People urged to have a say on plans for underpass into Leicester

[davieG]

People are being asked their views about plans to change a main gateway into the city centre.

Leicester City Council wants to fill in the underpass linking the railway station and Granby Street.

The plan would involve building a wider pedestrian crossing over St George's Way and creating areas with benches and trees.

The plans went on display in the Town Hall foyer yesterday.

The display boards show a new, 10m-wide crossing linking the station with the city centre, replacing the current crossing which is three metres wide and in two sections.

The entrance to Granby Street would be closed to incoming traffic. Vehicles would have to use Charles Street and Northampton Square.

The traffic direction to the north of Granby Street would be reversed, enabling traffic to join St George's Way.

The council said the new arrangement would make the entry into the city easier for pedestrians, particularly people with pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Patrick Kitterick, council cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: "Before we develop these proposals in greater detail, we would like to hear what people think.

"That's why we are inviting them to come to look at the plans and give their views."

Resham Dhillon, 46, of Rowley Fields, Leicester, said: "I think this area could use a change.

"You get people sitting in the underpass and it can be intimidating.

I cross over the road instead at night."

Thea Hey, 23, of Braunstone Gate, West End, Leicester, said: "I use the trains a lot and the underpass is very unnerving to use at night.

"There's CCTV and lighting but I rush to get through.

"It would be nice if they could regenerate the area."

Those against the plan included violinist Biscuit, who busks in the underpass.

He said: "I like the acoustics when I'm playing here and I think they could probably spend the money better."

Adele Palmer, manager of Bossa cafe, in Granby Street, said she was concerned the area with benches and trees could attract street drinkers.

She said: "It will mean more places for people to hang around and drink.

"If the drinkers are there with their dogs, giving abuse to the people coming off the trains it won't be a good advert for the city."

The display will be in the Town Hall until Friday.

Council officers were due to be in the foyer today to answer questions between 3pm and 7pm.

The plans are on the city council's website at:

www.leicester.gov.uk/ consultations - link

[Webbo]

People are being asked their views about plans to change a main gateway into the city centre.

Like they'll take any notice.

[Edmund]

"You get people sitting in the underpass and it can be intimidating"

What is this guy on?

I've only seen a chap playing his guitar with his dog sat next to him.

Intimidating

[Bellend Sebastian]

I'd get rid of it, I think it's grim.

I take the point about benches and so forth encouraging street drinkers, but it's a shame if they felt they couldn't do that because of it. They are a massive problem around there, and it's one that no one really seems to know what to do about

[Guest Mee-9]

Resham Dhillon, 46, of Rowley Fields, Leicester, said: "I think this area could use a change.

Who does he play for?

The council will do nothing, they wont listen to us. "You pay your taxes, now abide by our decisions"

[Edmund]

Adele Palmer, manager of Bossa cafe, in Granby Street, said she was concerned the area with benches and trees could attract street drinkers.

She said: "It will mean more places for people to hang around and drink.

"If the drinkers are there with their dogs, giving abuse to the people coming off the trains it won't be a good advert for the city."

Where do they get these people.

London Road has got a problem with alcoholics already! How this would attract more is laughable.

[dandannieldanok]

Complete waste of money to change things. Yes the underpass isn't pleasant but it takes literally 10 seconds to walk through.

[stez]

I'd get rid of it, I think it's grim.

I take the point about benches and so forth encouraging street drinkers, but it's a shame if they felt they couldn't do that because of it. They are a massive problem around there, and it's one that no one really seems to know what to do about

i thought street drinking was now illegal in leicester?

so people can't stop for a sit down, because some other nasty types will break the law by drinking? seems a bit silly really.

[Houdini Logic]

Adele Palmer, manager of Bossa cafe, in Granby Street, said she was concerned the area with benches and trees could attract street drinkers.

She said: "It will mean more places for people to hang around and drink.

Ha - You're right -

I think putting seats outside Weatherspoons should be more of a concern for her...

[Ford Super Sunday]

Where do they get these people.

Bossa Cafe

It is quite an unpleasant thing, especially when someone has taken a whazz in it, it isn't nice. Don't appreciate people asking me for my spare change either if they decide to sit in there.

[Edmund]

Don't appreciate people asking me for my spare change either if they decide to sit in there.

But it's like that all down London Road. I don't think they beg in their either, they just play music.

[Bellend Sebastian]

i thought street drinking was now illegal in leicester?

so people can't stop for a sit down, because some other nasty types will break the law by drinking? seems a bit silly really.

