Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[fuchsntf]

On Sunday, August 20, 2017 at 10:17, ruletheworld said:

All big cities look dirty where big crowd of people. And most people don't care about keeping city celan anyway unless if they were born there.

In the UK..especially....!!!

Its not just a question of Leicester being a dump, but Uk cities and towns generally.

We had great markets...all gone to plastic.

We had great cheeses and English/British Delecacies...other countries supported their local faire, The Brits got

Or went advent garde and snobbish, and believed everything foreign is better.

French, Italian, German, Spanish local traditional food is great, but...But not better just sold better.

Plus Top to good British chefs sell their faire on a too high plateau, and stear away from traditional food.

 

I just came from Tuscany, where 20yrs ago an Italian once told me 90% of Italian cities themselves are museums,

But cleanliness x and service are poor....Well its changed now...like France and after 2 World wars in their backgardens,

Italy, France and Germany have Pleasantly  changed on customer service, hotels campgrounds appartments, Want you

to go again. They have the odd bad establishments, but its the UK who is now running, well behind.

Plus we spent years trashing British food and the really good Fish n chip shops, that they did eventually go down hill..

Tuscany, returned to local traditional food, and the whole region is just beautifull..(Later I will put comments in the Holiday thread)

[Guest MattP]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/man-seen-screaming-shouting-poo-562442

[Wymsey]

18 minutes ago, MattP said:

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/man-seen-screaming-shouting-poo-562442

He certainly puts a bad stain on that area biblically (as if the area isn't a quite dump already)..

[ruletheworld]

On 30/09/2017 at 11:56, fuchsntf said:

In the UK..especially....!!!

Its not just a question of Leicester being a dump, but Uk cities and towns generally.

We had great markets...all gone to plastic.

We had great cheeses and English/British Delecacies...other countries supported their local faire, The Brits got

Or went advent garde and snobbish, and believed everything foreign is better.

French, Italian, German, Spanish local traditional food is great, but...But not better just sold better.

Plus Top to good British chefs sell their faire on a too high plateau, and stear away from traditional food.

 

I just came from Tuscany, where 20yrs ago an Italian once told me 90% of Italian cities themselves are museums,

But cleanliness x and service are poor....Well its changed now...like France and after 2 World wars in their backgardens,

Italy, France and Germany have Pleasantly  changed on customer service, hotels campgrounds appartments, Want you

to go again. They have the odd bad establishments, but its the UK who is now running, well behind.

Plus we spent years trashing British food and the really good Fish n chip shops, that they did eventually go down hill..

Tuscany, returned to local traditional food, and the whole region is just beautifull..(Later I will put comments in the Holiday thread)

I know what you mean man!

[davieG]

These two major road schemes in Leicester look set to go-ahead after £5m grant

Council believes two new roads and other measures will ease congestion

 

Ciaran Fagan

06:00, 22 OCT 2017

NEWS

 

  

Leicester City Council has been granted more than £5 million to press ahead with two road schemes which it believes will relieve congestion.

The Department for Transport has announced it will make the significant contribution to road-building schemes in the Aylestone Road area and the city centre.

Subject to consultation with the public, the council intends to create a short section of new road to link Putney Road West, on the Freemen’s Common industrial estate, with the nearby Saffron Lane and Aylestone Road.

 

The authority believes the new road would relieve congestion in the area and aid the economic development of the industrial estate.

The scheme is due to get under way next summer.

The Department for Transport has pledged £3.4million towards the costs of the £4.9million scheme, which will take around 12 months to complete.

One of the schemes aims to improve access to the Freemen’s Common industrial estate (Image: Google)

The Government has also pledged to support a £2.9million road to link for buses between St Margaret’s Bus Station and the inner ring road.

The short section of new road will cut journey times for passengers and improve bus reliability, the council said.

The scheme will also address highway ‘pinch points’ along key bus routes, with plans for new bus priority measures to help improve bus journey times – including new inbound bus lanes on Groby

Road towards Blackbird Road, and on Narborough Road towards Fullhurst Avenue – and new camera enforcement covering the bus lanes on Uppingham Road.

