City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/new-lifeline-bus-service-villages-7744913

 

New £1.3m 'on-demand' bus service to offer a lifeline to cut-off villages
Leicestershire County Council's new transport service will help reconnect rural villages left without public transport

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04:00, 26 OCT 2022

A vital service connecting villages across southern Leicestershire is being officially launched this week (Image: Leicestershire County Council)

A new minibus service which will connect rural villages in the south of Leicestershire is to be launched this week. The FoxConnect service is a new 'demand responsive transport service' which will provide a lifeline to small villages which have borne the brunt of transport cuts in recent years.

Three minibuses are now available to book journeys, either via app or by calling, to provide on-demand transport services between Leicester and Hinckley. The scheme will be a three-year trial and funded with a £1.3 million from the Department for Transport's Rural Mobility Fund.

It will be vital for residents in villages such as Stoney Stanton, Sapcote and Croft, which have recently lost their only bus routes due to a lack of demand, according to service provider Arriva. The on-demand service will connect the villages to key destinations such as Magna Park, Next Headquarters, Carlton Park, and Fosse Park - as well as Narborough and Hinckley train stations and Enderby Park & Ride for onward travel into Leicester and elsewhere.

READ MORE: Village to treble in size after latest housing development is granted permission

Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The future of rural transport could well be this type of on-demand service as it’s an innovative alternative to what is already out there. If the trial works well, we’ll look to expand the service into other areas.”

The FoxConnect service is going to be operated by Woods Coaches of Wigston on behalf of the council, as well as being in partnership with tech provider Liftango. Woods is part of the National Express Transport Solutions group.

Regional managing director Sarah Gager said: “Public transport opens up opportunities, whether for work, education, leisure or health needs, so it's important that people have access. We're proud to be working with Leicestershire County Council and Liftango to provide this new service and help improve the connectivity of Hinckley with Leicester city centre. A small fleet of vehicles will operate from our Wigston depot.”

You can find out more information about the FoxConnect app via the council's Choose How You Move website - as well as being able to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicesters-a6-set-new-30mph-7743978

 

Leicester's A6 set for new 30mph speed limits with stretches cut to just one lane

 

Stretches of the A6 in Leicester will be cut to just one lane for general traffic while some speed limits will also be reduced to 30mph under new plans proposed by the city council. Drivers will see the speed limit in most of Abbey Lane cut from 30mph to 40mph under the plans.

Three new bus lanes will also be installed between Sanvey Gate and Wolsey Street, between Byford Road and Beaumont Leys Lane and between Corporation Road and Thurcaston Road, which will require the number of lanes for general traffic to be reduced from two to one.

The authority says the new bus lanes "will not adversely affect the general flow of traffic", but will "make it easier for buses" to travel along the road and make public transport a more attractive option for most commuters. The new lanes will be monitored by cameras and motorists who stray into them will be fined.

 

A 'No Stopping Order' – commonly known as a red route - will also be put in place to prevent unauthorised parking particularly by car transporters, which have been identified as a "significant cause of congestion along the route". However, the council has said it still plans to allow other businesses access for vehicles to stop to make deliveries.

The £3m project would also see improvements made to the busy junction of Corporation Road, Beaumont Leys Lane and the A6 with "safer pedestrian and cycle crossings" and new cycle lanes also created in Beaumont Leys Lane.

Deputy city mayor, Councillor Adam Clarke, who leads on transport, clean air and climate emergency, said: "The next phase of improvements being proposed for the A6 will make it easier for buses to quickly and reliably travel along this important route in and out of the city centre, making bus travel on this busy route a much more attractive option.

"As it stands, the volume of traffic at busy times can cause significant delays for buses, resulting in unreliable services. Introducing new bus lanes is a key way of improving bus journey times, and is one of the main priorities of our Leicester Bus Partnership."

"We have seen how the introduction of new bus lanes on busy routes – such as Aylestone Road – can have a positive impact on bus patronage, with increases of up to 13 per cent," he added.

"Getting more people onto buses, and helping to reduce the number of journeys they take by car, will further improve the city’s air quality and support Leicester’s response to the climate emergency. We need to be bold and ambitious in our plans to deliver a greener solution for the future growth of our city."

The proposed 30mph speed limit would be between Thurcaston Road, near Redhill Circle, and the city centre to "help manage traffic and make the route safer". The existing inbound bus lane between Redhill Circle and Thurcaston Road will also be retained as part of the plans.

The council says the work will complement improvements recently completed at the Ravensbridge Drive junction, by Abbey Park, and along a section of the A6 between Abbey Park Road and Exploration Drive. A city council spokesman said: "These works are already seeing benefits to traffic flow and have helped address congestion at busy junctions during peak times."

He added that latest plans would allow buses to "quickly and reliably travel" in and out of the city but are designed so not to slow down the general flow of traffic.

If given the go-ahead, the work is expected to begin in spring 2023 and will also include general maintenance and any required resurfacing along the busy route. The scheme will be paid for through the Government's Transforming Cities Fund. It follows the council's successful bid for £32million of to support public transport, cycling and walking.

