Create an attractive, cleaner and greener city
Improving air quality
Coventry residents have been giving their views on a range of schemes which will enable reductions in nitrogen dioxide levels in Coventry without the need to introduce a Clean Air Zone (CAZ). By the end of April 2020 more than 150 individuals and groups have already fed back on proposals – and now because of COVID-19 restrictions the Council has decided to extend the consultation by a further five weeks to enable people to respond. The consultation was due to end on 26 April but was extended to 31May 2020.
A Class D Clean Air Zone would have affected all vehicles that do not meet certain air pollution standards. For the scheme to work some cars and other types of vehicle would have faced a charge to drive into a large part of the city. The Council always felt there was a better way of achieving the air quality goals, and last year put forward its preferred package of measures. The consultation found a combination of measures in the area around Holyhead Road, through Spon End from Hearsall Lane to Junction 7 of the Ring Road, and on Foleshill Road. All of these are being planned to avoid the introduction of a CAZ.
In February, the Government wrote to the Council in support of Coventry’s proposals emissions, helping residents through cleaner air and better health. A legal direction from the Government means that Coventry will need to send a final full business case. The submission date was 19 June but is now likely to be later in the year to reflect the lengthened consultation period. The COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting social distancing, travel restrictions and self-isolation measures has meant evidence of less traffic and NO2 pollution but the figures are likely to rise once lock-down measures begin to ease.
Roads and footways
Road network is in a good/acceptable condition
The 2019/209 survey shows 98% A roads, 96%, B & C roads, 81% unclassified roads and 38% of footways to be in a good/acceptable condition.
More priority potholes reported
1528 Priority 1 potholes were reported in 2019/20, compared to 925 in 2018/19. This increase is attributed to the effect of the very wet winter, with reliable rainfall records dating back to 1892 in Coventry, the period from June 2019 to February 2020 has been the wettest such 9 month period (824.4mm) on record. In 2019/20 15 miles carriageway treated miles of carriageways were treat and 35 footway sites improved.
Additional funding
Our long-standing partnership with Citizen Housing has seen us conduct a further 2.7 million pounds of improvements to our footway networks across the City.
Despite the restrictions placed on us by the COVID 19 outbreak Highways has been resilient with levels of service being kept wherever possible to ensure the road network remained safe for all users.
Fly-tipping
Less than 1% increase in fly-tipping…and a 23% increase in enforcement action taken 
In 2019/20 the number of fly-tipping reports increased slightly from 6922 in 2018/19 to 6955 an increase of only 33. While the number of investigating actions has increased by 916 from 3925 in 2018/19 to 4841 in 2019/20. Fly-tipping reports continued to be followed up with intelligence from citizens and partners including the police and housing associations. ‘Hot streets’ are identified, allowing resources to be targeted on problem areas.
The Street Enforcement Team has targeted resources towards locations where issues are occurring and at the times that are needed. This will increase the number of front-line patrolling officers, ultimately leading to more community engagement ‘on the street’, which we have found is the best way to reduce fly-tipping. More officers time is also being devoted to investigating the most serious incidents of flytipping and focussing on problem locations.
Challenges in increasing recycling
The provisional data for 2019/20 shows that the percentage of household waste recycled and composted has reduced slightly from 34.1% in 2018/19 to 33.4%. Contamination and placement of incorrect materials in the blue bins is still a problem and is being targeted by the Waste Education Team. The team has been increased and it collaborates closely with round supervisors to identify problem streets and bins. The team is also using social media Twitter and the Recycle Club website to engage with residents.
Streetpride and cleanliness
98% of inspected sites meet standards
In 2019/20 98% of inspections completed was graded A or B. Inspections are undertaken on a weekly basis by the supervisory team based on the Government Indicator NI195. These inspections have been developed to measure work undertaken by the Streetpride teams, such as cleanliness, fly tipping, graffiti, grass cutting, hedges and shrub beds of the local environment. The frequencies of cleansing have been developed and adjusted over time to manage resources to meet a defined standard (grade B) in the code of practice as far as possible.
Upkeep of parks
Coventry has some of the UK’s best parks
Five of Coventry’s most popular parks proved to be some of the best in the country by being awarded a Green Flag. Longford Park, Cauldon Castle Park, Allesley Park, Coombe Abbey Park and the War Memorial Park were again in July 2019 awarded Green Flags after meeting the high standards set out by Keep Britain Tidy.
