I had a look at Coventry City Council for their Disability Equality scheme (DES)
The Disability Equality Scheme has been produced as a result of on-going dialogue with a wide range of disabled people across the city. This has included meetings of the Mental Health Partnership, Learning Disability Partnership, Older People’s Partnership, a public meeting of the Physical and Sensory Impairment Partnership involving the Community Empowerment Network and Council of Disabled People, the Integrated Services for Disabled Children sub group of the Children and Young People’s Partnership, the Disabled People’s Advisory Panel and the Older People’s Advisory Panel. In addition to this, an online consultation form was available on the council’s website and this was publicised through Citivision.
(from
Coventry council website)
I have been here in Coventry since OCt 2005, and I have now to decide whether I am staying or moving on. Why did I look at their DES? I think it is as a result of work and experience with the social services. To be fair, I do not think that my experience is at all uncommon, which is a sad fact. But in reality, I have nothing to keep me here. I came here for a job and now that job is finished, I have no ties here. That document has also some interesting facts and figures and future projects for the city.
I do not dislike the city however. It is a good size to wheel around. The buses are accessible and the train services are excellent. It is quite easy to go down to London or hop to Birmingham or to the airport. Its central position is great. It is a convenient city. Are these the only positive things? The city in itself is quite accessible.
What do I miss by being here? Coventry does not boast itself as a great cultural city.
"Why is there a saying ' being sent to Coventry?" It is a
chav town (I did not know the term till I arrive here)
It has the Herbert and there is the
Warwick Arts Centre but I have never figured how to get there on public transport. I have tried taking the no.12 bus before which goes there but both the buses I tried were not accessible. There is the
Belgrade Theatre which is being refurbished and will be open again in September - the programme looks interesting. So the culture here, in the sense of arts and museum, etc is not great.
Night life is almost non existent. The city centre is almost dead after 6pm. There really is not much to do, places to go for entertainment. The locals go to pubs - there is some live music.. Housing, as property to be bought, is not expensive - considering that Coventry is not that far from London. However, I cannot say I am not impressed by the new buildings put up.
The trendy quarter here is Earlsdon, or so I was told, but then I do not know much about it. Coventry will have a massive Ikea built here soon. I cannot imagine what that will do except turn the horrendous ring road into a massive parkng place when come holidays and sales time.
What else is there to say about Coventry? If i think of any more positive reasons for staying, I will add here.