Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Strokes]

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

The trouble is, that it kills small businesses. The extra that they have to pay to get their stock lines delivered out of hours, makes it unviable, only an established business can survive it.

[Rob1742]

We need more quality places, just like other Cities have developed.

Plenty of opportunities that have been lost, but redeemable if there is a will.

We have a canal, we could create a Broad Street in Birningham with a concert venue and restaurants and bars. A destination that will certainly bring people into the City.

To me it looks like the only people that go into town are people that work there, so they have too and the real low end poor who look like they will stab you.

The Curb is a decent area, but too small to have created the desire for the consumer to spend a night there.

I very much admire how independent businesses have created a sort of destination out of absolutely nothing in braunstone gate. However, if this is as good as the City can offer it is a very poor show.

Highcross has proved successful I would say, so why couldn't we create a much bigger and better version, in a more pleasing area to create that destination that makes people want to go there.

I know it is not all council as you need the money from the big companies who want to be in there, but as we knock areas of interest down like the bow string bridge, and get all worked up about a ghandi statue, we are not creating the right noises to make investors want to come.

Glasgow is another example of a centre that is decent, yet they have a high proportion of poor people living there.

Might be because we have a labour council who have always just looked towards the bottom end. Just a thought, might be wrong, but could be the reason we have not created wealthy areas.

I know there is a call for decent parts of the city centre. Everyone you speak to avoid it as its a dump, so we are missing an opportunity and not delivering for the people of Leicester.

Oh well, never mind, we will get Sam Bailey to turn the lights on at the town hall at Christmas and everything will be patched over for another year.

[broughtonblue]

Avoid the city centre like I would Ebola, if I have to, but only if it's the last resort I will go in once a year for Christmas shopping.

Thought about calling it a shit hole, but drove through Cov recently for the first time, now that is a shit hole!!!!

[Merging Cultures]

When I was in Leicester over the summer I was interested to see what is happening in the market area. I think it is going to look very nice. I agree there needs to be a canal based area, people enjoy being by water, so a nice area that has restaurants and an outside music venue would be great.

 

At the moment, it isn't terrible, especially the Highcross area and I've always liked St. Martins square, but that seems to be going down hill.

[DennisNedry]

Most City centres are shitholes to be honest.

 

Only nice city centres I've been to are Oxford, York, Cambridge.

[Vicki Vixen]

The city centre needs to be a working hub before it can develop as a social hub.  Nobody is going to open a nice restaurant or bar because there's very little custom from business people on expense accounts.  The big local companies are all out of town - Next, Barratt, Dunelm etc. and don't bring much custom to the city itself.  

 

That's a big reason for the contrast with cities like Norwich where a lot of large local businesses, e.g. Aviva, Marsh, are still based in the city centre.

[Voll Blau]

The city centre needs to be a working hub before it can develop as a social hub.  Nobody is going to open a nice restaurant or bar because there's very little custom from business people on expense accounts.  The big local companies are all out of town - Next, Barratt, Dunelm etc. and don't bring much custom to the city itself.  

 

That's a big reason for the contrast with cities like Norwich where a lot of large local businesses, e.g. Aviva, Marsh, are still based in the city centre.

 

I think the fact traders can get ACCESS TO DIXONS is the main reason they're flocking there tbh.

[davieG]

Canal-side homes plan for run-down part of Leicester

By danjmartin  |  Posted: October 08, 2014

The site on Bath

 Comments (9)

Plans to build more than 150 homes on a derelict former industrial site in Leicester are set to be approved next week.

Developers Goldcharm Ltd want to construct a mixture of 130 apartments and 35 town houses on a two acre plot off Bath Lane next to the Grand Union canal.

Members of Leicester City Council’s planning committee are to discuss the scheme, which also involves a small amount of shop space, when they meet on Wednesday.

The project will include an apartment block seven storeys in height.

 

Goldcharm says it plans will help with the regeneration of a run-down area of the city.

Planning officers at the council have raised some concerns about the scheme but have recommended councillors approve it nonetheless.

