Oadby & Wigston Borough Council (OWBC) has approved plans this week to transform the former Nautical William pub in Wigston into 14 affordable homes, bringing a long-vacant site back into use and helping to meet local housing needs. The development will see the former pub site redeveloped to provide much-needed affordable housing. Having stood empty for several years, the building had fallen into a poor state of repair and become a growing concern for many local residents. The approved scheme will provide 14 affordable homes while regenerating a prominent corner site at the junction of Aylestone Lane and Rolleston Road. OWBC received the final information and confirmations required from the relevant parties in recent days, enabling the associated Section 106 agreement to be completed and allowing the planning permission to be granted. The agreement secures all 14 homes as social rented housing. Councillor Lee Bentley, Chair of the Development Control Committee at Oadby & Wigston Borough Council, said: “We are pleased to have approved plans for the redevelopment of the former Nautical William site. “For many years this building has stood vacant and has gradually become an eyesore in a prominent location. Residents have understandably wanted to see the site brought back into use, and we welcome proposals that will transform it into quality affordable housing for local people. “There is significant demand for affordable housing across our borough, and developments such as this can play an important role in helping to meet that need while also improving the appearance of the area. “As a council, we are committed to supporting appropriate development that helps address housing need while enhancing our towns and neighbourhoods, and we look forward to seeing work progress on this site.” Oadby & Wigston Borough Council News - Published: Friday, 11 September 2026

Council tenants and leaseholders from across Charnwood have been celebrating after winning awards over two annual competitions. Photo shows tenants' garden and arts competition winners with the Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Colin Hamilton. Charnwood Borough Council’s tenant garden competition attracted 36 entries this year, with awards handed out in 10 different categories, showcasing gardens of all shapes and sizes. The creative competition returned for its third year and received 41 entries across five categories comprising photography, painting and drawing, arts and crafts, and creative writing. The awards were handed out by the Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Colin Hamilton, during a special event at Loughborough Town Hall on 10 September. All those who entered also received high street vouchers in recognition of their efforts. The garden competition was judged by Councillor Jennifer Tillotson, the Council’s lead member for housing, economic development, regeneration and town centres, and Councillor Anne Gray, lead member for waste, open spaces and leisure facilities. Cllr Tillotson, who also judged the creative competition, said: "It was wonderful to see so many tenants and leaseholders taking part in this year’s competitions and showcasing their talents, creativity and hard work. "The garden competition highlighted the pride people take in their outdoor spaces. Cllr Gray and I were both so impressed with all the entries. "The same goes for the creative competition, which once again produced a fantastic range of entries across all categories. "Congratulations and thank you to all the winners and everyone who took part. The standard was extremely high, and these competitions are a great way to celebrate the skills, imagination and community spirit of our tenants and leaseholders." The competitions are organised by the Council's customer engagement team to celebrate the talents of tenants and leaseholders, encourage community involvement and recognise the pride people take in their homes and neighbourhoods. For more information about next year’s competitions, contact the customer engagement team on 01509 634679 or 01509 634955 or by emailing involvement@charnwood.gov.uk. View photos Here is a full list of the 2026 winners: Tenant garden competition Best House First place – Mick Pipes Second place – Debbie Newton Third place – Donna Gudgeon Best Flat/Use of Small Space First place – Robert Kirk Second place – Georgina Gebski Third place – Derek Hay Best Pots and Baskets First place – June Letten Second place – John Harrington Third place – Kevin Curtis Best Community Garden First place – The Mills (Graham and Victoria Barradell) Second place – Lacey Court – Ms E Nicholls Third place – Chapman Street Garden Association (June Letten) Best Sheltered Court First place – St Paul’s Court (Steve Gamble) Joint second place – Fielding Court (Phil Hudson) Joint second place – Riversdale Court (Andy Sheppard) Third place – 55 Durham Road Best Fruit & Veg First place – Donna Gudgeon Second place – Lucy Pooley Third place – Robert Kirk Best Newcomer First place – Ms E Nicholls Joint second place – Debbie Melbourne Joint second place – Doreen Glickman Joint third place – Linda Freer Joint third place – Pamela Franklin Best Flower Display First place – Kate Needham (Beresford Court Community) Second place – Steve Gamble (St Paul’s Court) Third place – Mr and Mrs Marshall Best Eco Garden First place – Lucy Pooley Second place – Denise Dobbs Third place – Janice Wright Special Innovation Award Mark Holland (Chapman Street Garden Association) Creative competition Arts & Crafts (over 18 years) First place – Kate Needham Runner-up – Dianne Coultas Runer-up – Julie Keen Photography (under 18 years) First place – Archie Smith Runner-up – Layla Ryan Photography (over 18 years) First place – Amanda Windsor Runner-up – James Dougan Creative writing (over 18 years) First place – John Mason Runner-up – Joan Gray Painting (over 18 years) First place – Abigail Milnsthrop Runner-up – Michele Kirk Runner-up – Paul Dexter Charnwood Borough Council Published: Fri 11th September, 2026

