Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

The Queen of Bradgate is a legit place, so much good beer about in Leicester nowadays. You get what you pay for Scouse don't ya MTWG?

 

You do Coxy. Forgot to mention the Font, The Exchange, Manhattan, 33 Cank Street - all great gaffs. 

 

Some right negative nellies knocking around; we do well for bars.

[fuchsntf]

Just been up/down town, not something I do too much these days; now I know there is a lot of building going on but it just struck me that it looks a rundown, dirty, litter ridden dump, for example the expensive paving in Humberstone Gate/Clock Tower is all uneven.

I can't believe we had the nerve to enter the Britain in Bloom competition as a few flower baskets don't disguise the general decay of the City infrastructure.

Are all Cities like this - I think not.

We used to be known as the cleanest City in England and the second most prosperous City in Europe - What's gone wrong?

50 years of cheap council get outs.Poor quality road pavement engineering, hiring semi skilled workers to do the skilled work

10 years of laying then ripping up what was sold as quality work by work councils.A few Nottingham engineers being involved, then jealous conspiracy theories.Besides swearing its unfortunate that incompetence is thecstrongest word possible, maybe through the last 15 years, criminal incompetence and negligence could be added, to all involved, through whole projects.

If the work happenned in any other country, many would be laughing and throwing out filthy wild opinions.

The city has improved, but invastructures and engineering works have been nothing short of rubbish and below any low standard that should be expected in any British standard control works.Not forgetting 50 years of wasted money.

Its time councils were hold person for person resonsible for works carried out under their or their departments name

Edited 15 October 2014 by fuchsntf

[ADK]

It strikes me that the city hasn't tackled modern urban issues very well and is now paying the price.

[Smudge]

50 years of cheap council get outs.Poor quality road pavement engineering, hiring semi skilled workers to do the skilled work

10 years of laying then ripping up what was sold as quality work by work councils.A few Nottingham engineers being involved, then jealous conspiracy theories.Besides swearing its unfortunate that incompetence is thecstrongest word possible, maybe through the last 15 years, criminal incompetence and negligence could be added, to all involved, through whole projects.

If the work happenned in any other country, many would be laughing and throwing out filthy wild opinions.

The city has improved, but invastructures and engineering works have been nothing short of rubbish and below any low standard that should be expected in any British standard control works.Not forgetting 50 years of wasted money.

Its time councils were hold person for person resonsible for works carried out under their or their departments name

I don't understand any of this. The UK Road Research Laboratory is one of the most respected in the world.

All aspects of construction materials manufacture has to comply to standards laid down by the BSI.

Every bit of public works has to be constructed to a specification laid down by the Highways Authority.

Jobs completed by contractors are overseen by a Resident Engineer who is reponsible to the Client.

Any work not completed to these standards, has to be ripped out and replaced.

Now if your talking about traffic management and planning then I'd say LCC have a lot to answer for.

Edited 15 October 2014 by Smudge

[Unabomber]

 New walk and guildhall lane are quite nice aren't they? Also highcross is ok can't really complain about that. That shoe shop on the corner on the way to the train station looks a dive though.

[fuchsntf]

I don't understand any of this. The UK Road Research Laboratory is one of the most respected in the world.

All aspects of construction materials manufacture has to comply to standards laid down by the BSI.

Every bit of public works has to be constructed to a specification laid down by the Highways Authority.

Jobs completed by contractors are overseen by a Resident Engineer who is reponsible to the Client.

Any work not completed to these standards, has to be ripped out and replaced.

PNow if your talking about traffic management and planning then I'd say LCC have a lot to answer for.

Then why has shoddy work, and repetative up rooting of the same newly laid pedestrian walkways been a constant bind for

city shoppers, not for a couple of months, but over years.BSI Standards have have taken a pounding in the ground work in the city, and around shop fronts.From Humberstonegate Highcross, through to Market street/Pocklington st. Area.

The need and given plans may of been ok, but the old delays and work implementation was/has been demeaning to the city.

[The Blur]

what does COST stand for? i know YBS is to do with the Baby Squad is it not? as "Baby Squad" and "YBS" are sprayed alot around syston. Desire is also sprayed alot around leicester and the ammount of graffiti is amazing but not alot can be done about it to stop it. going down church gate around 10:45pm last night towards zanzibar i saw about 500 pink and green slips of paper scattered all over the road (which is un-even as mentioned). i feel sorry for the people who have to clear it all up. i hate mess / litter. especially in public places

 

 

It is looking like that our friend Des has acquired few ASBOS during his teen years then. 

[Smudge]

Then why has shoddy work, and repetative up rooting of the same newly laid pedestrian walkways been a constant bind for

city shoppers, not for a couple of months, but over years.BSI Standards have have taken a pounding in the ground work in the city, and around shop fronts.From Humberstonegate Highcross, through to Market street/Pocklington st. Area.

