Cllr Kevin Foster

Cllr Gary Ridley, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Coventry North West, and Cllr Kevin Foster, Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council, have today slammed the reckless and ill informed remarks from a leading Labour Councillor that have caused unnecessary concern about the future of one of Coventry City Centre’s key regeneration schemes.

In a press release issued to the media, the Labour member incorrectly claimed that an investor had pulled out of the prestigious Belgrade Plaza Development as part of a childish political attack on the City Council. This bizarre attempt at point scoring was done without any consultation with either the scheme’s developer or the Council to ensure the claims being made were correct. The developer concerned has responded that they are “mystified” by the claims being made and said that other investors may be put off from coming to Coventry by this type of behaviour.

The Belgrade Plaza scheme is one of Coventry's largest mixed use developments that is helping to change the face of the city centre. Adjacent to the Belgrade Theatre, which has reopened after a £10 million refurbishment, the project has already completed a number of major milestones including the extension and complete refurbishment of the existing multi storey car park (Leigh Mills) to provide 1,091 car spaces.

Speaking from the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Cllr Gary Ridley said: "The City Council is working closely with the Private sector to deliver lasting change to our city centre. I think it is disgusting that a City Councillor could make a hugely misleading statement about the Metro Bar and Grill pulling out of Coventry without checking first with either the developer or the Council. Coventry needs politicians who will pull together for the good of our city not those who care more about winning votes than being honest with the public.”

Cllr Kevin Foster, who is also the Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Coventry South said: “In the run up to the General Election some politicians will do or say anything to win a vote, regardless of the consequences. I am amazed that the Labour spokesman concerned made no effort to check his facts and could have shaken confidence in an investor who wished to create jobs in our city. In wartime careless talk costs lives. In a time of economic recession reckless talk can cost jobs and hold our city back.”