Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Dr The Singh]

Amazon poised to open massive distribution hub near Coalville

By Leicester Mercury  |  Posted: October 21, 2015

By Lauren Mills, Deputy Business Editor

Amazon's Bardon warehouse

 

Amazon's Bardon warehouse

 

 Comments (0)

A massive distribution centre is planned for Leicestershire in a move that will create at least 2,000 jobs.

Sources say the £100 million project is for Amazon, the world's largest online retailer. The 1.3 million sq ft warehouse will be built at Little Battleflat Farm, on the outskirts of Ellistown, near Coalville

It will be so large, measuring more than 1,600ft by at least 600ft, that it will be able to handle more than 80 articulated lorries at one time.

It will be developed by Mountpark Logistics, which already has outline planning consent for the scheme.

•  

 

It will be managed by Nottingham-based planning consultants Oxalis Planning.

In a letter to North West Leicestershire District Council, Oxalis planner Steve Harley, said: "The details submitted are to meet the specific requirements of a major occupier keen to establish a new facility on this site, bringing significant investment and job creation to the local area."

The application, which was submitted to the council last week, was filed under "reserved matters", which means it can be processed quickly to bring the site forward as soon as possible to meet Amazon's needs.

People familiar with the application say full planning consent could be announced within 28 days.

Andrew Bridgen, the MP for North West Leicestershire, said: "The potential to create more than 2,000 jobs is more good news for North West Leicestershire.

"It is a huge, long-term investment and a vote of confidence in the area. We are playing to the strengths of our strategic location at the centre of the UK."

Mr Bridgen added that Chancellor George Osborne's decision to allow local authorities to keep 100 per cent of business rate proceeds will also come as a welcome boost to the area, with an estimated £2 million of business rates likely to be generated by the site. This would be split 80:20 by the district and county councils respectively.

The application includes a section 106 planning agreement which will commit the developer to various local improvements, thought to include a £300,000 community fund, a National Forest buffer to separate the development from Ellistown, as well as road improvements and a new play area for the village.

Ellistown councillor Keith Merrie said: "We are looking to forge a strong relationship between the developer, the occupier and the local village to improve life for locals.

"The National Forest buffer means the development will have no visual impact on the village and we are working with the developer to ensure a robust routing strategy for HGV vehicles."

In August the Mercury revealed that Amazon was moving its Leicestershire delivery warehouse from Willow Farm Business Park, near Castle Donington, to a 250,000 sq ft building at the nearby Interlink Business Park in Bardon.

Amazon declined to comment on what it termed "speculation" about its new distribution hub.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Amazon-poised-open-massive-distribution-hub-near/story-28020320-detail/story.html#ixzz3pBtyuc7O 

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Thats good news

[davieG]

Where did Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland come in national quality of life survey?

By atroughton | Posted: October 22, 2015

Leicester Cathedral

Leicester Cathedral

Comments (6)

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has rubbished a new survey which puts Leicester near the bottom of a table of desirable places to live.

Sir Peter said that the 'Quality of Life' research, funded by the online and telephone price comparison and switching service uSwitch, had more to do with the survey commissioners trying to sell their services.

He said: "Surveys like this have nothing to do with the reality of things.

"These surveys are ten a penny and are not worth the paper they are printed on."

Sir Peter hit out after the survey put Leicester at 101 out of 138 places for quality of life - 21 places up on 2013 - the last time the research was done.

Leicestershire and Rutland were placed at 34 in this year's research - six places higher than in 2013.

The research assessed 138 local areas on 26 different factors including employment rate, average gross income, exam results, house prices, average weekly rents, crime rates, life expectancy, hours of sunshine and energy prices, to provide a picture of the quality of life in each region.

Edinburgh came out top, followed by Solihull, Hertfordshire, Northumberland and South Lanarkshire.

Bottom of the pile was Bradford followed by Hull, North of Northern Ireland, the Western Isles then the West and South of Northern Ireland.

Sir Peter said: "Anyone who has ever been to Leicester knows that it is a vibrant city with a fabulous historical past.

