City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

[davieG]

Just now, davieG said:

Leicester could soon have driverless buses on its roads as route chosen for possible trial | Leicestershire Live

 

Leicester could soon have driverless buses on its roads as route chosen for possible trial
A city centre route could be automated if the funds are found
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News
Caitlin James Local Democracy Reporter
16:12, 10 Aug 2026
Updated 16:12, 10 Aug 2026

The Hop! service connects city centre stops such as Haymarket and the railway station in an anti-clockwise loop

Self-driving buses could be on the horizon for Leicester passengers as the council announces a multi-million pound investment package.

In a notice made on Monday, August 3, Leicester City Council shared its plans for a £75m cash injection into the city’s bus network.

By the end of 2027, the aim is for all vehicles to be electric, bus stops will be improved, and ticketing will be simpler.

In related decision documents, dated Monday, August 10, the possibility of a self-driving bus is also touted.

Officers say that if further funding becomes available, the automation of one Leicester route could be trialled.

 

The Hop! service, which connects city centre stops such as Haymarket and the railway station in an anti-clockwise loop, has been eyed up for the new technology.

With an expected capital price tag of £3m, a timeline for the trial is still yet to be decided.

The news comes as councils across the country, including in Suffolk, Cambridge and Milton Keynes, explore implementing automated buses in their regions.

A council spokesperson said: "We know the Government wants to progress trials of self-driving vehicles nationally, so if we were satisfied it could operate safely, and funding was available, we would consider putting the Hop! forward as a candidate for one of these trials.

“This is of course a long-term ambition, and subject to further consideration should funding and the opportunity become available."

I don't see the point of driverless busses so you save the cost of employing one driver is it all really worth it.

 

I've often see people asking drivers questions about the route and as there used by a lot of older people some of them are going to be completely confused.

[kenny]

2 minutes ago, davieG said:

I don't see the point of driverless busses so you save the cost of employing one driver is it all really worth it.

 

I've often see people asking drivers questions about the route and as there used by a lot of older people some of them are going to be completely confused.

It gets rid of all driver related problems, strikes, no shows, working late at night etc.

 

The majority of times a bus doesn't show up will be  an issue with a driver. Arriva had loads of problems, they closed their wigston depot and a load of drivers left. They have been much more unreliable since, though it does seem to have settled down.

 

The final thing is that the speed up and slow down is smoother so you don't get that bus like jerking you get. It's why you don't get it on trams and trains as the start stop systems are computer controlled.

[davieG]

1 hour ago, kenny said:

It gets rid of all driver related problems, strikes, no shows, working late at night etc.

 

The majority of times a bus doesn't show up will be  an issue with a driver. Arriva had loads of problems, they closed their wigston depot and a load of drivers left. They have been much more unreliable since, though it does seem to have settled down.

 

The final thing is that the speed up and slow down is smoother so you don't get that bus like jerking you get. It's why you don't get it on trams and trains as the start stop systems are computer controlled.

all good reasons for the business not sure you can say the same for many passengers. I'll take a jerky bus over have no one to ask for help. 

[kenny]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

all good reasons for the business not sure you can say the same for many passengers. I'll take a jerky bus over have no one to ask for help. 

I'm just pleased that they turn up. They far too often don't.

[Free Falling Foxes]

3 hours ago, kenny said:

It gets rid of all driver related problems, strikes, no shows, working late at night etc.

 

The majority of times a bus doesn't show up will be  an issue with a driver. Arriva had loads of problems, they closed their wigston depot and a load of drivers left. They have been much more unreliable since, though it does seem to have settled down.

 

The final thing is that the speed up and slow down is smoother so you don't get that bus like jerking you get. It's why you don't get it on trams and trains as the start stop systems are computer controlled.

I'm not convinced.

If you are a woman, elderly or some other vulnerability and the driverless bus arrives, empty bar one or more fellas on board, would you get on?

Folk with Ill intent, could even target such routes and times to exploit this. CCTV won't help if they are masked up and they'll only need to pay a couple of quid to stalk for victims

Edited 10 August by Free Falling Foxes

[kenny]

8 minutes ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

I'm not convinced.

If you are a woman, elderly or some other vulnerability and the driverless bus arrives, empty bar one or more fellas on board, would you get on?

Folk with Ill intent, could even target such routes and times to exploit this. CCTV won't help if they are masked up and you only need to pay a couple of quid to chance their I'll gotten arm.