This is despite the council’s own conservation advisory panel - a group set up to make sure new buildings do not have a harmful effect on historic properties - criticising elements of the development.

The panel has said the scheme will have an impact on the nearby grade II listed Donisthorpe mill factory complex which is owned by the council.

It said the design lacked “lasting quality” and concerns were raised about its impact on the city skyline particularly on church spires like the cathedral.

One resident wrote to the council objecting to the scheme arguing that nearby routes into the city centre would not be able to cope with traffic from the development.

However a council planning spokesman said: “Although it is considered elements of the proposal are not ideal I consider, on balance, the proposed residential development will provide a much needed start to the regeneration of the area and much needed housing in the city as a whole.

Planning permission has already been granted for a large student accommodation block on an adjacent plot of land.

Watkin Jones, Goldcharm’s parent company is build a 13-storey, 600-bed building.

The council is also currently working on a £6.3 million regeneration of the Donisthorpe buildings to create office space.

The historic factory was bought by city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby after the factory was severely damaged in a fire several years ago. 

 

 

This part of the problem the new developments invariably lack quality and yet are still approved without any provisos to improve the quality.

 

I see there are plans already approved for more student accommodation which is almost by definition lower quality

 

[davieG]

Leicester's historic 16th Century High Cross uprooted

By danjmartin  |  Posted: October 09, 2014

Workmen shifting the High Cross

 Comments (2)

It has remained for nearly 40 years in its latest location by the city’s market but now Leicester’s historic High Cross monument is on the move again.

This afternoon workmen began chipping away at the base of the 16th century stone pillar in Cheapside to start its short journey across town to its next home in the city’s new £4 million Jubilee Square.

It took just a short while to dislodge the High Cross and carefully load it, by crane, onto the back of a truck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow morning the High Cross will be re-erected on a specially-made plinth near to the site where it was first built in 1577.

The cross on top of it will be regilded and the stone ball which was discovered to be cracked will be fixed.

The High Cross monument was built in 1577 to provide shelter and originally consisted of eight pillars in a circle holding up an eight-sided dome.

It fell into disrepair over the following two centuries and was pulled down in 1773 leaving just a single pillar standing.

That pillar has had several homes over the years, including The Crescent in King Street, the garden of a private house in Gwendolen Road, and Newarke Houses Museum.

In 1977, the Leicester Rotary Club marked its sixtieth anniversary by moving the High Cross to its current location by the market.

Lincolnshire-based Hirst Conservation is carrying out the restoration and relocation of the High Cross.

The conservation specialists recently relocated Leicester’s statue of Richard III to its hew home in Cathedral Gardens.

The cross atop the pillar will be removed and taken away to be regilded then replaced at a later date. The stonework will be cleaned up.

Overall the cost of moving the monument will be around £9,000.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Jubilee Square provides a new connection between our modern city centre and the rich heritage of the Old Town.

“The High Cross itself is a monument to centuries of local history and this is the perfect opportunity to return it close to where it originally stood.”

The new square was partially opened at the end of August but parts of it are still fenced off.

The council says the final phase of works will take place in November when a range of mature trees will be planted.

Businesses had been told the work would be complete in May but the project has overrun leading to numerous complaints.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/VIDEO-Leicester-s-historic-16th-Century-High/story-23076737-detail/story.html#ixzz3FkublSwO 

Follow us: @Leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook

Read more at http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/VIDEO-Leicester-s-historic-16th-Century-High/story-23076737-detail/story.html#Yhm0zZi0foOX0a25.99

[Rob1742]

Most City centres are shitholes to be honest.

Only nice city centres I've been to are Oxford, York, Cambridge.

Newcastle, Norwich, Glasgow, Chester, Bristol, Bath, Leeds, Norwich, Exeter, Manchester, Liverpool.

Those are also fairly decent, or good

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The Haymarket bus station redevelopment has just started, along with the existing Belgrave flyover roadworks, so expect traffic issues around there for the foreseeable. Not sure how accurate this pic is of the upgraded bus station plans but has to be an improvement on whats there now...