It's certainly illegal in the area around the station, New Walk, a big part of London Road and the roads surrounding the Dawn Centre on Conduit Street. The problem is that there are loads of street drinkers around that area, and even though the authorities crack down on them occasionally, as soon as the coppers have moved on they're back. The people we're talking about in most cases are so far gone that conventional deterrents such as the courts, fines and such don't really apply. Trust me, you wouldn't want to take the weight off your feet when they're hanging about in the vicinity.

I think that the Council probably regret building the Dawn Centre so close to the station, and perhaps wish that they'd listened to all the people that said it would be a nightmare, rather than optimistically claiming that no-one would notice it was there

[Zingari]

from the link :

Work Starts On

10/05/2010 00:00:00

Work Finishes On

31/03/2011 00:00:00

maybe a silly question but , why are they bothering to ask ?

it looks a done deal

edit; yes it does say "proposed" , sorry

[Lillehamring]

looking at the plans, it looks like it will improve the area, taking away the filter from london road into granby street and on the other side out of that road where the post office is...

but, at bottom, if you have to cross four lanes of traffic it's never going to a pleasant welcome....

[stez]

It's certainly illegal in the area around the station, New Walk, a big part of London Road and the roads surrounding the Dawn Centre on Conduit Street. The problem is that there are loads of street drinkers around that area, and even though the authorities crack down on them occasionally, as soon as the coppers have moved on they're back. The people we're talking about in most cases are so far gone that conventional deterrents such as the courts, fines and such don't really apply. Trust me, you wouldn't want to take the weight off your feet when they're hanging about in the vicinity.

I think that the Council probably regret building the Dawn Centre so close to the station, and perhaps wish that they'd listened to all the people that said it would be a nightmare, rather than optimistically claiming that no-one would notice it was there

wouldn't worry me, i'd just sit there and tut, like i usually do.

[Fox92]

Sorry for this, obviousley I only go in Leicester for the home games - but what road is the underpass on?

We go under one when we go home after the game - is that the one or is there more than one?

PS, it has orange lights in if that helps

[stez]

Sorry for this, obviousley I only go in Leicester for the home games - but what road is the underpass on?

We go under one when we go home after the game - is that the one or is there more than one?

PS, it has orange lights in if that helps

do you go home by car? if yes you'll go under 'southgates' this is a pedestrian underpass near the train station.

[Bellend Sebastian]

wouldn't worry me, i'd just sit there and tut, like i usually do.

You'd do more than tut if they'd shat themselves, which unfortunately does happen. Literally none of you will recall my letter to the Mercury a couple of years ago complaining about the human excrement in Conduit Street

[stez]

You'd do more than tut if they'd shat themselves, which unfortunately does happen. Literally none of you will recall my letter to the Mercury a couple of years ago complaining about the human excrement in Conduit Street

so everyone who drinks outside, shits themselves? sounds a bit 'daily mail' to me

[CosbehFox]

They have also asked the public for input into the new City Gallery as the proposed plans have been scrapped. Which in the process delays the whole project by six months.

[Guest]

But it's like that all down London Road. I don't think they beg in their either, they just play music.

Nope, they beg in there too.

I think it's a hideous place, like Ian says, it smells. It has beggars or buskers, or people smoking dope in there. Filling it in, and opening the area up would be great.

Attracting more street drinkers? That's a social problem, and it'll take more than not cleaning up that area of the city to sort out. Perhaps if the authorities did their job in moving them on.....

As for crossing four lanes of traffic, all that's needed is a well-phased pedestrian crossing. Nottingham copes with three lanes.

[CosbehFox]

In terms of traffic, it's one of the least congested areas of the ring road. However, the underpass is a dump and was never attractive in the first place.

[davieG]

They have also asked the public for input into the new City Gallery as the proposed plans have been scrapped. Which in the process delays the whole project by six months.

Well that needs to be in the centre to get a greater footfall.

[CosbehFox]

Well that needs to be in the centre to get a greater footfall.

Agreed but that ain't changing. I feel a lot of sympathy with the staff at the City Gallery has the indecision grows on their jobs once again, just like what happened at the Phoenix.

[Edmund]

Nope, they beg in there too.

I think it's a hideous place, like Ian says, it smells. It has beggars or buskers, or people smoking dope in there. Filling it in, and opening the area up would be great.

To be fair the only times I go through there are on my bike (yes it's for pedestrians but lets not go down that route) so I suppose I don't hear them begging but I do know they play music occasionally.

The smell I can't remember but if your average car park smells of piss then I have no doubts that the underpass smells violently of urine.