The need and given plans may of been ok, but the old delays and work implementation was/has been demeaning to the city.

I have no idea, but referring to my reponse in another thread, all of the services are under the road or pavements. Anyone of these could be the cause of the disruption.

"BSI standards have taken a pounding", what does that mean? BSI standards are for manufactured products such as, pipes, stone, asphalt, concrete etc. they are rarely manufactured on site unless the readymix or aphalt plants are sited on the job such as on an airfield or motorway.

All of the areas you refer to go back to mediaeval times, sewers, water, electricity and gas infrastructure was laid down during the early part of the last century, when you start exposing old stuff you never know what you'I l find. I very much doubt that when the city fathers decided to pedestrianise certain areas, they thought oh we'll rip out all the services and replace with new while we're about it.

The other thing is that disrupting services to the buildings can't happen at the same time unless it for a short period. Very often temporary supply has to be in place before a cut off of the old.

Finally, when you dig something up and fill it in, it takes time to settle, which requires going back and re-levelling.

Of course Leicester may have given contracts to contractors who haven't performed but you can't tar everyone with the same brush.

Edited 16 October 2014 by Smudge

[Rob1742]

Although Leicester has always been a pit, the actual nightlife used to be amazing.

Pre around 1990 every bar would be packed solid and you only stood a 50% chance of getting in, as the bars were that full the bouncers would move you on.

There was the old type boozers that hadnt been modernised, but the real buzzing bars were fat cats, wilkies, the Wellington etc and they were very popular and a good night out.

Then over night a massive change occurred for the better that made it unreal. Suddenly bars turned up everywhere, RBar, the one near the station, Mars bar opposite fat cats plus many many more.

As an example Belvior Street that only had a couple of bars doubled it's number and market street went from one to three.

Literally in the space of a year the number of bars trebled and the queues were no longer, but people flocked into town to sample all the new bars.

Friday and Saturdays were just great, it was an amazing time and most places were decent and town was packed.

I stopped going as life changed, moving away etc and I was shocked when I went out in Leicester about four years ago to see the decline has been so massive.

Have been again since and you struggle to find bars that are half full, with many empty.

I don't think it is the bars fault, but it appears that lifestyles have changed. Maybe people travel more for a night out for a better experience? Maybe as the price difference of a pint in a pub v supermarket has got wider people can't afford it like before?

I just don't know what has happened, but it looks to me that now there are pockets of activity in town rather than a massive buzz.

It was amazing, all new shiny bars, packed out, loads of choice and you just had to go out it was that special. Stopping in was not an option.

Weird how it changed, just don't understand how or why?

Why don't people go town anymore?

What do the 20-30 year olds do now on a Friday and Saturday night?

[Livid]

It's getting better.

Frog Island could do with a revamp, but it's getting there.

Every city has good and bad areas.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Although Leicester has always been a pit, the actual nightlife used to be amazing.

Pre around 1990 every bar would be packed solid and you only stood a 50% chance of getting in, as the bars were that full the bouncers would move you on.

There was the old type boozers that hadnt been modernised, but the real buzzing bars were fat cats, wilkies, the Wellington etc and they were very popular and a good night out.

Then over night a massive change occurred for the better that made it unreal. Suddenly bars turned up everywhere, RBar, the one near the station, Mars bar opposite fat cats plus many many more.

As an example Belvior Street that only had a couple of bars doubled it's number and market street went from one to three.

Literally in the space of a year the number of bars trebled and the queues were no longer, but people flocked into town to sample all the new bars.

Friday and Saturdays were just great, it was an amazing time and most places were decent and town was packed.

I stopped going as life changed, moving away etc and I was shocked when I went out in Leicester about four years ago to see the decline has been so massive.

Have been again since and you struggle to find bars that are half full, with many empty.

I don't think it is the bars fault, but it appears that lifestyles have changed. Maybe people travel more for a night out for a better experience? Maybe as the price difference of a pint in a pub v supermarket has got wider people can't afford it like before?

I just don't know what has happened, but it looks to me that now there are pockets of activity in town rather than a massive buzz.

It was amazing, all new shiny bars, packed out, loads of choice and you just had to go out it was that special. Stopping in was not an option.

Weird how it changed, just don't understand how or why?

Why don't people go town anymore?

What do the 20-30 year olds do now on a Friday and Saturday night?

 

Hang on a second - your opinion of what constitutes "amazing nightlife" are Marz on Belvoir Street and R Bar? Both of those gaffs are absolutely dead last.

 

And you think town has gotten worse since the halcyon days you used to go to those places? Christ that's grim for you, a night in Leicester must be like an evening in war torn Beirut.

Edited 16 October 2014 by Miquel The Work Geordie

[Rob1742]

Hang on a second - your opinion of what constitutes "amazing nightlife" are Marz on Belvoir Street and R Bar? Both of those gaffs are absolutely dead last.