Drivers are the weak link in the system. Bring it on.

[davieG]

East Midlands Airport expansion receives crucial backing after £2 billion boost - Leicestershire Live

 

East Midlands Airport expansion receives crucial backing after £2 billion boost
The airport wants to expand both its passenger and cargo operations

ByOliver PridmoreAgenda Editor

 

The East Midlands Mayor says she "fully supports" the vision of the region's airport to expand as its economic contribution to the nation increased by £2 billion.

Claire Ward says the economic boost shows the airport gives our region a "significant competitive edge" as it also plans expansions of both its cargo and passenger operations.

The Nottingham Post previously reported that the ambition of airport bosses is to connect the East Midlands to major European hubs, enabling the site to eventually connect to destinations beyond its current roster of 70.

 

The airport has confirmed it remains in active discussions about expanding its passenger offer as figures show the site's economic impact grew to £6.2 billion in 2025, primarily driven by its unrivalled cargo operation.

The significant growth in cargo is now connecting the site with major Chinese operators and destinations including Saudi Arabia.

Expansion plans for this cargo operation has seen four plots earmarked for development amid the potential for an extra 21,000 jobs to be created.

Official plans have not yet been submitted for the cargo expansion, but the airport has said the development would take place over the coming decades.

Claire Ward said: "Having an airport gives us a significant competitive edge and makes the East Midlands a region that is in a strong position to support and grow existing businesses as well as attracting new ones.

"I fully support the airport's bold vision and will work closely with the airport and partners to ensure it continues to bring lasting benefits to our region.

"This is our moment to lead – connecting East Midlands businesses to the world, creating opportunities for local people, and building a stronger, more inclusive economy for generations to come."

East Midlands Airport's managing director, Steve Griffiths, said: "I'm proud of the huge contribution the airport makes to the economy, which increased by £2 billion in 2025, driven largely by the growth in our fantastic cargo operation that plays such a vital role in the UK's international trade.

"We know how critical high-value industries like advanced manufacturing and life sciences are key to the UK's industrial strategy and that these sectors rely more than most on access to the world.

"We're proud to play that vital role to help them ship high value, time critical items to key global markets, and how this supports almost 22,000 jobs at businesses in the Midlands alone.

"Alongside our plans to grow our cargo operation to maximise its potential, we are in ongoing talks with airlines to expand our passenger network.

"We continue to offer an effortless experience for four million people a year, enhanced by significant investment in our facilities."

[davieG]

Leicester Forest East takes its name from Leicester Forest, once a vast royal hunting ground stretching 14 miles from the edge of the city.

It survived as a royal forest for over 500 years until Charles I ordered its disafforestation in 1628, a decision so unpopular it sparked riots among local people who lost their rights to graze and gather wood there.

It's remarkable to think the busy, modern community we know today grew out of the edge of an ancient royal forest that once stretched almost to Loughborough.

[davieG]

[davieG]

August 1960

 

Probably Belgrave road Station for Skegness

[Grebfromgrebland]

On 10/08/2026 at 17:23, kenny said:

It gets rid of all driver related problems, strikes, no shows, working late at night etc.

 

The majority of times a bus doesn't show up will be  an issue with a driver. Arriva had loads of problems, they closed their wigston depot and a load of drivers left. They have been much more unreliable since, though it does seem to have settled down.

 

The final thing is that the speed up and slow down is smoother so you don't get that bus like jerking you get. It's why you don't get it on trams and trains as the start stop systems are computer controlled.

You sound a bit evil here. Plus buses don't run on tracks with no other traffic. They'll still have to stop start. Doing people out of human contact and jobs isn't going to make for better future.

 

Getting rid of them because you don't like treating people like humans is pretty rough.

[kenny]

19 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

You sound a bit evil here. Plus buses don't run on tracks with no other traffic. They'll still have to stop start. Doing people out of human contact and jobs isn't going to make for better future.

 

Getting rid of them because you don't like treating people like humans is pretty rough.

The way they stop start is considerably improved as a machine is smoother in its movements. This is the same for trackless trams (trams with rubber wheels) or regular trams.

