Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Dr The Singh]

Leicester needs massive investment, from industry and commerce.  Having nice buildings today will only be run down tomorrow, what Leicester needs is big corporations setting up base and attracting more industries to follow, that way the city funds itself.  One thing I will say about nottingham is that the councils etc have been alot more successful at attracting business, offering subsidies etc, and hence the city centre has many michelin star restaurants, nice cafe bars, supported by the influx of people working in top industries.  The new shoppping complex and leisure facilities with office complex will propell nottingham further.  Leicester council and it's establishments need to re-think there strategy cus it's not working

[Voll Blau]

Nothing like a bit of pride for you town is there! What a poor thread.

I've had an extensive spell in Sheffield and currently work in Derby, with zero love for either. Leicester is still the only place outside London I'd want to live in. Some great places to go once people broaden their horizons.

 

Well said.

 

 

Problem with Leicester is it doesn't have any distinctive landmarks that makes it unique. There's not really too much to do either apart from shop and eat/drink.

 

Needs better parks imo

 

The landmarks are all kind of squashed together so there isn't really enough space to enjoy them. It's a very crowded city centre compared to places like Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham etc.

 

A bloke I work with had a weekend break in Leicester with his missus (he's a bit of a history buff so wanted to know what the fuss was all about with Richard III) and said he really liked the place. If Leicester keeps the body and the city invests and promotes that properly it could do the world of good. Requires the right decisions to be made and the money to be well spent though.

[Kyle_Le_Don]

Past 10 years its gone down the shitter...

I used to think Braunstone was a shithole

[Webbo]

Leicester is no better or worse than any other city our size.

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

One thing about Leicester city centre is that it's loads better than Derby city centre, now that is a dump.

[absolutelegend]

Leicester is a fairly typical uk city...like most others

[Stadt]

There isn't anything that draws people to Leicester.

[Zingari]

There isn't anything that draws people to Leicester.

the amount of cultural diversity would suggest otherwise   

 

Leicester's ok , but somehow it never really captures the imagination of people for some reason 

[ADK]

I struggle to really find anything attractive about Leicester.

 

I wouldn't go there to shop.

 

I wouldn't go there to eat.

 

I wouldn't go there for a night out.

[Beliall]

i was recently in leicester for the first time in nearly 20 years, enjoyed a nice walk along the river to the kp where the DMU rowing team were racing the swans, and i like it better than brighton. maybe i had the blessing of not knowing it as well as you guys but if you came down to brighton you'd probably say its lovely, but ive would say similart things to what you have about leicester. grass is always greener and all that.

[lavrentis]

The canal area really is underdeveloped imo

 

Used to go down there to smoke weed with some pals but seems like its where the drunks go now

Edited 23 February 2014 by eastfox

[adam1]

I haven't read through the entire thread but this is why I think the city is going down hill.

 

Highcross and out of town centre shopping (fosse park etc). Why? The city council and the mayor are hell bent on stopping vehicles coming into the city centre. They are trying to put pedestrian zones around the cathedral. They also have a planning strategy in place which is to prevent new car parks from opening. Trade dies. The city centre suffers as a result. Something needs to be done.

 

 

Also something needs to be done about street drinking. There needs to be a ban inside the inner ring road (waterloo way, welford road, vaughn way).

[lavrentis]

Leicester needs a Metro.

[ADK]

I don't think banning cars is a bad idea.

[adam1]

I don't think banning cars is a bad idea.

 

And how do you encourage people to come into Leicester?

 

Over priced bus service courtesy of Arriva? Or what about Sundays with the non existant bus service? The city only operates 6 days a week.

[ADK]

And how do you encourage people to come into Leicester?

 

Over priced bus service courtesy of Arriva? Or what about Sundays with the non existant bus service? The city only operates 6 days a week.

 

We need to get bus prices down. Ideally have a tram network or light railway. I don't think cars into the city really works. Too much air pollution and road congestion. It makes the experience worse for people when there are busy roads to cross.

[lavrentis]

IMO we should have cheap interrail between Leics Derby and Notts like Newcastle and Sunderland

[Rincewind]

I pay just over £5 to Nottingham and Derby. But on the downside it's because I am over 60.

[Voll Blau]

Leicester needs a Metro.

 

Good light rail/tram networks are key for cities to develop.

 

I reckon it should be a UEFA rule that you can only qualify for the Europa League if you have a decent tram network.

[Dan]

Yes.

[ozleicester]

The canal area really is underdeveloped imo

 

Used to go down there to smoke weed with some pals but seems like its where the drunks go now

 

ahh those were the days  and now.. its just drunks

[Mike the Metal Ed]

And how do you encourage people to come into Leicester?

 

Over priced bus service courtesy of Arriva? Or what about Sundays with the non existant bus service? The city only operates 6 days a week.

 

I lived in the town for 3 years, commuting to Uppingham Road and later Coalville during that time, and I have no idea why anyone would want to drive through the city centre. The streets inside the ring road just can't handle any kind of traffic volume. Unless you or a passenger can't walk, park in one of the various car parks all around the city, where short stay parking can be as low as £1 and long stay as low as £4, maybe less. Leicester doesn't need to encourage more cars on its ageing city plan.

Edited 24 February 2014 by Mike the Metal Ed

[OriginalRobboFOX]

Since cars were stopped from driving down High Street shops have struggled immensely. It's now pretty much a ghost town despite its close proximity to the Highcross.

The significant investment in the Highcross has killed Charles Street, Market Street, Granby Street and St Martins Square and even Gallowtree Gate to an extent from a shopping perspective.

[FoxesAreBlue]

Thing is, even the highcross isn't even that good, just have a walk through and see all of the empty units that are now only just being filled by existing retailers moving inside (La Coste, USC, TM Lewin). And there's still more empty ones to go.

[Guest Col city fan]

I love Leicester. I live near the Great Central Way which combines suburban living with a rural edge. I fish in the canal, cycle into town and get on the M1 within 5 mins.

I don't mind parts of the town having a rougher edge. I was brought up around boozers and still prefer a spit and sawdust to a spick wine bar.

The worst bit of Leicester, for me, is the roads. Driving around it, or through it, has become a fookin nightmare. Traffic lights, speed bumps that make you think you' re on a roller coaster, chicanes, speed cameras, confusing lane markings ( has anyone seen the bus lane filter on Lutterworth Road, approaching Soar Valley Way)?

If this is driving in health and safety riddled, modern day Britain, then give me the 80's any day of the week.

Edited 24 February 2014 by Col city fan