And you think town has gotten worse since the halcyon days you used to go to those places? Christ that's grim for you, a night in Leicester must be like an evening in war torn Beirut.

Think you missed the bit where I mentioned that these WERE decent over 20 years ago. I am well aware that town has changed and it is extremely poor now.

When the R bar first opened, it was ace, but from what I see nothing is decent in town now.

[Rincewind]

If anyone wants somewhere to go to celebrate City's win over WBA (?) on Nov 1st the Kings Head are having a hallowenn Party. Good beer good company.

[fuchsntf]

I have no idea, but referring to my reponse in another thread, all of the services are under the road or pavements. Anyone of these could be the cause of the disruption.

"BSI standards have taken a pounding", what does that mean? BSI standards are for manufactured products such as, pipes, stone, asphalt, concrete etc. they are rarely manufactured on site unless the readymix or aphalt plants are sited on the job such as on an airfield or motorway.

All of the areas you refer to go back to mediaeval times, sewers, water, electricity and gas infrastructure was laid down during the early part of the last century, when you start exposing old stuff you never know what you'I l find. I very much doubt that when the city fathers decided to pedestrianise certain areas, they thought oh we'll rip out all the services and replace with new while we're about it.

The other thing is that disrupting services to the buildings can't happren at the same time unless it for a short period. Very often temporary supply has to be in place before a cut off of the old.

Finally, when you dig something up and fill it in, it takes time to settle, which requires going back and re-levelling.

Of course Leicester may have given contracts to contractors who haven't performed but you can't tar everyone with the same brush.

Many cities UK and Euro wide, have had remodelling, rebuilding projects.Its been the repetative and continuous re-levelling of the same sites time and time again.Then the disorganised routine of re-ripping up of 'ways' roads that have previously been

newly laid, by city services organisations.Councils should organise the bloody holes more effeciently, when something opens up, then all relevant services should be pulled and designated together.Logistics should be used to control and organise our simple world of hole making.

Oh I am an retired engineer,so technical awareness and possible showstoppers within any project is not strange to me.

Not saying Leicester is alone, but even some of the citys great ideas or plans have been ruined by lackadaisical control and building skills, from top to bottom.Its more frustrating because its not been a funding issue but simple implementation, once granted.

Maybe its just Leicester citizens are fed up feeling like the poor neighbours of the midlands.

[Smudge]

Many cities UK and Euro wide, have had remodelling, rebuilding projects.Its been the repetative and continuous re-levelling of the same sites time and time again.Then the disorganised routine of re-ripping up of 'ways' roads that have previously been

newly laid, by city services organisations.Councils should organise the bloody holes more effeciently, when something opens up, then all relevant services should be pulled and designated together.Logistics should be used to control and organise our simple world of hole making.

Oh I am an retired engineer,so technical awareness and possible showstoppers within any project is not strange to me.

Not saying Leicester is alone, but even some of the citys great ideas or plans have been ruined by lackadaisical control and building skills, from top to bottom.Its more frustrating because its not been a funding issue but simple implementation, once granted.

Maybe its just Leicester citizens are fed up feeling like the poor neighbours of the midlands.

Well from one engineer to another, you must appreciate that electrical and mechanical engineering takes place in a controlled environment. As a civil engineer from the build rather than design department, I can assure you that working in a relatively uncontrollable regime due to weather, unforeseen obstacles and delays from change orders isn't easy.

Your rant is more about planning than quality of build and to that I would agree.

Edited 17 October 2014 by Smudge

[Ghost Troop]

Its not just the buildings and infrastructure that make or break city centres, its the people who live and work there and those who use its services and facilities. If they don't give a toss, I doubt anyone else will much.

[davieG]

Highcross shopping centre named 19th most attractive mall in the UK

By PA_Warzynski | Posted: November 13, 2014

28251527

Shoppers at last year's Boxing Day sale at Highcross

Comments (3)

Leicester’s Highcross shopping centre has been ranked the 19th most attractive shopping experience in the country in a new national list.

The league table of UK retail centres was compiled by Trevor Woods Associates – an independent retail analyst – who rated London’s Westfield Stratford Centre as number one.

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Highcross had slipped a place from last year, but was one of only two East Midlands malls in the top 20 – the other being in Derby.

The news has been welcomed by Highcross general manager Jo Tallack, who said: “We are delighted Highcross has been rated in the Definitive Guide to Shopping Centres.

“This year we have seen footfall increase by 1.4 per cent and have expanded our already unrivalled retail mix which is led by a four-storey John Lewis department store.”

Jo said the mix of retailers was further strengthened by the arrival of a number of new stores this year - Hugo Boss, Boost, Tiger and Smiggle.