 

Department for Transport funding of £2million will support the programme of bus priority works, which will get under way in summer 2018.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This is welcome support from the Department for Transport for our plans to improve the local road network.

The council said a new road would be created for bus access to and from St Margaret's Bus Station(Image: Alex Hannam)

“The new link road at Putney Road West will bring significant benefits for drivers, helping to reduce congestion in a key area around the Leicester Royal Infirmary, the universities and our sports stadiums, and improving traffic flow at a major junction.

“It will also improve access to the Freemen’s Common industrial estate, opening up new opportunities for economic regeneration and growth in the area.”

 

Deputy City Mayor Councillor Adam Clarke said: “This programme of works will help make bus travel more attractive to passengers by tackling some of the pinch points on our highways which are affecting journey time and reliability.

“By introducing new priority and enforcement measures on key bus routes and creating a new short cut from St Margaret’s Bus Station to the inner ring road, we hope to make significant improvements to passenger journey times in Leicester.”

The Department for Transport’s £5.4million award to Leicester is part of the National Productivity Investment Fund for the Local Road Network.

[Parafox]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicesters-dry-dock-pub-earmarked-669101

 

Feels like DMU are taking over this city.

 

I've only ever been in the place a couple of times but I always felt it was atmospheric and unusual. It'll be a shame if it goes, I think.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

25 minutes ago, Parafox said:

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicesters-dry-dock-pub-earmarked-669101

 

Feels like DMU are taking over this city.

 

I've only ever been in the place a couple of times but I always felt it was atmospheric and unusual. It'll be a shame if it goes, I think.

 

It's a UoL development, not DMU

[davieG]

New Walkabout to open in Leicester - and they are looking for staff

The bar will mark its return to the city as it replaces Yates on Belvoir Street

 

Hayley WatsonOnline Content Writer

11:26, 3 NOV 2017

UPDATED15:06, 3 NOV 2017

 

 

Just days ago, Yates Leicester made the shock announcement that it will be closing its doors for good at the end of the weekend.

The Belvoir Street bar had been trading in the city for over 25 years, and was a favourite for bargain pints and food deals.

 

But with one loss comes another gain - as it was revealed that a new branch of Walkabout will be replacing the bar.

The Australian chain will make its return to the city after a former venue on Granby Street closed back in May 2015.

And it's great news for part time job seekers, as Walkabout is already looking for staff.

The Stonegate company has posted an ad for part time Bar Team Members that sounds great for students or people looking for casual work.

With pay of up to £7.50 per hour, team members will be expected to work evenings and weekends at the new Leicester branch.

So what does the job involve?

Walkabout is looking for people who can help their customers to have the best possible time and leave the venue with a smile on their face.

 

 

Applicants don't need to have experience, but must be able to demonstrate that they are a team player, can work unsupervised and are keen to learn.

In return, the bar will offer staff an award winning development programme with access to apprenticeships.

 

Yates Leicester announces shock closure - and this is what will replace it

They will also receive a 25% discount on food and drink in all Stonegate pubs and venues, plus access to an employee benefits scheme and a contributory pension scheme.

How can you apply for the job?

Walkabout is known for their Australian-themed parties

Think that all sounds good? You can apply for the job online by clicking here .

The closing date for applications is Friday 17 November.

It is not yet known when the new Walkabout will open - however it could be soon, as Yates will close on Sunday 5 November.

[davieG]

Leicester is officially one of the best places to live in Britain

When it comes to growth, the city outperforms far bigger rivals such as London, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle

 

05:00, 9 NOV 2017

NEWS

 

Leicester is one of the best places to live in Britain for key aspects of life such as jobs, health, wages, skills and housing.

When it comes to growth, the city is outperforming far bigger rivals such as London, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.

In fact, according to national accounting firm PWC’s latest annual index of economic wellbeing, the Midlands as a whole is steadily narrowing the gap with south-east England.

The PWC report looks at factors such as health, housing affordability and quality of life, as well as jobs, skills and incomes to work out which cities are doing well.

It placed Leicester in third place nationally when it comes to most improved city, and ninth overall.

Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "This survey is excellent news though I’m not surprised.

"Over recent years a lot of public sector energy and funding has gone in to making Leicester an attractive place to visit, to live and to invest.

"Sometimes this has been very controversial – but it is paying off many times over in business confidence, investment and jobs."

PWC said growth across the board had been underpinned by strong employment within the city and surroundings, which had continued despite the uncertainties following the Brexit vote.

 

Only last month, national energy supplier E.ON said it needed up to 100 more full-time customer service staff at its Leicester operation, near the King Power Stadium.

Meanwhile, Samworth Brothers said it hoped to create 120 jobs at its new £12 million food distribution hub in Braunstone Frith, while online fashion chain Boden hopes to create 200 jobs at its new warehouse just outside the city in Glenfield.

However the report warned that the price of success was being seen in reduced housing affordability and longer commuting times, while there was still a “critical need” for local industrial strategies that address housing, transport and skills gaps.

For instance, Leicestershire-based national housebuilder Barratt Developments recently announced the average selling price of its homes had risen by 6 per cent to £275,200, up from £259,700 last year.

 

Paul Norbury is PwC’s senior partner for the East Midlands, based at the Leicestershire offices next to East Midlands Airport.

He said: “The Good Growth for Cities Index, is great news for the East Midlands region.

“Leicester, Derby and Nottingham are performing at or above the UK average on all measures.

“The region's economy is diverse and resilient, and it is great to see our cities performing so well in jobs, growth and quality of life measures.

 

“Delivering good growth cannot be achieved by any one person working alone, but goes hand-in-hand with place based transformation, where local government, central government and the private sector act together and work collaboratively, to facilitate local economic growth, prosperity and wellbeing.”

“We’ve seen broad-based improvements in our good growth index across the Midlands, driven in particular by falling unemployment rates.

“Some areas that had lagged behind in the recovery from the financial crisis are now showing clear improvements, so the recovery and some early signs of economic re-balancing are spreading across the UK and particularly in the same areas of the Midlands.”

“However, we are also seeing the price of prosperity in terms of growing pressures on scarce resources of housing, transport and skills. If regional cities are to sustain the strong recovery and performance of recent years, it will be critical to address these challenges as part of cities’ growth strategies.

“Key national and regional infrastructure projects combined with private sector development, such as HS2, will add momentum to the Midlands for the next decade.”

[davieG]

Poor reception did not stop Radio Leicester reaching 50

As BBC Radio Leicester reaches 50 years, we look at its surprisingly troubled start

 

Austin J Ruddy

13:38, 8 NOV 2017

NEWS

 

Today marks 50 years since BBC Radio Leicester became the country’s first local radio station.

It first went on air at 12.45pm, on Wednesday, November 8, 1967, at its Charles Street Epic House base, following the official opening by Postmaster General, Edward Short.

Surprisingly, not everyone was in favour of the idea of a local radio station – the Leicester Mercury included!

One correspondent to the newspaper wrote: “We have a perfectly good newspaper reporting local events and controversies, so I can see no point in spending money on such a venture.”

Another writer mocked: “Perhaps Radio Leicester will be able to justify its existence by supplying a daily pavement report – enumerating the latest pavements which should be avoided for safety’s sake in our impoverished city.”

The jibe was because Leicester ratepayers would have to contribute to the new station.

This cost concerned the city’s Chamber of Commerce and it came out “very much against saddling the rates with any further increases”.

Live on air! Local and national dignitaries who attended the opening of BBC Radio Leicester on Wednesday, November 8, 1967. They are, from left, Mr P Beech (Controller, BBC Midlands), Mr Frank Gillard (Director of Radio), The Rt Hon Edward Short (Postmaster General), Sir Hugh Greene (Director General of the BBC), Alderman Sir Mark Henig (Lord Mayor of Leicester) and Mr Maurice Ennals (BBC Radio Leicester Station Manager)

The BBC paid to equip the station, but the running costs of about £1,000 a year – around £16,000 today – had to be found locally and in Leicester, the city corporation (council) agreed to pay them.

