Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Shame that bar at the top of Fenwicks isn't going ahead but it'll probably be more profitable as flats. 

[Spudulike]

The City of Leicester is 99 years old today.

It regained it's City status on 14th June 1919 after losing it over 800 years previous.

[Wymsey]

28 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

Shame that bar at the top of Fenwicks isn't going ahead but it'll probably be more profitable as flats. 

Just glad the rumour, which was going around by some not long after Fenwicks was closed, that Sports Direct were to be the new business there is brushed under the carpet..

 

That area of town has potential, especially if the next buyer has decent plans plus the decent variety of bars nearby (including a couple that that were mentioned in another thread in General Chat).

[RonnieTodger]

Went for a run through Stoughton Road/Gartree Road area in Oadby. What a beautiful part of Leicester.

[davieG]

Work to begin on £1.9m scheme to link Golden Mile to Leicester city centre
Work starts on the scheme on Monday, July 16

ByTom MackSenior Reporter
05:00, 26 JUN 2018
NEWS

Work begins in less than three weeks time on a £1.9 million scheme to link the city centre to the Golden Mile.

While the famous stretch of Indian stores is only about 15 minutes’ walk from the Clock Tower, pedestrians have to cross two busy junctions.

When the Belgrave Flyover was demolished four years ago that walk became a bit easier, and these plans aim to make it even more simple.

The new scheme aims to improve the stretch under the Burleys Way flyover to encourage people to walk and cycle to the Golden Mile.

The project will involve work all the way from Belgrave Circle – where the Belgrave Flyover used to be – to the new Haymarket Bus Station on Belgrave Gate and will also include further work on Charter Street, where a new bridge will allow people on bikes and on foot access to Abbey Park from the city centre.

The scheme is part of the city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby’s Connecting Leicester scheme.

He said: “This latest phase of the Connecting Leicester programme will create a much more attractive route from the city centre out to The Golden Mile and Abbey Park via the new bridge at Charter Street.

Artist's impression of how Belgrave Gate will look
Artist's impression of how revamped Belgrave Gate could look
“It will provide a safer space for cyclists on this busy route, adding to the growing network of new cycleways in and around the city centre and linking to nearby neighbourhoods.

“The later phase of work will also see better use being made of space under the Burleys Way flyover, which will be much more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists.

“These important works are part of a much wider ambition which will see the area around the Haymarket Theatre and Clock Tower completely revamped.”

The first steps, beginning on Monday, July 16, will see the creation of new segregated cycle lanes on both sides of Belgrave Gate, between Abbey Street and Burleys Way, and the reconstruction of existing footpaths in resin-bound gravel.

The pedestrian crossing will be upgraded and new trees will also be planted as part of the scheme.

The road will be narrowed, with traffic lanes reduced to one in each direction, and new bus stops and loading bays built in. The inbound bus lane will be extended up to Wilton Street, in response to feedback from public consultation.

Existing parking bays will be removed, but additional car parking will be provided on side streets. The road will also be completely resurfaced.

The first phase of work is expected to take around seven months, with a break over the Christmas period when city centre traffic is at its busiest. The road will be kept open in both directions during the works.

Another artist's impression looking from Burleys Way
Another artist's impression looking from Burleys Way
A second phase of work – due to get under way in April 2019 – will see improvements made to the Burleys Way roundabout underneath the flyover, with a new shared footpath and cycleway providing a more direct route along Belgrave Gate.

North of Burleys Way, a separate cycleway and footpath will be created along the central reservation, to link with improvements made to Belgrave Circle following the removal of the flyover.

The overall scheme will cost £1.9million and will be largely funded with Government cash through the Local Growth Fund.

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/work-begin-19m-scheme-link-1714236

[Bellend Sebastian]

3 hours ago, davieG said:

Work to begin on £1.9m scheme to link Golden Mile to Leicester city centre
Work starts on the scheme on Monday, July 16

ByTom MackSenior Reporter
05:00, 26 JUN 2018
NEWS

Work begins in less than three weeks time on a £1.9 million scheme to link the city centre to the Golden Mile.