 

Regardless of how evil it is to be uninterested in the driver, the most important thing is that it arrives at all and preferably runs at unsociable hours. My brother works at the LRI on minimum wage has to use taxis to get home, that is 'evil' . (Not my words, but it is wrong)

 

 

[davieG]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g6d7jzp5ko

 

City and county 'falling behind' without regional mayor
The regional mayors in England huddle together for a selfie in front of Number 10 Downing Street. A smiling Tracy Brabin holds her phone up to take the picture, with Andy Burnham to her right. There is some St George's cross bunting on the railings behind.

English regional mayors are to get greater devolved powers from Number 10

ByPeter Saull, East Midlands political editor and Dan Martin, Leicester political reporter

Calls are growing to establish a regional mayor for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland amid mounting concerns the area is falling behind places that have one.

Leaders from business, industry and education have formed a campaign group, Devolution Leicestershire, to accelerate the process, while local politicians are increasingly united on the issue.

The Labour mayor of the city of Leicester, Sir Peter Soulsby - who had previously argued against a regional figurehead - said it was now his "expectation" it would happen.

On a visit to the East Midlands this week the new prime minister, Andy Burnham, said he wanted to devolve powers to the area "as soon as possible".

However, Devolution Leicestershire said it wanted a definitive timetable from the government for the creation of a strategic mayoral authority (SMA), arguing that the area is not getting its fair share of support.

It added the time was right to press on now ministers had finalised long-awaited plans to streamline councils across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Reform county council leader Dan Harrison said a regional mayor could secure more cash for major transport schemes in Leicestershire

Scott Knowles, chief executive of the East Midlands Chamber and a senior member of Devolution Leicestershire, said: "Devolution is channelling billions of pounds into English mayoral authorities.

"The government is now regularly routing skills budgets, transport capital, business support grants and housing investment through strategic mayoral authorities.

"Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland does not have an SMA. We believe that needs to change quickly."

Research carried out by the campaign group showed for every £1 of government transport funding spent in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, other areas receive £19.

It said Tees Valley, which has a Conservative regional mayor in Ben Houchen, currently received nine times more skills funding from Whitehall than Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The organisation said the data was stark and showed the need "to level the playing field with regional rivals".

Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the city had succeeded in attracting government cash despite not being part of a combined authority

Councils in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Derbyshire agreed to establish an East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCAA), led by a directly elected mayor in 2022, but Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland did not join.

Labour's Claire Ward was elected to the role in 2024 and was handed extra powers over transport, housing and adult education, with an annual budget exceeding £500m.

At the time, Labour's Leicester city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby argued it would be "daft" to have two mayors in the same area.

However, Soulsby's mayoral role will cease to exist from April 2028, when a new enlarged city council reverts back to a leader and cabinet model.

"What the government has made very clear - and what Andy Burnham particularly is committed to - is mayors across the economic geography of a combined authority," Soulsby said.

"The expectation is that we'll have one such authority for Leicester and the new Leicestershire and Rutland authority and that they will elect a mayor with the same sort of powers they have in the Nottingham and Derby areas."

Soulsby argued Leicester had been successful in competing for government funding despite not being part of a combined authority.

"If you just look at the way in which our bus fleet is being transformed, for example, it's something that many other authorities are very envious of," he said.

"That's because we have been able to attract investment into Leicester. We can speak up for ourselves."

Leicestershire's three Labour MPs, Liz Kendall, Amanda Hack and Jeevun Sandher, wrote to the city and county councils last month urging them to push for a mayor.

"The sooner we can get a deal in place, the sooner we can reach those opportunities", North West Leicestershire MP Hack said.

Leicestershire County Council's Reform UK leader Dan Harrison agrees with the devolution push, telling the BBC: "I've been saying this for a long time - no mayor, no money.

"We are dramatically missing out on getting true value for people in Leicestershire, on things like big transport schemes upgrades to the A42, or maybe getting the Ivanhoe Line open again."

East Midlands regional mayor Claire Ward ruled out Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland joining her combined authority

Harrison told the BBC he had asked Claire Ward about Leicestershire becoming part of EMCCA.

"I did try to join," he said. "I've asked the mayor recently and she said it wouldn't really work at the minute.

"I said 'that's sad' but I put a really good case [to her] and I want to be productive."

Ward said: "It might make sense for some people, but I think that ship has sailed.

"[EMCCA] is now two years in, we're doing a huge amount of work and I think if we were to shift the focus to include Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, that would move it away from some of the other parts of our region, particularly those small communities and towns in the north of Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire and become very focused on the three cities.

"That is not what I think is the right thing to do."

