Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[kenny]

1 minute ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

Agree. I too, have suggested this.

However, the track record of the city mayor and council demonstrates that, if buildings are repurposed, then they will be for students or 'Places of Worship'.

Meanwhile, green spaces outside the city centre are being built on instead.

A client of mine tried to turn shops on pocklingtons walk to residential. It was rejected despite their being 140+ empty retail units in the city centre.

[Stadt]

On 15/05/2026 at 20:08, kenny said:

A client of mine tried to turn shops on pocklingtons walk to residential. It was rejected despite their being 140+ empty retail units in the city centre.

The planning dept are completely obtuse in my experience. They don’t seem to want permit much at all.

 

They classify higher than 9 storeys as tall!

[splinterdream]

Up town today, first time for ages, bloody horrible, loads of beggars, wife said it feels unsafe, glad to come home 

[Paninistickers]

On 16/05/2026 at 22:22, splinterdream said:

Up town today, first time for ages, bloody horrible, loads of beggars, wife said it feels unsafe, glad to come home 

I walked round town at lunchtime today, first time on an average weekday for years. 

 

I was pleasantly surprised. Once the market square is done, it's a very respectable looking very large town. Not a proper city. But it looks kinda charming. Certainly in nice weather

 

What it lacks is a middle class. I'll put my views on Boris wave hyper immigration aside. Take the race out of it. But, it's just so desperately poor. So few people who seem to just want to relax and live a city lifestyle and have some swagger and attitude.  the punters, they look, so, defeated. Struggling. 

[davieG]

Leicester Local is in Leicester. · 

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LEICESTER LOCAL NEWS: LOCALS ARE TURNING TO FOSSE PARK & EVEN NOTTINGHAM OVER LEICESTER CITY CENTRE

Leicester residents say the city centre has “lost its buzz” amid growing concerns over anti-social behaviour, safety, parking costs and a changing atmosphere in the heart of the city.

The debate has intensified following hundreds of comments and messages received by Leicester Local from residents discussing why they are increasingly choosing places like Fosse Park — and even Nottingham — over Leicester city centre for shopping, evenings out and family trips.

Many residents described feeling less safe in parts of the city centre than they did just a few years ago, pointing to issues including aggressive begging, street drinking, visible drug use, groups gathering in busy areas and intimidating behaviour.

Others said the city centre no longer feels welcoming or vibrant, with some claiming the atmosphere and sense of community that once defined Leicester has gradually faded away.

The discussion comes after figures previously revealed only 14 fines were handed out during the first 12 months of Leicester’s anti-social behaviour crackdown in the city centre.

The scheme was introduced to tackle issues including aggressive begging, street drinking and anti-social behaviour, with £100 fixed penalty notices available to officers.

However, despite ongoing complaints from shoppers, workers and businesses, many residents say they have seen little visible improvement.

Parking was also repeatedly raised as a major frustration, with many residents saying rising city centre parking costs are discouraging casual visits and pushing more people towards out-of-town destinations such as Fosse Park, where parking is free and many shoppers say they feel safer and more relaxed.

Some residents also compared Leicester unfavourably to Nottingham, arguing Nottingham’s city centre now feels busier, cleaner and more attractive for shopping and leisure — particularly on weekends.

But the overwhelming feedback Leicester Local received suggests the city centre’s problems now run far deeper than empty shops — with many locals saying Leicester has lost some of its sense of safety, community and good-natured buzz.

Others argued Leicester still has huge potential and pointed to the city’s independent businesses, restaurants, festivals and cultural events as proof the city centre can still thrive with the right investment and direction.

The debate has now sparked wider discussion over what Leicester city centre needs next — stronger enforcement, cheaper parking, more family attractions, cleaner public spaces, or a renewed focus on rebuilding civic pride and community spirit.

What do YOU think Leicester city centre needs right now?

#Leicester #LeicesterCityCentre #Leicestershire #FossePark #Nottingham #LocalNews #Community #AntiSocialBehaviour #LeicesterLocal

[filthyfox]

Everywhere in the WHOLE country is a dump after the Tories.

 

Go to Blackpool-  you get a free high from the weed you can smell EVERYWHERE!

 

You wont ever see a copper to keep you safe unless they have a "speed gun" in their hand!

[MaidstoneFox]

On 21/05/2026 at 19:03, Paninistickers said:

I walked round town at lunchtime today, first time on an average weekday for years. 

 

I was pleasantly surprised. Once the market square is done, it's a very respectable looking very large town. Not a proper city. But it looks kinda charming. Certainly in nice weather

 

What it lacks is a middle class. I'll put my views on Boris wave hyper immigration aside. Take the race out of it. But, it's just so desperately poor. So few people who seem to just want to relax and live a city lifestyle and have some swagger and attitude.  the punters, they look, so, defeated. Struggling. 

It's certainly not as bad as some cities like Stoke or Bradford and it definitely benefits from having two universities. However, not many graduates hang around as they do in Bristol or Manchester.

 

Much as I have a lot of fondness for Leicester, I felt as I was growing up there, that it was a place I needed to leave.

[ian__marshall]

The John Lewis end of Highcross is nice, and Fosse Park is pretty decent these days, but the area between the clock tower and the train station has just died. Such a shame as I remember back in the 90s it thriving.

 

As someone who only visits the Clock Tower area probably once every 6 months, when did the Clock Tower get taken over by preachers and dubious political bodies?

 

Such groups make the City feel very unwelcoming as crowds of similar minded people gather around. They certainly don't foster community spirit, and to be quite frank, they make me want to stay away from the area as I don't want to be bombarded with such nonsense when I'm out shopping with my family. 