While the famous stretch of Indian stores is only about 15 minutes’ walk from the Clock Tower, pedestrians have to cross two busy junctions.

When the Belgrave Flyover was demolished four years ago that walk became a bit easier, and these plans aim to make it even more simple.

The new scheme aims to improve the stretch under the Burleys Way flyover to encourage people to walk and cycle to the Golden Mile.

The project will involve work all the way from Belgrave Circle – where the Belgrave Flyover used to be – to the new Haymarket Bus Station on Belgrave Gate and will also include further work on Charter Street, where a new bridge will allow people on bikes and on foot access to Abbey Park from the city centre.

The scheme is part of the city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby’s Connecting Leicester scheme.

He said: “This latest phase of the Connecting Leicester programme will create a much more attractive route from the city centre out to The Golden Mile and Abbey Park via the new bridge at Charter Street.

Artist's impression of how Belgrave Gate will look
Artist's impression of how revamped Belgrave Gate could look
“It will provide a safer space for cyclists on this busy route, adding to the growing network of new cycleways in and around the city centre and linking to nearby neighbourhoods.

“The later phase of work will also see better use being made of space under the Burleys Way flyover, which will be much more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists.

“These important works are part of a much wider ambition which will see the area around the Haymarket Theatre and Clock Tower completely revamped.”

The first steps, beginning on Monday, July 16, will see the creation of new segregated cycle lanes on both sides of Belgrave Gate, between Abbey Street and Burleys Way, and the reconstruction of existing footpaths in resin-bound gravel.

The pedestrian crossing will be upgraded and new trees will also be planted as part of the scheme.

The road will be narrowed, with traffic lanes reduced to one in each direction, and new bus stops and loading bays built in. The inbound bus lane will be extended up to Wilton Street, in response to feedback from public consultation.

Existing parking bays will be removed, but additional car parking will be provided on side streets. The road will also be completely resurfaced.

The first phase of work is expected to take around seven months, with a break over the Christmas period when city centre traffic is at its busiest. The road will be kept open in both directions during the works.

Another artist's impression looking from Burleys Way
Another artist's impression looking from Burleys Way
A second phase of work – due to get under way in April 2019 – will see improvements made to the Burleys Way roundabout underneath the flyover, with a new shared footpath and cycleway providing a more direct route along Belgrave Gate.

North of Burleys Way, a separate cycleway and footpath will be created along the central reservation, to link with improvements made to Belgrave Circle following the removal of the flyover.

The overall scheme will cost £1.9million and will be largely funded with Government cash through the Local Growth Fund.

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/work-begin-19m-scheme-link-1714236

As with any attempt by the council to improve/do anything the comments on this story are pretty much overwhelmingly negative.

 

The seam of misunderstanding that it's quite difficult for the council to do things to land and buildings that it doesn't own runs throughout, as usual.

 

Bonus points for implied racism and suggestion of masonic involvement

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

If people wanted to go to the Golden Mile surely they can? It really isn't a difficult or long walk or cycle as it is.

Nobody goes because unfortunately it's not a huge attraction, there's nothing to draw masses of people out there (bar a couple of places to eat) - it's not because of poor accessibility. I'd have thought the area near the Haymarket / Clock Tower would be the area that needs more immediate attention, I love Leicester and I'll defend it from criticism but that area is a pit.

[Rob1742]

Leicester has lost so much over the years, and only recently have we started to create decent new spaces to offset the painful losses.

 

1. Gallowtree Gate - not really the fault of the planners, but died as soon as The Highcross was created. A vibrant street of shoe shops, clothing shops and probably the busiest shopping street in Leicester. Very sad when you walk down there now, discount stores galore, pop up shops and just a desperate feel to it. Once a wonderful street to visit, but both the Highcross and the general demise of high street shopping has killed a great street. 

