City public square plan unveiled

Cafes and restaurants will be encouraged to open by the square

A £4m plan to revamp part of the centre of Coventry has been unveiled by the city council.

The redevelopment of Ironmonger Row and the Burges into a new public square was halted when a structural problem with a subway was discovered.

Work to shore up the 50-year-old subway began last week.

The council said it would encourage cafes and restaurants to move to the square. An access route for buses and taxis will also be included.

This will let buses and taxis travel up Trinity Street again and then across and down the Burges, where there will be two new bus stops.

'Best features'

The problem with the subway had initially threatened to scupper the entire project as it was predicted to cost £1.5m to repair.

But a £400,000 solution using carbon fibre was found, which has enabled the project to continue.

Councillor Hazel Noonan said: "Now this revised scheme will transform it into somewhere that people feel safe and want to go to shop or even just enjoy a sit down.

"I think we have kept all of the best features of the original plan and improved on it."

She said the public square would fit in with the masterplan announced last year to rebuild large areas of the city centre.

Councillors will discuss the plans at a meeting on 28 July.