‘A stupid place for a hotel’
YOUR REACTION TO BUILDING PLANS FOR RICOH ARENA CAR PARK
AFTER news of a new 150-bedroom hotel being built at the Ricoh Arena was revealed, Telegraph readers are concerned about the spaces that will be lost.
Wasps Holdings Limited (WHL) have approached the council to request the granting of a new long lease over Car Park C – opposite the retail park.
The plan is to develop a new hotel which will support events and conferencing at the Ricoh Arena and across the city.
The city council’s cabinet is set to approve the new long lease for the car park to facilitate the development on July 17.
But how did the news go down with Telegraph readers?
Robin Elms: “Useful, that’s even less parking for events at the stadium.” Jim Forrest: “Where will all the cars get parked when we get into the Premier League and play to crowds of 30,000?”
Rach Long: “Great so traffic’s gonna get worse and arena won’t have as many parking spots on match/ concert days.”
Laura Jeffs: “What about us, who live just behind this car park?!?! Are we going to be overlooked by this hotel, I flipping hope not... first I’ve heard of it .... ”
Greg Fox: “More jobs in a hotel than a car park .. I’m sure there will be parking under the hotel .. and it’s not that big a car park anyway is it ??? Oh, and one less place for the travellers to park up.”
Andrew Webb: “There’s already a hotel...”
Joe Lindsay: “Has anyone thought that with a hotel there is normally parking under the hotel. Also being able to visit for exhibitions and the other events and stay overnight means that visitors are more likely to use public transport.”
Mark Johnson: “What stupid place, that’s where I park for match days as my dad is disabled.”
Adam007: “Unfortunately I think that’s an awful idea. A multi-storey car park would be better. Along with another at uni hospital. Isn’t there a hotel inside the arena building? If so, two hotels next to each other both by the same company... try harder!”
GeoffT: “People rely on cars too much. We are going to have to change at some point. A coroner recently ruled that air pollution from cars was the cause of a nine-year-old girl’s death. We need to change quickly.”
SEPAT7: “You may be right that people rely on cars too much, but alternatives need to be operational and in place before infrastructure for cars is replaced. Otherwise there will be more queues, more congestion, and more pollution.”
“Parking is terrible there on match days, queues go right down the A444 in both directions, restricting the parking will cause even more issues.”
SSB: I’m not sure why where Wasps is borrowing the money from should be an issue. That’s up to the club’s owner and whoever decides to lend the money. The main concern should be about what the council and Coventry residents are getting from the deal. Callahan: “Not the nicest of spots to fair, that car park always looks full on events days, if they want people to use public transport more to get to the arena some investment is need in a transparent hub up there all feels a bit disjointed.”