One of the reasons Leicester was chosen to pioneer local radio was because it “showed a very strong sense of civic pride and sense of local unity.”

The launch was not without its anxieties. There was a bomb scare and demonstration outside Epic House in support of free radio and protests against the BBC monopoly.

However, the broadcast began right on time with the word Leicester tapped out in Morse Code, followed by the Post Horn Gallop.

Radio Leicester’s first station manager was Maurice Ennals, who was expected as “Mr BBC in his community, to be courteous and firm, yet diplomatic and receptive” and to have “the qualities of a just and genial ombudsman”.

Ironically, after all their concern, the station’s critics need not have worried.

Celebrations: County star Engelbert Humperdinck cuts the ribbon live on air to open the anniversary exhibition at BBC Radio Leicester, two days ago.

BBC Radio Leicester did not set out to compete, but carved its own – somewhat surprising – niche.

As Stephen Butt wrote in his book, Leicester in the 1960s:

“From the first day, it was obvious that the sound of the new station was not targeting the young people of the city.

“The style of the presenters, who were mainly imported from the south of England, and the choice of music – mainly dance band, reflecting the popular trends of the past, rather than the present – established a trend that became an entrenched statistic.

“BBC local radio, despite several attempts over the ensuing decades to reposition, still appeals mainly to an audience of over the age of 50 years.”

In 2005, the station moved to new premises at 9, St Nicholas Place, which won a Civic Society award for design.

Half a century on, BBC Radio Leicester still broadcasts to over 130,000 local listeners.

[Countryfox]

32 minutes ago, davieG said:

 

Leicester is one of the best places to live in Britain ...

 

 

 ...    stop stop you're giving me stomach ache ! ....

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Didn't know the Slug and Lettuce had been done up by Stonegate in all, it's been tarted up and changed name, looks alright but doubt I'll go in that often when it opens.

 

Surprised Walkabout have decided to reopen, the Leicester one was on it's arse by the time it had closed.

[Wymsey]

Charles Street needs a big clean-up. The area and its surroundings looks dull and tired.

[Parafox]

On ‎11‎/‎9‎/‎2017 at 11:09, davieG said:

Poor reception did not stop Radio Leicester reaching 50

As BBC Radio Leicester reaches 50 years, we look at its surprisingly troubled start

 

Austin J Ruddy

13:38, 8 NOV 2017

NEWS

 

Today marks 50 years since BBC Radio Leicester became the country’s first local radio station.

It first went on air at 12.45pm, on Wednesday, November 8, 1967, at its Charles Street Epic House base, following the official opening by Postmaster General, Edward Short.

Surprisingly, not everyone was in favour of the idea of a local radio station – the Leicester Mercury included!

One correspondent to the newspaper wrote: “We have a perfectly good newspaper reporting local events and controversies, so I can see no point in spending money on such a venture.”

Another writer mocked: “Perhaps Radio Leicester will be able to justify its existence by supplying a daily pavement report – enumerating the latest pavements which should be avoided for safety’s sake in our impoverished city.”

The jibe was because Leicester ratepayers would have to contribute to the new station.

This cost concerned the city’s Chamber of Commerce and it came out “very much against saddling the rates with any further increases”.

Live on air! Local and national dignitaries who attended the opening of BBC Radio Leicester on Wednesday, November 8, 1967. They are, from left, Mr P Beech (Controller, BBC Midlands), Mr Frank Gillard (Director of Radio), The Rt Hon Edward Short (Postmaster General), Sir Hugh Greene (Director General of the BBC), Alderman Sir Mark Henig (Lord Mayor of Leicester) and Mr Maurice Ennals (BBC Radio Leicester Station Manager)

The BBC paid to equip the station, but the running costs of about £1,000 a year – around £16,000 today – had to be found locally and in Leicester, the city corporation (council) agreed to pay them.

One of the reasons Leicester was chosen to pioneer local radio was because it “showed a very strong sense of civic pride and sense of local unity.”

The launch was not without its anxieties. There was a bomb scare and demonstration outside Epic House in support of free radio and protests against the BBC monopoly.