"You don't have to go far out of the city to enjoy the beautiful countryside of Leicestershire and the gorgeous villages which are hidden away.

"As far as Rutland goes, I always look forward to my visit that wonderful corner of historic England.

"Whether it is walking round the county town of Oakham or strolling through the lovely countryside it is always a joy to visit."

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, said: ""What this report reveals is the vast differences in the quality of life that many people across the UK are experiencing. "Despite a buoyant UK economy, millions of people in this country aren't feeling the benefits."

Income – West London (Inner London West) retains the title of Britain's richest region with average full time salaries of £35,464 and an average annual gross disposable household income (GDHI) of £39,602 – more than three times higher than disposable household incomes in Leicester (£11,739) and Nottingham (£11,757).

Employment – Liverpool has the lowest employment rate of any region in the UK at 59%, compared to 89% in the Orkney Islands and 82% in central Bedfordshire. Meanwhile, West London is the hardest working region in the country, with 41% working 45 hours a week or more, compared to 15% of those living in the Orkney Islands.

Living costs – Despite having the second lowest gross household disposable income in the country (£11,757), Nottingham city dwellers pay the highest council tax rate (£1,676 a year). Belfast pays the lowest rate of £819 a year, less than half that paid in Nottingham. However, people in Belfast are hit with the highest average energy bills of £1,850 a year, compared to bills of £1,209 in Scotland.

Crime – Edinburgh has the lowest rate of reported crime in the UK, followed by Powys in East Wales. Northern Ireland has the highest rates of reported crime, with Belfast the most crime-ridden region in the UK, followed by the East of Northern Ireland region.

Life expectancy – Women in Buckinghamshire have a life expectancy of 85 years old – compared to those in Glasgow with a life expectancy of just 78 and a half. Meanwhile, men in Surrey have a life expectancy of 81 and a half – compared to just 73 years old in Glasgow.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Sir-Peter-Soulsby-hits-Leicester-fares-badly/story-28034560-detail/story.html#ixzz3pNhjgRYt

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[davieG]

Seems to be getting more dangerous

 

 

Student lying down on city centre street beaten up and robbed by attackers

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Student-lying-city-centre-street-beaten-robbed/story-28098207-detail/story.html#ixzz3qKLQHvHV 
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Man fighting for life after being stabbed in back on Leicester street

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Man-fighting-life-stabbed-Leicester-street/story-28094202-detail/story.html#ixzz3qKLpg2M4 
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Man critically injured after being stabbed near Uppingham Road

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Man-critically-injured-stabbed-near-Uppingham/story-28089903-detail/story.html#ixzz3qKMlnQhD 
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[Col city fan]

I think the City of Leicester is a shit-hole.

The roads are the worst part for me. In my job I drive between sites in and around the City and it takes an age to get anywhere.

Yesterday I dropped my mum off at the LRI before driving on to Glenfield.

I made the error of going down Jarrom Street.

There were speed humps the size of Snowdon every thirty yards. Cars parked on both sides of the road leaving sod all room to drive through. Traffic lights, signs every bloody thing ever where.

I think Leicester City has become over - populated for its size.

When I finish work me and Mrs Col to be are offski

[MooseBreath]

Roads are a joke all over the country. That's what you get after years of a labour government pandering to environmentalists. The country's infrastructure is a good decade behind where it should be.

[Rincewind]

Yawn.

[Guest MattP]

The increase in violence shouldn't be ignored, more and more of these stories seem to be appearing.

The most depressing thing in the second article is a suspended sentence for someone who already has 29 convictions.

[MooseBreath]

Yawn.

Precisely, transport infrastructure doesn't matter to labour voters because they've got nowhere to go in a hurry so they'll side with the environmentalists every time.

[Rincewind]

Wrong thread

[SemperEadem]

Precisely, transport infrastructure doesn't matter to labour voters because they've got nowhere to go in a hurry so they'll side with the environmentalists every time.

Get real.

