.

[cathidaw]

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT NO REAL WORLD OF EXPERIENCE.
Most of our councilors are ordinary-like the rest of us.
On the whole -this bunch is not too bright, as we have found out over the past few years, and not being one of us now, they cannot see the whole picture.
Anyone can have a good education and get to that stage,but unfortunately education and intellect are two different things - as we see from whats happening in this glorious government carnival we see every day.

[Lex]

Who's pockets will all this money be lining?

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/budget-city-culture-coventry-15345915

[rebbonk]

I'll bet a good slice of it is creamed off before it gets to its intended destination.

[cathidaw]

I'll bet a good slice of it is creamed off before it gets to its intended destination.

I'm sure a great amount will go on the discussions the council will be having at their special meetings about City of Culture over the next year or so..
e g,Their overtime and travel, room hire, heating lighting and don't forget refreshments.
They don't do it for nothing and there's a big pot there to dip into..

[margaret]

https://www.facebook.com/coventry2021/videos/2032896823494185/



Click for viewing.



Coventry UK City of Culture 2021
4 hrs ·
The moment #KnifeAngel was moved into place minutes ago.
The sculpture, which stands against violence and aggression will stand outside Coventry Cathedral until the end of Easter and has been brought to the city by a group of organisations led by Ed Ruane.
The piece, by The British Ironwork Centre and Alfie bradley sculptor contains 100,000 amnesty knives collected by the police. It has toured to Liverpool and Hull and now joins us in Coventry....

The Knife Angel’s visit forms a wider conversation about knife crime in the UK today.



ps. Lex, I put the wrong heading, Leamington Studio Artists is wrong. Can you change it please to Coventry UK City of Culture 2021. Thanks.

[margaret]

https://www.facebook.com/coventry2021/videos/388895401911182/

Sorry I wasn't allowed to post two videos in one post.

[Lex]

ps. Lex, I put the wrong heading, Leamington Studio Artists is wrong. Can you change it please to Coventry UK City of Culture 2021. Thanks.

Done. :)

[rebbonk]

Whilst I admire the thoughts behind this, I honestly can't see it having a real affect on local knife crime.

[margaret]

Whilst I admire the thoughts behind this, I honestly can't see it having a real affect on local knife crime.

Yes, Rebbonk, that was my thoughts too, sadly.

[Lex]

Just noticed we have 2 threads for Coventry City of Culture, so I've merged them. :)

[Lex]

Will the council stump up the cash to reopen an attraction that actually comes under the umbrella of culture?

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/priory-visitor-centre-coventry-closing-16315349

My guess is 'No'.

[rebbonk]

90% of the city inhabitants don't even know it's there!

[Lex]

You're kidding! :eek: Sounds like a massive marketing failure.

[rebbonk]

It's a little backwater. I only know it's there because I used to cut through from the car park. Whilst I've not been by it for a while now, I'm told the area is attracting youths and alcohol.

I'm afraid our council isn't very good at promoting the decent things we've got.

[Lex]

I'm sure this will be £30 million well spent: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/city-of-culture-coventry-money-16502816

[rebbonk]

When you look at the individual breakdowns, it begins to worry me: the amounts are in many cases too small to make a real difference.

But the thing about that article that really upsets me is the picture of Lancaster by one of her (expensive) infamous totems. EWhenever I've been in the city centre at least one of them is out of order. - That is not a good impression for visitors to the city, and in my opinion they have been a total waste of money.

[Lex]

The cathedral's getting a face lift as part of the city of culture year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-48845962

I suspect work may have started by December 2021.

[Lex]

A restaurant quarter's next up: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/restaurant-quarter-new-coventry-16601019

[rebbonk]

How many restaurant quarters do we want?

There's very little to go into the centre for these days, I really can't see these restaurants/cafes making enough to survive longterm. In fact I think the Telegraph reported on one closing in Market Way earlier this week.

[Lex]

More takeaway options for drunken students: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/latest-improvements-coventry-city-centre-18124679

[rebbonk]

...sit, grab a hotdog and...