Hundreds of letters have been sent to nearby residents and businesses setting out the proposals and inviting people to comment on the plans. They are available to view on the council's website by clicking here.

[davieG]

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicester-university-opens-150m-village-7741103

 

 

A multi-million pound student 'village' has been unveiled in the city this week. The University of Leicester said the new £150m halls of residence, in Welford Road, provided accommodation for 1,200 students.

It said derelict accomodation blocks and an open-air car park had been regenerated into a modern facility. The site, known as ‘Freemen's’ also includes a 'social hub' fitted with a food outlet and bar as well as a 555-space multi-storey car park.

Kerry Law, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professional Services), said: “Freemen’s is the realisation of years of careful planning to deliver the very highest quality environment for our students to live and learn in.

READ MORE: Developer's bid to build 313 homes in rural Leicestershire set to be decided

"We have been delighted with the positive reaction of both students and staff as they settle in to their new home, which extends our vibrant city campus. Freemen’s doesn’t only deliver first-class facilities for students and colleagues, but also provides benefits for the public, including pleasant open spaces and safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists.

The new village also includes a four-storey building, named after the institution’s former vice-chancellor, which features two large lecture theatres and teaching spaces. A refurbishment and extension of the Grade-II listed Freemen’s Cottages, which sit in the centre of the site, was carried out alongside the development.

Maria Fernandez, 20, a student who lives on the new site said: “I live in a flat with five other girls and it’s amazing. We all have our own bedrooms and bathrooms and the standard is very high.

“The location is really good because there are lecture theatres here, but I am also only a three-minute walk to the older campus. The facilities are very, very nice, everything works perfectly and I feel at home here.”

[davieG]

I think i've posted this one before.....

 

...but this shows the entrance to it on Welford Road opposite the cemetery where the new University campus in post above is situated.

[kenny]

6 hours ago, davieG said:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/new-lifeline-bus-service-villages-7744913

 

New £1.3m 'on-demand' bus service to offer a lifeline to cut-off villages
Leicestershire County Council's new transport service will help reconnect rural villages left without public transport

Bookmark

04:00, 26 OCT 2022

A vital service connecting villages across southern Leicestershire is being officially launched this week (Image: Leicestershire County Council)

A new minibus service which will connect rural villages in the south of Leicestershire is to be launched this week. The FoxConnect service is a new 'demand responsive transport service' which will provide a lifeline to small villages which have borne the brunt of transport cuts in recent years.

Three minibuses are now available to book journeys, either via app or by calling, to provide on-demand transport services between Leicester and Hinckley. The scheme will be a three-year trial and funded with a £1.3 million from the Department for Transport's Rural Mobility Fund.

It will be vital for residents in villages such as Stoney Stanton, Sapcote and Croft, which have recently lost their only bus routes due to a lack of demand, according to service provider Arriva. The on-demand service will connect the villages to key destinations such as Magna Park, Next Headquarters, Carlton Park, and Fosse Park - as well as Narborough and Hinckley train stations and Enderby Park & Ride for onward travel into Leicester and elsewhere.

READ MORE: Village to treble in size after latest housing development is granted permission

Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The future of rural transport could well be this type of on-demand service as it’s an innovative alternative to what is already out there. If the trial works well, we’ll look to expand the service into other areas.”

The FoxConnect service is going to be operated by Woods Coaches of Wigston on behalf of the council, as well as being in partnership with tech provider Liftango. Woods is part of the National Express Transport Solutions group.

Regional managing director Sarah Gager said: “Public transport opens up opportunities, whether for work, education, leisure or health needs, so it's important that people have access. We're proud to be working with Leicestershire County Council and Liftango to provide this new service and help improve the connectivity of Hinckley with Leicester city centre. A small fleet of vehicles will operate from our Wigston depot.”

You can find out more information about the FoxConnect app via the council's Choose How You Move website - as well as being able to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Shame they aren't painted red and yellow and called a Fox Cub.

[davieG]

Belgrave Gate before the £ shops.

[Free Falling Foxes]

9 minutes ago, davieG said:

Belgrave Gate before the £ shops.

Crikey, there's a name from the past.

Use to be used as a bit of an insult at my school. 'Where did you get those jeans from, Brierleys?'

Edited 27 October 2022 by Free Falling Foxes

[Parafox]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Belgrave Gate before the £ shops.

I remember going there and thinking "it's packed with shite" and the floors didn't seem very safe as the boards creaked at every step I took, and the escalators seemed ancient. 

[davieG]

26 minutes ago, Parafox said:

I remember going there and thinking "it's packed with shite" and the floors didn't seem very safe as the boards creaked at every step I took, and the escalators seemed ancient. 

Then seemingly like now shite was all people could afford. What goes around comes around.

[Parafox]

4 hours ago, davieG said:

Then seemingly like now shite was all people could afford. What goes around comes around.

I don't recall ever buying anything from Brierley's, but it just seemed a fun place to go and walk around because there was so much STUFF. Stuff you didn't need or want as an 18-year-old but just STUFF. 