[davieG]

Seems to be getting more dangerous

 

 

Student lying down on city centre street beaten up and robbed by attackers

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Student-lying-city-centre-street-beaten-robbed/story-28098207-detail/story.html#ixzz3qKLQHvHV 

Follow us: @@leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook

 

Man fighting for life after being stabbed in back on Leicester street

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Man-fighting-life-stabbed-Leicester-street/story-28094202-detail/story.html#ixzz3qKLpg2M4 

Follow us: @@leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook

 

 

Man critically injured after being stabbed near Uppingham Road

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Man-critically-injured-stabbed-near-Uppingham/story-28089903-detail/story.html#ixzz3qKMlnQhD 

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...and another

 

Five men arrested after seriously injured man taken to hospital this morning

Five people have been arrested after a man was found lying seriously injured in a Leicester street this morning.

Police were called to Narborough Road at 6.45 today.

The man was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

A police spokeswoman said: "We were called at around 6.45am this morning following a report of a man lying injured on the ground on Narborough Road, near to the junction of Briton Street.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/men-arrested-seriously-injured-man-taken-hospital/story-28104429-detail/story.html#ixzz3qSN0p6Mw 

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[RoboFox]

Pretty interesting article published in VICE about Leicester's drug users pinching, specifically meat, from the city's supermarkets and selling it on.

 

It mentions the Narb as a hotbed for it... Although I lived on it for four years, and can't ever recall ever seeing or being aware of it going on in the area.

 

Anyway, here's the link:

http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/heroin-meat-thieves-929?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=viceuk&utm_medium=social

[UPinCarolina]

http://www.vice.com/read/heroin-meat-thieves-929?utm_source=vicefbus

Never heard of a such a thing in my life, but apparently it's common.

[GaelicFox]

http://www.vice.com/read/heroin-meat-thieves-929?utm_source=vicefbus

Never heard of a such a thing in my life, but apparently it's common.

Bought 3 legs Of lamb , 2 chickens and a Kilo of mince in the running fox once for £15

Fecking bargain

Got a huge Doner kebab joint in the horse and jockey for a 10 , was a bastard to cook under the grill at home !

About a litre of Grease ran off it !

[lifted*fox]

Mmm, lovely heroin. 

[fuchsntf]

It might be easier to have a thread, to ask which UK city or town is not a dump...

[Wymsey]

The traffic where the underground tunnel is very frustrating.

 

It's as if the traffic system has been made wrong.

[davieG]

More Student Accomodation

 

 

 

They may not be the most attractive historical buildings but do we really need more student accomodation

 

Dismay as demolition of London Road historic premises is approved in student flats plan

By danjmartin  |  Posted: November 19, 2015

 

Doomed - 54-58 London Road

 

 Comments (3)

The demolition of a number of historic Leicester buildings to make way for a student flats block has been approved.

Members of Leicester City Council's planning committee met on Tuesday and approved a scheme to knock down numbers 54 to 58 London Road and replace them with a seven storey complex for 142 students.

There had been strenuous objections to the plan, drawn up by developers Abode, because the houses earmarked for demolition date back to the late 18th or early 19th Centuries and are understood to be the oldest existing properties on London Road.

One of them was home to renowned architect and city father Arthur Wakerley, from 1890 to 1913.

•  

Despite the concerns at the lost of the buildings, and arguments that more student flats were not needed, councillors followed the recommendations of planning officials and allowed the scheme to proceed.

Abode's planning agent Andy Ward told the Mercury the demolition would likely start soon in the hope of the flats being available for the next academic year in October.

He said: "Demolishing buildings that have a heritage value is not a decision that is taken lightly.

"The buildings as you see them from London Road are not as they were originally.

"The developer is happy to pay for a blue plaque to go up to remind people of what was there."

Chairman of the planning committee councillor Bill Shelton said: "The main argument in favour of the proposal is that the buildings there at the moment have been compromised over the years - particularly internally."

Committee member councillor Lynn Moore had argued that rather than demolishing the premises a blue heritage plaque out to be put there.

Stuart Bailey, chairman of the Leicester Civic Society, said: "It's a scandalous decision.