However, the broadcast began right on time with the word Leicester tapped out in Morse Code, followed by the Post Horn Gallop.

Radio Leicester’s first station manager was Maurice Ennals, who was expected as “Mr BBC in his community, to be courteous and firm, yet diplomatic and receptive” and to have “the qualities of a just and genial ombudsman”.

Ironically, after all their concern, the station’s critics need not have worried.

Celebrations: County star Engelbert Humperdinck cuts the ribbon live on air to open the anniversary exhibition at BBC Radio Leicester, two days ago.

BBC Radio Leicester did not set out to compete, but carved its own – somewhat surprising – niche.

As Stephen Butt wrote in his book, Leicester in the 1960s:

“From the first day, it was obvious that the sound of the new station was not targeting the young people of the city.

“The style of the presenters, who were mainly imported from the south of England, and the choice of music – mainly dance band, reflecting the popular trends of the past, rather than the present – established a trend that became an entrenched statistic.

“BBC local radio, despite several attempts over the ensuing decades to reposition, still appeals mainly to an audience of over the age of 50 years.”

In 2005, the station moved to new premises at 9, St Nicholas Place, which won a Civic Society award for design.

Half a century on, BBC Radio Leicester still broadcasts to over 130,000 local listeners.

Wasn't one of the reasons local radio was commissioned was to act as a local early warning system in the event of nuclear war?

[Great Boos Up]

Went on that ferris wheel today as I had a few hours to kill with the wife and boy and we then passed BBC Radio Leicester. Just popped in and were shown a few things, then wondered into the Guildhall. Then went through the Richard 111 Visitor Centre and the to the Cathedral. Barely moved a few hundred meters and spent most of the day looking around for the first time! A lovely sunny autumnal day. Didn't see any litter or crowds or queues. When did the city of Leicester become so beautiful?

 

 

[Foxhateram]

Honestly i don't get back very often these days,  but I can assure you that compared to some of the cities in the south west, Leicester is a beautiful up and coming place. 

 

Some of the deprived areas of Exeter and Plymouth really arw disgraceful. The people are disgusting, they live in their filth and the council has no money to help tgem out or to do up the area. The term 'arse end' of a city is very apped.

[The Fox Covert]

17 hours ago, foxhateram said:

Honestly i don't get back very often these days,  but I can assure you that compared to some of the cities in the south west, Leicester is a beautiful up and coming place. 

 

Some of the deprived areas of Exeter and Plymouth really arw disgraceful. The people are disgusting, they live in their filth and the council has no money to help tgem out or to do up the area. The term 'arse end' of a city is very apped.

There are some right arse end bits of Bristol as well. Vicky Pollard was invented for a reason.

None of the councils do anything for their homeless, they dump them on small country towns like Shepton Mallet because the rents are much cheaper. The rural councils unfortunately have even less resources and infrastructure to do anything for their unwanted residents. There is a closed pub at the other (wrong) end of my lane which is now a hostel for the homeless. The fetid stink of unwashed clothing and weed coming out the windows in summer makes your stomach turn when you walk past. I actually know the fella who owns it. Ex-jailbird gone straight - poacher turned gamekeeper as he terms it. 

This isn't the sort of thing you see on 'Escape to the Country' which in my opinion is complete garbage.

 

[sdb]

17 hours ago, foxhateram said:

Honestly i don't get back very often these days,  but I can assure you that compared to some of the cities in the south west, Leicester is a beautiful up and coming place. 

 

Some of the deprived areas of Exeter and Plymouth really arw disgraceful. The people are disgusting, they live in their filth and the council has no money to help tgem out or to do up the area. The term 'arse end' of a city is very apped.

 

? Plymouth certainly is a very bleak place these days 

[Sir Shep]

On 09/11/2017 at 12:41, Wymeswold fox said:

Charles Street needs a big clean-up. The area and its surroundings looks dull and tired.

Yeah I'd agree there but I'll raise you Haymarket/Belgrave Gate which really looks like it's stuck in the 40's, just awful which is a shame when the rest of the streets heading to the clock tower don't look too shabby. 