Dear God, O'Boyle and Co. wasting our money again!

Already food stalls that were there have pulled out due to a lack of trade. the Telegraph reported on it a couple of weeks back.

There is nothing worth going into the city centre for these days, I hope the students can support these grandiose ideas.

[Lex]

Ideas are being sought for tasteful trinkets: https://solihullobserver.co.uk/news/creatives-and-manufacturers-invited-to-submit-merchandise-ideas-for-coventry-city-of-culture-20135/

[rebbonk]

I'm sorry, but this cheapens things and makes it all feel rather sordid and tacky.

[Lex]

Just a bit!

[Lex]

You'll be able to buy memorabilia of Coventry's stint as City of Culture: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/first-pictures-city-culture-shop-19799704

[rebbonk]

If it ever goes ahead. I wonder how much this folly will end up costing the city? I bet they'd not taken out insurance against things like covid.

[Lex]

A 7 or 8 figure sum?

[rebbonk]

I reckon it'll be up that way, Lex.

[Lex]

And the people of Coventry will be having huge Council Tax rises for years to pay for it.

[Lex]

Some of the events have been announced: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-56251206

[rebbonk]

Please forgive me for being underwhelmed. I can't see this recouping the expenditure.

[Lex]

The year of events hasn't started yet, and extra money is already being thrown at it: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-gets-extra-35-million-20335196

[rebbonk]

Regardless of any covid, if being city of culture was actually worth anything you wouldn't need throw money at it.

[Lex]

It'll be interesting to watch the albino pachyderm walking the streets, though!

[Lex]

Some concerts are being cancelled due to low ticket sales: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-57996860

[rebbonk]

Yeah, the excuses start to roll out. Maybe look at the root cause rather than make excuses?

[Lex]

To be honest, I have no interest in going.

[Lex]

I didn't find anything worth posting about Coventry's year as CoC. Looks like it wasn't a big a success as the council hoped: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-63049733

[rebbonk]

You really couldn't make it up.

Like many such (vanity) initiatives, I have yet to see how the local communities benefit financially. All too often it's a case of The Emperors New Clothes because those in office lack the testes to admit they've lost our money. Ultimately, the local taxpayer pays for the vanity and incompetence of those in office.

Now, if we made them personally responsible for turning a profit, I bet things would change!

[Lex]

Someone on the council has finally started asking questions: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-64675090

[rebbonk]

Too little too late.

A blind man could see that this was going to happen. The council didn't carry out due diligence and as far as I'm concerned, every last one of them that supported this loan is guilty of malfeasance in public office. Time for a few of them to face the courts for their reckless behaviour with our money.

[Lex]

Too little too late.

By about 10 years!!!

[Lex]

The Charity Commission's getting involved too: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-64771774

[Lex]

The trust's gone into administration: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-64797580

[rebbonk]

We really need to see those that voted to support this folly (with OUR money) bringing to justice. - I'll not hold my breath!

[Lex]

The National Audit Office is taking an interest now: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyd6573mznpo

[rebbonk]

I'm not overly interested in a failed enterprise, that was more likely to be pure incompetence than anything nefarious. We can argue about the suitability of those chosen to run it, but it's unlikely to achieve anything other than the usual trite 'lessons have been learned' garbage.

What I am interested in, is why CCC bailed them out when it was obvious they were finished. There are answers that CCC need to give for their lack of the most basic checks. People need to be held accountable and heads should roll.

Why did CCC authorise that last loan? Who authorised it?

[Lex]

The whole thing looks like a huge cock-up. In the private sector, there would have been a lot of pushing/jumping off ship a long time before now.

[rebbonk]

Sadly, Lex, I doubt that those involved would be able to hold a job down in the private sector.

[Lex]

The assets are being auctioned off to go towards debts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gve13gppgo

[rebbonk]

There are precious few assets listed. (about 340 I think)

[Lex]

I'm thinking about bidding for the toilet rolls - they'll come in useful when the next media-induced mass panic comes along.