Coventry in bid to snatch Warwickshire County Cricket club
City offers new home if Bears’ £32m Edgbaston plan rejected by council
WARWICKSHIRE County Cricket Club could get a brand new home if a proposed £32 million makeover of Edgbaston is thrown out – 20 miles down the road in Coventry.
In a cheeky bid to snatch the historic test match ground from Birmingham, the deputy leader of Coventry City Council has invited club officials to visit a site for a new purpose-built stadium.
Kevin Foster said Coventry’s excellent rail and road links, coupled with a £9 billion programme of regeneration already under way in the city, could present WCCC with a “great opportunity” to relocate.
Coun Foster has identified land less than half a mile from Junction 3 of the M6 close to the Ricoh Arena in Foleshill, the home of Coventry City FC.
His approach follows a stark warning by WCCC chief executive Colin Povey that the club may be forced to end its 100-year association with Birmingham if a planning application for ground improvements at Edgbaston is rejected.
The refurbishment is opposed by residents groups and local councillors, who claim the scheme will make traffic and noise problems even worse.
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