[Sir Shep]

Really wish they'd make more of frog island, I know some dvelopment is going on nearby but some decent bars off the river and canal would look great around there.

[davieG]

Huge plan to spend £116m on schools, roads and buildings in Leicester unveiled

A new city centre playground, sexual health clinic and more cycle routes are planned

 

By

Dan Martin

10:00, 8 NOV 2017

UPDATED10:29, 8 NOV 2017

 

 

Council bosses have set out plans for how they will spend £116 million on a range of projects across Leicester over the next two years.

The schemes are set out in the city council’s latest capital plan designed to improve roads, schools and buildings.

 

The pot of cash, largely from Government grants and sales of council assets, is separate to its day to day spending of services.

Politics correspondent Dan Martin takes a look at the proposals.

Schools will be expanded

Schools set to expand

The majority of the cash – about £60 million – will be spent on creating new school places to cope with the city’s growing population.

Work has already been carried out to create 4,000 primary school places in recent months, but more are needed.

The council say another 1,000 primary places are needed and, following the rebuilding or renewing of all the city’s secondary schools, a further 3,400 secondary places.

Deputy mayor Sarah Russell, who is responsible for education, said: “We have enough provision for all the children already born in the city but we don’t know what will happen to the population in the future.

“How many places we need will also depend on the number of free schools that open. We will be changing some of the existing space within schools too and expanding others.

The schools that will be expanded are: Babington Community College, English Martyrs Catholic School, Rushey Mead Academy, St Paul’s Catholic School, Crown Hills, Judgemeadow, Soar Valley, Fullhurst Community College and City of Leicester.

There are 26 primary schools being assessed for their need to expand from the city centre out to south and west Leicester where there is emerging demand.

These include Overdale, St John’s and Spinney Hill primaries.

Sir Peter Soulsby

Boosting the city's economy

An extra £19 million has been earmarked for city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby’s Economic Action Plan – a fund intended to create jobs and boost the city’s economy.

Future plans include further investment in the city’s market and museums, including the continuing work to turn the Jewry Wall museum into a top-class attraction telling the story of Roman Leicester.

A so-called super crossing will be built for pedestrians across Vaughan Way, near Highcross, to allow easier access to a number of sites just across the inner ring road which are being redeveloped.

The economic action plan issue has been contentious, with some Labour councillors arguing £7.4 million of underspending from council departments should be used to avert the need to cut £900,000 from youth services rather than going into the fund.

Charter Street footbridge lifted into place with massive crane (Image: Andy Baker)

Getting around the city

A further £1 million has been committed to completing the North City Centre Access Scheme intended to connect Belgrave and Abbey Meadows as well as the area around Leicester Riders new arena in Charter Street.

Schemes will also improve links between Belgrave Gate and Belgrave Road and Abbey Park Road and better connections for buses, cyclists and pedestrians around the city’s new Haymarket Bus Station and St Margaret’s Bus Station and Haymarket and Churchgate.

The council is hoping to secure European Union match-funding for further improvements for cycling in the city.

These include the running of cycle lanes up London Road from the station to the Mayflower Road roundabout and other projects in Pocklington’s Walk, Horsefair Street and Market Place.

Some £3.6 million has been committed to this.

De Montfort Hall

 

As previously reported in the Mercury, there is a plan for extensive improvements to the council-run De Montfort Hall.

The venue is hoping to increase its income by adding additional parking and installing infrastructure to allow it to stage more large outdoor gigs, such as Simon Says, without having to hire expensive power generators.

Watermead Park's Mammoth sculpture

The great outdoors

One hundred new parking spaces will be provided at Watermead Park on former golf course land off Melton Road.

The council says this is needed to accommodate growing numbers of visitors to the beauty spot.

It also wants to build new toilets and provide better signs and picnic areas.

The council will borrow the £150,000 it needs against the income it will make from the extra parking.

A new children’s playground will be built in the city centre and £100,000 has been set aside to do this.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said there was a demand for more play space because more families were choosing to live in the city centre.

At present, the only city centre playground is in the Cultural Quarter, opposite the former Leicester Mercury offices.

Sit Peter said: “The search is on for a site. One of the obvious places is Castle Gardens but that might be a bit far out.

