We can’t lose ‘one of the best venues Coventry has ever had’

I WRITE regarding the decision to close the Assembly Festival Garden.

I have lived in Coventry all my life as an adult and as a child but I’ve seen things go and come in the city.

I feel this is something that would be a great loss – not just for people in Coventry but for people that it would bring to the city.

I had gone to a show there which was reasonably priced and the performances were brilliant it was a pleasure to be in the company of great artists in this small city.

The venue is so unusual and interesting and as it is non-permanent and can be moved.

The way the city has changed in the past 10 years has meant there are a lot more younger audiences as university students keep on flocking to the city.

I think the Assembly Festival Garden is something that people in that demographic would be interested in and if it doesn’t return then it’s going to lose the interest in Coventry as a result of losing the venue.

Even if it was just here from the spring to the end of summer, it would be something for people to look forward to.

Livi Bottrill-Blades

‘Best thing to happen to the city for a very long time’

MYSELF and my family visited the Assembly Festival Garden numerous times over the last two years.

We all saw shows – sometimes more than once eg Choir of Man four times.

It has, in our opinion, been the best thing to happen to Coventry in a very long time.

We and our friends feel it is a huge mistake taking this wonderful place away with no promise of a return.

It could be used over Christmas for events to attract visitors to the city, but now we will all have to get on the train to go to Birmingham for some Christmas spirit.

Joyce Essex

Festival Gardens’ role in International Children’s Games was ‘truly amazing’

SO SAD that this open air venue is closing.

For many coming out of lockdown it was a way to get back into the river of the live performance.

For me personally I will never forget it as a venue for the opening of the International Children’s Games.

Seeing 1,500 children from different countries parading into the Festival Gardens was truly amazing – and so moving, given the specific difficulties this particular generation underwent during lockdown.

Thank you to Coventry University for supporting us all with this wonderful venue which has been a beacon of hope and togetherness for many.

Floraine Eastelow

Assembly Festival Gardens’ staff and events have been great

WE WOULD love to see this stay.

Me and my children have been every Wednesday and Saturday from the second day it opened.

The staff have been amazing, friendly and great with the kids.

We sat in our woolly hats at the beginning.

Choir of Man was great on the big screen.

This really really will be a huge loss to me and my family.

Marie McQueen

Venue had something for all ages

THE Assembly Festival Garden has been a big success for all ages.

This venue, if it is profitable, should be continued.

It is definitely a focus point in the city centre.

Stephen Hughes

So sad the AFG will not be back

I LOVED the Assembly Festival Garden and the events held there.

I visited three or four times each year it was open and it’s so sad it won’t be back.

Sharon Stuart

New PM must honour ‘national mission’ pledge to tackle dementia

A CHANGE of leadership must not mean any change in commitment to the estimated 84,090 people with dementia and their families in the West Midlands.

Alzheimer’s Society welcomed previous Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement of a ‘national mission’ to tackle dementia.

Last month, he committed an extra £95m in research funding, meeting the Conservative’s election manifesto commitment to double funding for research into treatment to £160m by 2024, in memory of Dame Barbara Windsor.

However, we are now calling on the remaining two candidates vying to succeed the Prime Minister to ensure dementia remains a top priority – and to deliver on social care reform and a ten-year plan for dementia too.

The Conservative leadership contest taking place was a critical moment for everyone affected dementia in the UK.

In addition to its commitment to double research funding, the government has pledged to reform social care, putting people living with dementia in control of their care and reducing the amount they pay for it.

And earlier this year, it also announced a visionary ten-year plan for dementia, backed by proper funding.

This could be truly transformational for the 900,000 people living with the condition in the UK.

We need to offer hope for everyone affected by dementia – urgent action and investment is needed to deliver on all these commitments.

The new Prime Minister must implement these life-changing reforms.

Alice Walton

Regional Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer

Alzheimer’s Society

West Midlands

EDITOR’S COMMENT

CLEARLY, from this week’s letters page and our social media pages, the Assembly Festival Garden, which closed last week, was much-loved in Coventry and beyond.

And whilst Coventry does have a great range of fantastic venues, from theatres to sports stadiums, the AFG offered something unique and different to those other arenas.

It hosted a multitude of events for all tastes and its central location meant it was accessible to all.

Hopefully the venue, or something similar, can return – this time permanently.