[davieG]

8 hours ago, Parafox said:

I don't recall ever buying anything from Brierley's, but it just seemed a fun place to go and walk around because there was so much STUFF. Stuff you didn't need or want as an 18-year-old but just STUFF. 

We had a Mortgage when interest rates were heading towards 17% and3 kiddies u7 so used to get some of their clothes there and house hold/kitchen goods. There wasn't the choice or the prices in children's clothes you get today. Not saying we spent much there and you certainly need to be selective.

 

Most of it was bankrupt stock or seemingly off the back of a lorry considering he was under the watchful eye of the police, allegedly.

 

 

 

Recalling the pioneering Leicester discount supermarket and its flamboyant owner
Belgrave Gate store was part of a shopping revolution

 

We wonder how many of our readers remember the so-called Pirate of the High Street, whose immensely popular “stack ‘em high, sell ’em cheap” supermarkets included one in the centre of Leicester?

Frank Brierley was the well-known East Midlands businessman who revolutionised shopping.

He was the first store owner to install checkouts, plus the first to introduce petrol stations at his supermarkets.

Born the son of a tailor in Northampton in 1913, Mr Brierley was originally a market trader who opened his first store in his home town in 1959.

His bargain prices soon became popular and he was able to open more discount stores across the region, including one in Belgrave Gate in Leicester.

He earned his “Pirate” nickname because of his battles with the then Government over the 1950 Shops Act, which prohibited shops from trading after 5.30pm.

One of Mr Brierley’s trademarks was the Skull and Crossbones flag, often seen flying over his shops as they stayed open until 8pm.

He was once quoted as saying: “I was known as the Pirate of the High Street.

"I used to use that on my carrier bags.

“I had certain gimmicks.

"The poor must have low prices, but the rich love them, as well.

“I made a lot of friends in Leicester.

"We had personal contact back in the 1960s and 70s and I always used to give them something for Christmas.

"We had old-age pensioners’ days. On my birthday we had great big cakes and bottles of sherry and anyone who came into the shop got some.”

 

 

[davieG]

Hinckley Road, near Cort Crescent, unknown date.

[Parafox]

46 minutes ago, davieG said:

Hinckley Road, near Cort Crescent, unknown date.

One bus, a truck of some sort and one cyclist.

 

How things have changed. Now a constant stream of traffic in both directions.

[Free Falling Foxes]

12 hours ago, Parafox said:

One bus, a truck of some sort and one cyclist.

 

How things have changed. Now a constant stream of traffic in both directions.

 

Edited 29 October 2022 by Free Falling Foxes

[davieG]

Did you know?

The King Power Stadium is built on the site of an electricity generating station which was known as the Leicester Light.

Initially the local anglers were opposed to this power station, but it soon became apparent that the warmer water it discharged led to much larger fish stocks and prevented the river from freezing over in winter, giving year round sport for the fishermen who clamoured for pegs along the straight during competitions!

Thanks to the Canal & River Trust for the info.

#StoryofLeicester

[davieG]

Is this good?

 

[davieG]

 

ON THIS DAY: 30th October 1485
Henry Tudor, 2nd Earl of Richmond and son of Lady Margaret Beaufort and the late Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond, was crowned King Henry VII at Westminster Abbey.
Henry VII dated his reign as starting on the 21st August 1485, or the day before the Battle of Bosworth. This allowed Henry to seize lands and properties for the crown from nobles who had fought alongside Richard III; those nobles could be declared traitors. The Crown of England was first placed on Henry's head on the field after the Battle of Bosworth, accompanied by cheers from his audience. 
The Leicestershire village of Stoke Golding Connection -
Much has been written about where Richard III was slain during the Battle of Bosworth, and the real possibility it’s not in the accepted location. It’s also a possibility that the siezure of the Crown by Henry resulted in a ceremony in a field in the vicinity of the crowning which was styled ‘Le Gulden’ (The Golden) shortly afterwards and some claim that the addition of the word Golding after the name of the village was derived from this great event, ‘The Village Coronation of King Henry VII’

[Dr Marco]

at Leicester Forest Rugby Club

 

 

[davieG]

 

This picture shows 39 guests lunching around one of four of the 25 foot clocks faces made for the Royal Liver building Liverpool on November 18th 1910.

Made by Gent and Co

It held the record for largest electrical driven clock in the world.

 

 

Undergoing maintenance.

 

[davieG]

1970

[davieG]

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/history/gallery/28-lost-leicester-leicestershire-buildings-6821012.amp?fbclid=IwAR1SfkteORx_jI8Tk_a_Vw2jgifTh00sAhoQh59ez-jp9pT-s9p4NoAw4Rc

 

28 lost Leicester and Leicestershire buildings that couldn't beat the bulldozer

[davieG]

[davieG]

Born and Raised in Leicester

 

  · 

Time out from comptometer training for operators (from left) Ann Dicks, Rae Dermott, Lesley Baker and Janet Ladkin. The girls were pictured in Leicester Town Hall square in May 1960

[Free Falling Foxes]

12 hours ago, davieG said:

Another picture that catapults me back 50 years.

Seems like yesterday.......