 

[Ashley]

The Haymarket bus station redevelopment has just started, along with the existing Belgrave flyover roadworks, so expect traffic issues around there for the foreseeable. Not sure how accurate this pic is of the upgraded bus station plans but has to be an improvement on whats there now...

Makes town look nice..

[davieG]

Leicester's High Cross monument moved to Jubilee Square

A new plinth was made for the cross in the recently developed Jubilee Square

A 16th Century monument has been moved into a new position in Leicester's city centre.

The High Cross has stood outside the city's market since it was moved there in 1977.

Specialist teams relocated the stone pillar to the new £4m Jubilee Square, close to the site where it was first built in 1577.

The cross at the top of the pillar has been removed and taken away for restoration.

Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "Jubilee Square provides a new connection between our modern city centre and the rich heritage of the old town.

"The High Cross itself is a monument to centuries of local history and this is the perfect opportunity to return it close to where it originally stood."

The High Cross

• The monument was originally erected in 1577 to act as a shelter
• It consisted of eight pillars in a circle surmounted by an eight-sided dome
• It fell into disrepair and by 1773 most of it was pulled down
• The single remaining pillar has had many homes in the city centre

Specialist teams and equipment were used to move the stone pillar onto its new plinth

The monument had stood close to Leicester Market since 1977

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I think Leicester is alright and enjoy going for a bev, some cracking gaffs around if you don't just go to Yates and ****ing Walkabout. Anyone I've had to visit has loved it.

However I spent 2011-14 at uni in Leeds and although I'm aware it's a bigger place, the growth and development of it was huge. It could just be coincidence with timing, but in three years there they'd built and opened the Arena and the Trinity and spent considerable money elsewhere.

I'd probably move back there given the choice, but although Leicester could use some improvement I think plenty of people criticise because it's familiar.

For a city of its size, it's fine. Unremarkable but fine.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Oh yeah, and the square at the top of the high street is infinitely better than that waste of time and money park and ride.

Edited 12 October 2014 by Miquel The Work Geordie

[FoxesAreBlue]

Just out of interest as I don't live there anymore, but everyone says things along the lines of "not Yates and Walkabout......etc" and yes I agree but what bars would you recommend?

[Unabomber]

Just out of interest as I don't live there anymore, but everyone says things along the lines of "not Yates and Walkabout......etc" and yes I agree but what bars would you recommend?

I've heard taps is decent.

[Samilktray]

Lamplighters.

[FoxesAreBlue]

Not that dosshole

[Samilktray]

If you're a pill head/borderline alcoholic/casual racist/all round scumbag, it's the the hip and happening hangout for you.

[ADK]

I've been to most UK cities and Leicester is one of the worst. We do have a nice county though.

[Bert]

Every city/town has its areas that are a dump, and the nice places. Leicester is no different. I've worked in many different places in the UK and fully stand by this.

Couldn't ever imagine living anywhere else in the world.

[Buce]

Couldn't ever imagine living anywhere else in the world.

How sad.

You must have a very poor imagination.

[FoxesAreBlue]

Every city/town has its areas that are a dump, and the nice places. Leicester is no different. I've worked in many different places in the UK and fully stand by this.

Couldn't ever imagine living anywhere else in the world.

The only nice bit of Leicester is the Highcross - just look at this new square, nice idea but its in the wrong place - just look at the building around it, it's a disgusting place to sit, and has caused traffic chaos over the past few months.

The city is full of tramps, drunks, JK show back-up families, chavs and religious preachers screaming into microphones and rattling their tambourines - not the mention the fvcking brummie charity workers who harass you for cash every 20 yards all the time.

And what they have done to humberstone gate since removing the big screen I'll never understand. It looks absolutely awful, it's like they didn't pay the builders so they took the piss.

The best thing I've done is move away from the doss pit and will only return for city games.

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The city is full of tramps, drunks, JK show back-up families, chavs and religious preachers screaming into microphones and rattling their tambourines - not the mention the fvcking brummie charity workers who harass you for cash every 20 yards all the time.

 

That pretty much describes any city centre across the country, its not just Leicester's problem.