 

2. Highcross Street towards Woodgate - I think it is called Highcross Street? The a50 that was part of Highcross Street before the early 70’s changes. This road was stunning. Great store fascias, I think a Richard Roberts factory store was there. It just felt a really nice street leading up to a railway bridge with character. All been ripped apart, just one building remains and all character lost. The old railway station is nearby, plus a few other buildings and it’s such a shame this has been lost. 

 

Granby Street can’t have long left. As more and more retailers close, the ones on the outside will move more central and we will lose Granby Street as we knew it within a decade. 

 

Such a shame tag towns are changing in a negative way. Yes they will still be around, but smaller and many old trading streets will be lost.

[davieG]

 

Before they built the ring road.

 

 

 

[Rob1742]

5 hours ago, davieG said:

 

Before they built the ring road.

 

 

 

I was commenting on this last Friday. All the old photos show it to be very picturesque and a lovely area. Destroyed, left with a token. 

[Bunyip]

I think the heading for this post is the true meaning of a rhetorical question. 

[Wymsey]

3 hours ago, Rob1742 said:

I was commenting on this last Friday. All the old photos show it to be very picturesque and a lovely area. Destroyed, left with a token. 

The building seems very out of place, with that big green ugly-looking Demontfort University Business School building on one side of it.

[Facecloth]

14 minutes ago, Wymeswold fox said:

The building seems very out of place, with that big green ugly-looking Demontfort University Business School building on one side of it.

You've said that before. The Magazine is in its place, everything else has been built since.

[Bellend Sebastian]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/steamin-billy-founder-reveals-plans-1721758

 

This would help this end of town, I'm sure.

 

The people that sleep in the three doorways every night will probably have to find a new patch though.

 

Whilst I'd agree with Rob1742 that Granby Street is not the greatest, I think it's been quite a lot worse than it is at the moment, and not that long ago either. About ten years ago (height of the financial crisis, funnily enough)) thely things opening were bookies and dodgy money lending places. At least there are a few eateries there that people actually go in now.

 

Market Street is another that seems to be going down hill a bit at the moment, but still has a way to go until it's as grim as it was in the aftermath of Midland Educational and Jones's shoe shop closing down.

 

Christ, that's aged me hasn't it?

 

Belgrave Gate is the only street I can really think is worse at the moment than I can remember it being

Edited 27 June 2018 by Bellend Sebastian

[RonnieTodger]

The bottom end of London Road near the station is littered with smackheads, but I always feel safe there. Weird.

[Bellend Sebastian]

17 hours ago, RonnieTodger said:

The bottom end of London Road near the station is littered with smackheads, but I always feel safe there. Weird.

I know what you mean.  It's like a bloody zoo, all the shrieking and hollering you hear all the time.  Been like it ever since the Dawn Centre opened in 2006.

 

In all that time I've had only one person try to intimidate me, and they didn't do a great job of that.

 

Speaking of which:

 

Leicester man makes shittest bomb threat ever, is largely ignored

 

Imagine being that guy. I wonder if he's still upset about the tracksuit bottoms and if that ever got resolved?

[davieG]

On 27/06/2018 at 21:30, Bellend Sebastian said:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/steamin-billy-founder-reveals-plans-1721758

 

This would help this end of town, I'm sure.

 

The people that sleep in the three doorways every night will probably have to find a new patch though.

 

Whilst I'd agree with Rob1742 that Granby Street is not the greatest, I think it's been quite a lot worse than it is at the moment, and not that long ago either. About ten years ago (height of the financial crisis, funnily enough)) thely things opening were bookies and dodgy money lending places. At least there are a few eateries there that people actually go in now.

 

Market Street is another that seems to be going down hill a bit at the moment, but still has a way to go until it's as grim as it was in the aftermath of Midland Educational and Jones's shoe shop closing down.

 

Christ, that's aged me hasn't it?