Northamptonshire link-up?
Burnham told the BBC: "I would like to see all parts of the country, Leicestershire included, with devolved power as quickly as we could possibly do it.

"That was the purpose of setting up Number 10 north. It's not a gimmick. is actually got a specific job which is taking power out of Westminster and driving it down into the communities."

There are some concerns though that a "Greater Leicestershire" mayor would lack clout relative to other mayors representing larger areas.

With joining Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in EMCCA seemingly a non-starter, some politicians have suggested opening talks with Northamptonshire.

Councils in Northamptonshire failed in their attempts to be part of a wider "South Midlands" combined authority.

But no serious conversations have taken place, and a mayor covering an area bigger than just Leicestershire and Rutland appears unlikely.

Labour MP Hack pointed out Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland were already working together on lots of issues.

"It feels like a really natural geography for a mayor," she said.

"It's not about the size of population, it's what you do with devolution that really matters."

Additional reporting by Hugh Casswell

[davieG]

 

Dan Martin

Leicester political reporter

 

New paving is being laid in the latest phase of a major revamp of Leicester Market.

City council officials said porphyry flagstones were now being put in place as part of the £9.4m project.

Officials said they were pressing on with the scheme in the hope it would be completed by the end of the year.

However, they have also approved a major revision of the project to increase the number of stalls in the new-look market from 48 to 72.

The council said the additional stalls would "enable a broader range of traders to be accommodated in the new market".

A city council report said the 72 stalls would be located near the market's food hall and would be demountable and movable - unlike their fixed predecessors, which were removed when the old covered market was demolished in 2024.

Officials said they wanted flexibility to be able to alter the layout of the new space.

[davieG]

Just now, davieG said:

A city council report said the 72 stalls would be located near the market's food hall and would be demountable and movable - unlike their fixed predecessors,

I keep seeing throwbacks to how things used to be managed /arranged maybe they were always good ideas and long time proven.

[danny.]

On 15/08/2026 at 10:41, Grebfromgrebland said:

You sound a bit evil here. Plus buses don't run on tracks with no other traffic. They'll still have to stop start. Doing people out of human contact and jobs isn't going to make for better future.

 

Getting rid of them because you don't like treating people like humans is pretty rough.

You're going to hate the not too distant future...

[Grebfromgrebland]

59 minutes ago, danny. said:

You're going to hate the not too distant future...

You could say that I think the future looks bleak. 

 

But people might kick back against the techno feudalism coming our way.

 

We surely won't passively accept the future designed for us by the likes of altman, Zuckerberg and Zionists will we? 

[davieG]

Hidden Leicester  · 

Leigh Spencer  ·Leicester ·

 

NEW ST LEICESTER A HIDDEN GEM

Some of the smaller streets of Leicester's old town truly are beautiful like the slightly confusingly named New St.

Almost untouched by the modern world !.

— at 2 New Street Chambers.

 

[davieG]

The Victory Aylestone Road

[danny.]

4 hours ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

You could say that I think the future looks bleak. 

 

But people might kick back against the techno feudalism coming our way.

 

We surely won't passively accept the future designed for us by the likes of altman, Zuckerberg and Zionists will we? 

Already have in many industries. People just don't get if their industry hasn't been affected yet.

[davieG]

Joanne Vigor-Mungovin - Author Hidden Leicester ·

Follow

 

#OTD 21 August 1940, the first air raid in Leicester fell on the Cavendish Road area.

The lone bomber was attempting to hit the gas works but missed and hit 4 Saffron Hill Road, killing Mum of two 20-year-old Ada-Marjorie Machin.

It was thought her daughter had also been killed, until someone saw her breathing.

Ada is buried in a war grave in Saffron Hill Cemetery.

Ada was the first civilian air raid casualty to be killed in #Leicestershire during the Second World War.

 

 

 

[davieG]

 

[Stuntman_Mike]

Leicester lads singing together, taken from the 'Calling Blighty' page. Gave me goosebumps.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BqfQiWPaj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

More stuff.

 

https://www.macearchive.org/films/calling-blighty-no-155

[davieG]

 

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble 

Clock Tower 1921.

Post Card.

[davieG]

 

Highfields the gooddays  · 

Angela Jarvis ·

 

The Imperial hotel Mere road

 

 

Only went there once for works Christmas Do when I was about 17 ended heading a Conga of about 50 people out the building and around the block - Happy Days