[Muzzy_no7]

On 25/05/2026 at 09:42, MaidstoneFox said:

It's certainly not as bad as some cities like Stoke or Bradford and it definitely benefits from having two universities. However, not many graduates hang around as they do in Bristol or Manchester.

 

Much as I have a lot of fondness for Leicester, I felt as I was growing up there, that it was a place I needed to leave.

Benefits from two universities? Ayy?

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

The unis definitely don't feel like they benefit the city in the same way they do in Nottingham or even Derby. 

 

I've had post-Maryland dumps that could get into DMU

[VLC86]

On 25/05/2026 at 10:37, ian__marshall said:

The John Lewis end of Highcross is nice, and Fosse Park is pretty decent these days, but the area between the clock tower and the train station has just died. Such a shame as I remember back in the 90s it thriving.

 

As someone who only visits the Clock Tower area probably once every 6 months, when did the Clock Tower get taken over by preachers and dubious political bodies?

 

Such groups make the City feel very unwelcoming as crowds of similar minded people gather around. They certainly don't foster community spirit, and to be quite frank, they make me want to stay away from the area as I don't want to be bombarded with such nonsense when I'm out shopping with my family. 

Tbf they are better than crack heads.

 

I work in town a couple of days a week and you openly see drug deals and people taking drugs on a daily basis. Yesterday, I saw a couple of very young lads (probably about 16-20) clearly giving a homeless man drugs in the door way of the high cross. You’d hope the reason it happens so openly is so that the police can watch and figure out who the bosses are.

[westernpark]

There should have been a referendum for the existing mayor position. I don’t agree with his level of power…

[westernpark]

12 hours ago, westernpark said:

There should have been a referendum for the existing mayor position. I don’t agree with his level of power…

.

Edited Saturday at 07:03 by westernpark

[SecretPro]

2 hours ago, westernpark said:

 

Misread 

Edited Friday at 20:42 by SecretPro

[SecretPro]

On 28/05/2026 at 21:35, VLC86 said:

Tbf they are better than crack heads.

 

I work in town a couple of days a week and you openly see drug deals and people taking drugs on a daily basis. Yesterday, I saw a couple of very young lads (probably about 16-20) clearly giving a homeless man drugs in the door way of the high cross. You’d hope the reason it happens so openly is so that the police can watch and figure out who the bosses are.

Misplaced hope im afraid. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

On 25/05/2026 at 10:37, ian__marshall said:

The John Lewis end of Highcross is nice, and Fosse Park is pretty decent these days, but the area between the clock tower and the train station has just died. Such a shame as I remember back in the 90s it thriving.

 

As someone who only visits the Clock Tower area probably once every 6 months, when did the Clock Tower get taken over by preachers and dubious political bodies?

 

Such groups make the City feel very unwelcoming as crowds of similar minded people gather around. They certainly don't foster community spirit, and to be quite frank, they make me want to stay away from the area as I don't want to be bombarded with such nonsense when I'm out shopping with my family. 

Ironically, those groups are probably there with the idea of reaching as many people as possible, when they're actually putting people off coming there.

[SemperEadem]

Had a day with the family in town today. 
Had some lunch on King Street before a mooch over to Jarvis Street for a street art and graffiti do.

Around the lanes and St Martin’s it is really nice. Town had a good vibe today, Tigers fans really fill out the place on matchdays. Loads of them about eating and drinking.

[Officer Doofy]

13 hours ago, SemperEadem said:

Had a day with the family in town today. 
Had some lunch on King Street before a mooch over to Jarvis Street for a street art and graffiti do.

Around the lanes and St Martin’s it is really nice. Town had a good vibe today, Tigers fans really fill out the place on matchdays. Loads of them about eating and drinking.

I always have a good time when I head into town. I'm very selective of where I go but you can have a great time. 

[Free Falling Foxes]

More fly tipping

 

I just don't understand this. The city council do free collection of bulk waste, yet you see incidents of this across the city.

Let's face it; those that do this would normally have a phone in their hands anyway, if they weren't littering. Just navigate away from FB, Instagram, TikTok and the like just for a few moments and contact the council instead.

[Muzzy_no7]

Yep.

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

More fly tipping

 

I just don't understand this. The city council do free collection of bulk waste, yet you see incidents of this across the city.

Let's face it; those that do this would normally have a phone in their hands anyway, if they weren't littering. Just navigate away from FB, Instagram, TikTok and the like just for a few moments and contact the council instead.

Which City is that? Leicestershire charge for bulk collections and charge for building waste and paint taken too local tips sites from domestic premises.

[Free Falling Foxes]

7 minutes ago, davieG said:

Which City is that? Leicestershire charge for bulk collections and charge for building waste and paint taken too local tips sites from domestic premises.

Leicester City. Members of my family in the city have used it several times.

https://www.leicester.gov.uk/bins-waste-and-recycling/bulky-waste-collections

[Trav Le Bleu]

12 minutes ago, davieG said:

Which City is that? Leicestershire charge for bulk collections and charge for building waste and paint taken too local tips sites from domestic premises.

 

4 minutes ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

Leicester City. Members of my family in the city have used it several times.

https://www.leicester.gov.uk/bins-waste-and-recycling/bulky-waste-collections

Yep, used it myself a couple of times. My waste collection is much better since moving within the city boundary.

[Parafox]

13 minutes ago, davieG said:

Which City is that? Leicestershire charge for bulk collections and charge for building waste and paint taken too local tips sites from domestic premises.

IME recently, there's no charge for disposing of paint. You can only use Whetstone and you do need a free permit.