“If you go to Paris you can see great examples of how play equipment has been incorporated into busy spaces within quite confined space.’’

 

Sexual health

The council currently rents NHS space at St Peter’s Health Centre in Highfields for its sexual health clinic at a cost of £700,000 a year.

It is looking for a new base closer to the city centre.

Officials are setting aside £1.4 million to refurbish new premises with a cheaper rent.

Although no location has yet been confirmed the new clinic is set to open in January 2019.

A car driving around a pothole. (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Roads, pavements and trees

An extra £2 million will be invested in highways maintenance and pothole repairs in the city’s outlying neighbourhoods.

Officials say pavements will be improved and old speed humps replaced.

The council is currently consulting on changes to its leisure centres.

It has set aside £2 million to invest in them to modernise them in the hope of attracting more memberships and customers in a move designed to save the authority £150,000 a year,

It is hoping to announce final proposals in the coming months.

The councils says it aims to replace every tree in the city lost to storms, disease and car accidents but has not been doing it in recent years.

Some 700 are lost annually.

It has been replacing two out of every three trees lost but aims to plant more than are removed.

It has allocated £86,000 a year to replace lost trees in parks and streets because of the environmental benefits trees bring.

Ageing CCTV cameras in the city will be replaced

Fighting crime

More than £500,000 has been allocated to renewing the city’s aging CCTV camera network.

Sir Peter said some of the equipment used was old, in some cases still analogue, and does not produce usable images.

A sum of £450,000 has been allocated to upgrades for the city centre.

A further £90,000 will upgrade the CCTV in the city’s neighbourhoods to replace systems in libraries as well as adding it where there is currently no coverage.

Around 300 homes a year are upgraded using cash from the council’s disabled facilities grants.

These provide money for home adaptations so people can continue to live in them independently.

A further £2 million has been committed to this scheme.

£300,000 will be spent on an a new emergency generator for the council’s city hall headquarters.

Christmas is arriving in Leicester

Christmas

£50,000 has been committed to improving the Christmas lights in the city.

Sir Peter, who briefed Labour councillors on the capital plan on Monday said: “This represents a huge investment in local schools, neighbourhoods highways and jobs.

“It will bring real benefits to people who live and work in the city.

“Despite continued and severe Government cuts to grants for our running costs we are determined to continue to invest in projects that meet immediate and important needs.”

[Innovindil]

One hundred new parking spaces will be provided at Watermead Park on former golf course land off Melton Road.

 

Good stuff. Now get the picnic tables back up and let people bbq there again. Or better yet, buy out the paprika building and get an activity centre up for the kids and a cafe for the adults. Decent plot of land going to waste since its closure sometime back. 

[davieG]

18 minutes ago, Innovindil said:

One hundred new parking spaces will be provided at Watermead Park on former golf course land off Melton Road.

 

Good stuff. Now get the picnic tables back up and let people bbq there again. Or better yet, buy out the paprika building and get an activity centre up for the kids and a cafe for the adults. Decent plot of land going to waste since its closure sometime back. 

Free parking there at the moment soon to be charged then. which is not that good on two accounts, I'm guessing you'll have to say how long you want to park for which inhibits your enjoyment of a carefree walk and also tells potential thieves how long they've got to steal your car. But then I guess that's like most modern charged parking systems in the city.

[Voll Blau]

I've seen plans are afoot to create an underground rail link through the middle of Cambridge. Something similar for Leicester would be grand.

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/plan-for-underground-line-to-run-under-cambridge-centre-s29mmk858

[Innovindil]

3 minutes ago, davieG said:

Free parking there at the moment soon to be charged then. which is not that good on two accounts, I'm guessing you'll have to say how long you want to park for which inhibits your enjoyment of a carefree walk and also tells potential thieves how long they've got to steal your car. But then I guess that's like most modern charged parking systems in the city.

Well I'm sorta hoping if they're charging for the parking then they'll have a security guard/traffic warden on to keep the cars safe and check the tickets. 

 

Wouldn't mind paying a couple of quid if that were the case tbf.