She added: “Not only have our retailers expanded but our restaurant portfolio in St Peters Square also continues to grow with the opening of Byron, Chimichanga, Red Hot World Buffet, and Bills which is set to open next year.

“We always knew Highcross was a top destination for locals but to be recognised nationally is fantastic.”

In April, the mall celebrated welcoming its 100,000,000th visitor through the doors.

Shopper Anne Maloney, 43, from Ibstock, said: “To be honest it’s the only place I come to in Leicester.

“I come from Ibstock so I have to drive and the parking is usually good and the Highcross has most things I need.”

Fellow visitor Kamal Lodia, 21, from Belgrave, said: “I thought it would have done better than 19th. I’ve been to a few shopping centres and Highcross is much cleaner and has more variety.”

Traders were also keen to talk up the success of the £350 million shopping centre which opened in 2008.

Jeevan Rupra, who runs personalised print specialists Image Surgeons, said: “Since it’s become Highcross, after the Shires, it’s just got better and better.

“I moved in three years ago and it wasn’t easy at first – it never is for new businesses – but it’s getting better now and I’m doing okay.

“John Lewis is a great help – it really makes the difference and attracts a lot of people to the shopping centre – which obviously helps us all.

“But it’s more than just a shopping centre, there’s restaurants, the cinema, there’s bars close-by, there’s no need to go anywhere else.”

Hayley Barnsdale, manager of newcomer Smiggle, which supplies stationary and office equipment, said the store had hired extra staff for the festive period due to the numbers of customers it was expecting.

“We’ve been here for about six months and it’s been booming since day one.

“The support we’ve had from Highcross is great and has really helped us.

“”We’re looking forward to our first Christmas – and we know it’s going to be jam-packed – so we’ve had to get in lots more temporary cover.”

The list’s creator Trevor Wood Associates is an independent provider of information on all retail and leisure schemes in the UK.

It said that malls such as Highcross (in the top 27) have set them selves apart from other outlets in the UK and are continuing to grow.

Founder Trevor Wood said: “There is still very much a premier division of 27 shopping centres particularly leading the way.

“Many of these have plans to develop or expand their tenant mix, which will widen the gap between them and the other leading centres still further.”

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Highcross-shopping-centre-named-19th-attractive/story-24528661-detail/story.html#ixzz3J2OesWqr

Follow us: @Leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook

[bovril]

19th most attractive mall is like saying 17th biggest hill in Norfolk or 5th most attractive Spice Girl.

[MooseBreath]

Damning with faint praise

[Spudulike]

The High Cross looking good in its new position close to where it originally stood.

 

[Spudulike]

The Cathedral from across Jubilee Square...

 

[Rob1742]

I saw this new area last week for the first time, and thought it was excellent. Well done here, a great improvement.

It is though a small area of a very rough town. As an example we spent yesterday and last night in Oxford, due to not wanting to spend anytime wandering around our pit of a town.

Everyone looks poor in Leicester, you worry you might catch Ebola.

But Jubilee Square is excellent, and I thought the new Cosy Club is excellent. We just need more of this. Not everyone is fighting for a bargain in the poundshops, there is money in Leicester, just nowhere to spend it.

I saw on Instagram one of our players dressed up for a night out in Birmingham. Shame he has to go over there to spend his wages, but I can totally understand it.

Just worked out what I have spent yesterday in Oxford, hotel, shopping, drinks. Leicester didn't put up much of a struggle I am afraid, easy decision to go elsewhere.

And this is the key. It wasn't the draw of Oxford by any means. The conversation was "where shall we go this weekend" . With no commitments, it was purely a question of Leicester offering nothing and needing to go somewhere else.

It is clear that money is being taken out of our City as it doesn't really have much to offer

Edited 16 November 2014 by Rob1742

[Spudulike]

I don't think it's really relevant to compare Oxford with Leicester.

 

Leicester is at last starting to connect with it's fantastic history. A history that's the envy of most other English cities. It does seem that people are at last taking an interest in our city since the discovery of the remains of Richard III. Sadly, we have never been good at promoting ourselves and that will never improve whilst locals revel in running the place down.

 

ps. I don't think you'll catch ebola.

[Webbo]

I don't think it's really relevant to compare Oxford with Leicester.

 

Leicester is at last starting to connect with it's fantastic history. A history that's the envy of most other English cities. It does seem that people are at last taking an interest in our city since the discovery of the remains of Richard III. Sadly, we have never been good at promoting ourselves and that will never improve whilst locals revel in running the place down.

 

ps. I don't think you'll catch ebola.

That's the British way. I'm sure every other town and city in this country is the same.

[davieG]

The only people that are literally running it down are the councillors and planners both past and present.

 

We had a wealth of roman remains and artifacts that have been built over or destroyed.

 

We're still pulling down or fatally neglecting architectural, historical and engineering gems to build bland replacements that could easily have been built elsewhere