 

Belgrave Gate is the only street I can really think is worse at the moment than I can remember it being

 

Leicester's proposed new bowling alley 'not aimed at kids'
It could cost £2 million to renovate the former Dunelm store

ByDan MartinPolitics Reporter
08:30, 30 JUN 2018UPDATED08:55, 30 JUN 2018

A planning application has been submitted to transform the former Dunelm site in East Street

The pub boss behind plans to open a new bowling alley in Leicester has said it is ‘not for kids’ - in the evenings at least.

Billy Allingham, of the Steamin’ Billy pub company, says between £1.5 million and £2 million could be spent renovating the former Dunelm Mill store in East Street.

Mr Allingham said his proposed plan was to open a venue aimed at students and the corporate market.

He has submitted a scheme to Leicester City Council seeking to turn the old store, beneath the NCP car park, into a bar with two, nine-hole crazy golf courses and bowling.

He said: “Leicester hasn’t had a bowling alley for years, and the one it used to have was horrendous.

“I’ve been looking at opening one somewhere for five or six years.

“I wanted it to be in the bottom of St George’s tower but there wasn’t room for enough lanes.

“East Street is the right size.

“Then we started opening more pubs and the idea got away a bit.

“Now you can see that people are drinking less.

“People don’t want to just go out in the evening and drink as much as they can.

“I’m looking at a different kind of venue.

“I think Leicester needs somewhere where a group of people can go after work and do something other than just have a drink."

Mr Allingham said of the proposed new venue: "It’s not for kids.

“It will be adult-themed – somewhere for hen and stag parties, that sort of thing.”

He said the crazy golf would be open from 3pm to 11pm for over 18s, and the bowling alleys would be for adults only after 7pm.

“I want people to be able to enjoy a pint while they play a round of golf," said the publican.

The council is currently considering his plans.

Mr Alllingham said he hoped he could have the crazy golf open by the end of this year and the bowling alleys ready in the spring.

The venue would create 20 full time jobs.

[lifted*fox]

personally think the golf/bowling place is a dope idea.

 

he's right, people wanna go and have a beer and do something fun whilst drinking it. 

 

**** sitting in a stale pub on a shit chair doing nothing but drink, boring as ****.

 

round of glow in the dark crazy golf with a nice cool crafty in hand after a spliff on the walk down? sure ****ing thing my lovelies. 

[Guest MattP]

Took two Australians out for the England game Thursday and they loved the City.

 

Gave them the full tour, High Cross, Friary, Market Tavern, Locker Room and the Standard. They lapped it up.

[ithuriel]

The old bowling alley behind what was the Shires, now the HighCross, was pretty good, lots of lanes, a Quasar inbetween and a fair few arcade games but I heard it went downhill before it got swallowed by the HighCross expanding.

[davieG]

The one under/at the back of Lee Circle car park was brilliant 36 lanes on one floor, biggest single floor bowl in the UK when it opened, but then Lee circle was unique as was the Tesco around the other side. sadly the whole areas a dump now least was the last time I passed though there.

 

When it opened unless you got there early you couldn't get in with long queues outside it was rammed and stayed open later than the pubs.

 

It's demise seemed to coincide with the decision to charge an entry fee in order to control the numbers as many people just when there ti drink and socialise, they probably made most of their money off the food and drink which collapse when you just had bowlers going.

[Stadt]

3 hours ago, MattP said:

Took two Australians out for the England game Thursday and they loved the City.

 

Gave them the full tour, High Cross, Friary, Market Tavern, Locker Room and the Standard. They lapped it up.

Wouldn't be the pubs I'd take people to

[Guest MattP]

33 minutes ago, Wookie said:

Wouldn't be the pubs I'd take people to

I like to show them some real Leicester

[Wymsey]

4 minutes ago, MattP said:

I like to show them some real Leicester

Should've took them somewhere for a curry down the golden mile Melton Road.

A few decent ones out that way.

[Guest MattP]

7 minutes ago, Wymeswold fox said:

Should've took them somewhere for a curry down the golden mile Melton Road.

A few decent ones out that way.

They went to the Mumbai the night before, said it was lovely.