"The planning committee has again approved the removal of buildings of historic significance to allow for an addition to the endless supply of grotty student accommodation in Leicester.

"It's disastrous for London Road where I fear there will be further applications.

"It could end up being as bad as Oxford Street.

"A couple of the councillors spoke against it but there were only two of them who voted against it.

"It is very upsetting."

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Demolition-London-Road-historic-premises-approved/story-28206061-detail/story.html#ixzz3rwnmQNLJ 
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[Thracian]

I've been on Leicester market about eight years. It remains our best market commercially yet we've halved our presence recently and I can't wait to finish there completely.

 

The council has just sent out its latest worthless leaflet inviting comment on what should be done to improve the market and the newly created eyesore behind the Corn Exchange public house.

 

There's absolutely no point in replying because the council has never shown the slightest signs of ever listening and seems to make one bad decision after another in my experience. 

 

Nowadays the market is an apology for what it used to be. Business used to be so good that traders often sold their stalls if they moved on, often for half-decent five figure sums. Those days are long gone but the rents remain suited to a footfall far greater than is ever the case at present.

 

Only two things has improved matters slightly during my time. Firstly, the new food hall which has seemed popular for all that business profits won't have improved greatly, if at all, because of the higher rents.

 

And the cost will only be justified in city enhancement terms, rather than the profits of traders or the number of stallholders accommodated, because stallholder numbers have actually gone down overall.

 

Secondly the Richard 111 impact has resulted in more tourists (mostly in the summer months from general observation) and a little more business as a consequence but nothing much, any more than the ever-increasing student population ever improves business noticably in the market place except perhaps a little for the much suffering fruit and veg people.

 

But against those two things are any number of detractions...

 

The complete loss of the fairly sizeable second hand stalls area north of the Corn Exchange building and the subsequent and totally unnecessary loss of the antiques/collectables market which was run on a Wednesday for all too brief a period and seemed very well received.

 

Then there's the ending of security patrols, the moving of the market office to a completely remote location which makes effective monitoring of the market so inept, the tightness of access around the north side of the market, the reduction of parking opportunities, the ineffectiveness of the current market canopy which smacks of lousy homework, the money wasted on never-adequate gazebos that everyone said would be hopeless, and more.

 

And all this alongside a worsening experience and far too many situations which are bound to drive customers away.

 

All this is overseen by a Labour administration you'd think would be keen to enhance and improve the market trading experience at every turn. But they don't. 

 

Yes, the students are looked after, presumably cos they bring in lots of money and prestige. And there's no doubting the potential benefits of increased tourism if only the City were more accessible and more appealing once you got there in all but the two or three favoured locations.

 

But otherwise it's by far the worst experience I've had as a trader in any market or show location from Ardingly through to Edinburgh.

 

Yes, there are some good and much valued customers in Leicester.

But no, it's not a pleasant place to be anymore. And much of that is down to lack of genuine communication and the remoteness of those who run it.  

Edited 19 November 2015 by Thracian

[davieG]

Consultation = We've decided what we're are going to do but we'd still like you to tell us what we should have done.

[Wymsey]

London Road has great potential, but it's not too bad now (not as rough as some make it to be) and accommodating students there is not the right place.

 

Any chance of Soulsby & Co of redeveloping the St. Matthews area? What a pit that is* 

 

*apologies if anyone here lives there

Edited 19 November 2015 by Wymeswold fox

[Thracian]

London Road has great potential, but it's not too bad now (not as rough as some make it to be) and accommodating students there is not the right place.

 

Any chance of Soulsby & Co of redeveloping the St. Matthews area? What a pit that is* 

 

*apologies if anyone here lives there

 

 

I didn't think it the right place either. You'd might think the council would show more responsibility but actually I wouldn't.     

[Countryfox]

In a word ...  Yes.

[Dr The Singh]

In a word ... Yes.

Post of the day

[Bellend Sebastian]

Will no doubt render some of you furious, but some interesting stats in here about how people get around the city:

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/nov/26/lessons-from-leicester-the-uks-unlikely-new-poster-city-for-cycling