Pigeons will be given a fright or a shock if they try to settle on Coventry's new steel balls and Lady Godiva is also on the move.

The balls are part of a £6 million redevelopment of Broadgate and the area outside the Council House.

A hawk could be brought in to frighten pigeons away from the glittering disco balls.

The steel spheres will be suspended above a marble-effect surface in Broadgate as it opens up to pedestrians.

Other anti-pigeon options being considered by the designers are thin electric wires along the support structure that will give the birds a shock if they land there.

The balls will be up-lit and a screen of specially-cut trees will be planted to screen off the less inspiring buildings.

The trees will have a trunk around three metres high so shops are not blocked off, and the foliage will be formed into a cube.

Buses will go in front of Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre instead of be routed around three sides of a square.

But the key issue of where the statue of Lady Godiva will be placed has yet to be settled.

Kevin Underwood, director of Derek Lovejoy Partnership, who is designing the squares with another firm, Martha Schwartz, said it was down to the public to decide.

He said Lady Godiva would have to be moved from her current spot underneath the canopy, which will be removed.

Two sites are being suggested: one at the top of Broadgate by the slope leading down to the Precinct.

Another possible site is outside the Council House. A second square is being planned there for public events and civic occasions.

Metal ribbons, representing Coventry’s past industry, will run along the green area heading towards the courts.

Mr Underwood said they would be designed so people could stand on them, but the individual strands of steel would be spaced so skateboarders and BMX bikers couldn’t use the.

He said the choice of representing the ribbon industry had been taken because it offered more possibilities with coming up with a design to wow visitors to the city.

He said:

“We did think about cars, but we felt that it was not as inspirational. To incorporate sculpture with cars is quite difficult and restricted.”

Mr Underwood said the facelift for the city centre would begin at the end of the year, and would be completed by December 2001.

He said severe testing would be carried out to make sure that the new installations would be robust.

He said:

“We are going through full-scale mock-ups and I will definitely be throwing a brick at them and putting crisp packets in the water features.

“Nothing has happened in the city centre for 50 years and this should make a difference. We’re trying to get a sense of fun.”

Where do you think Lady Godiva should go? Email our letters page at  editor@cwn.org.uk and we will pass your comments to the council.