Artists from across the East Midlands are being invited to submit their entries for Leicester’s annual Open exhibition before next month’s deadline. Open: The People’s Exhibition 2026 will once again showcase the region’s creativity, with selected paintings, sculptures, textiles, prints and photographs by local artists going on display at the Leicester Museum & Art Gallery at the end of November. Open to all artists – from complete beginners to seasoned professionals – the deadline for entries is 4pm on Wednesday 7 October. Submissions are invited from artists aged 19 and over who live or study in Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire or Northamptonshire. There is also a category for young artists aged five to 18. After the closing date, a panel of judges will select the paintings, sculptures, textiles, prints and photographs that will go on display at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery from 28 November this year. Cllr Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for culture, said: “Leicester’s annual open exhibition attracts a huge amount of interest from all kinds of artists – from talented young children and enthusiastic amateurs, through to experienced professionals. “It’s an opportunity for all creatives, whether they’re painters, sculptors or photographers, or they work with digital or mixed-media, to showcase their work in the fabulous surroundings of Leicester Museum & Art Gallery – and it’s a great way to celebrate the rich artistic diversity of the region. “I would encourage all local artists to get involved and to make sure their applications are submitted before the deadline on 7 October.” Entry fees for the adult category are determined by the number of works submitted, while entry to the young persons’ category is free of charge. Full details and guidance are available on the Open website. The Open exhibition at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery will run from Saturday 28 November until Friday 29 January 2027. Outstanding pieces will be awarded prizes donated by local businesses and groups. Artworks on display will be available for sale, and purchased pieces can be collected once the exhibition has closed to the public. Further information, including full terms and conditions and a link to the online application form, is available at leicestermuseums.org/the-open Queries can be emailed to openexhibition@leicester.gov.uk LCC News - Published on Friday, September 11, 2026

Emergency services are in attendance at a car park on Welford Road tonight. A police cordon is in place, and the surrounding roads are closed due to an ongoing incident. The car park is currently closed. East Midlands Ambulance Service is at the scene. Please avoid the area if possible. We have contacted Leicestershire Police for more information on this incident. Police Update Saturday 12/09/26 09:00 A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: “The force was called at 7.20pm last night (Friday) following a report of an injured person in the street in Welford Road, Leicester. It appeared that he had sustained his injuries after falling from a height from a nearby building. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. There is not believed to be any third-party involvement.” Pictures by Leicester Media Online

Leicester Magistrates' Court has granted a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) against Jordan Stacey following repeated offences linked to retail crime in Leicester. The order imposes a number of restrictions designed to protect businesses and deter further offending, including: Prohibited from entering commercial areas of Leicester city centre. Must leave any store immediately when requested to do so by a member of staff. Prohibited from entering a number of Tesco stores across the city. Criminal Behaviour Orders are used to tackle persistent anti-social and criminal behaviour, helping to safeguard local businesses, employees and the wider community. Police will continue to work closely with retailers and partner agencies to identify repeat offenders and take positive action against those who cause harm to businesses and the public.

A main road in Leicester was closed for several hours following the death of a man who fell from a building. A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: “The force was called at 7.20pm last night (Friday) following a report of an injured person in the street in Welford Road, Leicester. It appeared that he had sustained his injuries after falling from a height from a nearby building. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. There is not believed to be any third-party involvement.” Pictures by Leicester Media Online Help is available Samaritans Helpline Number: 116-123

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service joined emergency services colleagues from across the world in paying tribute to all those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At 13.46 - the exact time the first aircraft struck the North Tower - they held a minute’s silence and lowered flags to half-mast across our stations and sites. Today is the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks back in 2001, when a series of four coordinated suicide attacks were carried out by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States, resulting in the deaths of 2,977 people. Picture credits - LFRS

Two women who were sexually abused by a man when they were children have been praised after their evidence led to him being jailed today (Friday 11 September). Jordan Gray-Higgs committed his crimes in Leicestershire between 2012 and 2014. His offending was brought to the attention of police in 2022, when the victims told officers what had happened. They described how Gray-Higgs had incited them to engage in sexual activity and abused them. Jordan Gray-Higgs In interview Gray-Higgs, of Waver Close in Corby, Northamptonshire, denied the allegations and claimed that the victims must have been seeking an act of vengeance against him. However, he was charged with nine offences and found guilty of four counts of rape, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and one count of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity following a trial at Leicester Crown Court in May this year. Forty-year-old Gray-Higgs was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment with a four-year extended licence period. He was also placed on the sex offender register for life. Detective Constable Kam Kalia was the investigating officer. He said: “I’m immensely proud of the courage shown by both victims throughout the investigation and court proceedings. “The details they were able to recall about the horrific abuse they suffered served as key evidence that led to Gray-Higgs being brought to justice for his crimes. “I hope the sentence he’s been given today provides them both with a sense of closure and allows them to move on with their lives as best they can.” Further information on these services and details on who to contact if you have been a victim of a sexual offence can be found by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences Leicestershire Police - Published: 14:06 11/09/2026

Between 25 March and 7 April 2026, a woman, who lives in North West Leicestershire, was victim to a courier fraud scam. The victim was contacted by a man claiming to be a police officer stating that someone had attempted to purchase a laptop using her bank account and if she withdraws cash from her account they would keep it for safe keeping. A woman later visited the address to collect this withdrawn cash. Enquiries have been ongoing into this incident, and officers have released a CCTV image of a woman they would like to identify. Anyone who may know who this woman is, or the woman herself is asked to contact police on 101 quoting 26000210574. Action Fraud website https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/courier-fraud/ and the steps people can take to protect themselves.” Leicestershire Police - Published: 15:37 11/09/2026

Shepshed residents will be able to vote for a county councillor in a by-election this October. The by-election on Thursday 15 October has been prompted by the resignation of County Councillor Helen Butler. Residents who are not already registered to vote need to apply by midnight on Tuesday 29 September 2026 on the Register to Vote page. Rosemary Whitelaw, head of governance and strategy, said: “The county council provides hundreds of services across Leicestershire every day, and local councillors play a big role in shaping these services. “Whether you’re driving on a road we maintain, receive social care services, applying for a school place or using one of our bus services, decisions about services affect everyone. “That’s why it’s important for the people eligible to vote in this election to have their say and use their vote. “Please don’t assume you’re registered to vote. People miss out on the chance to vote by thinking they’re registered.” Charnwood Borough Council will run the election on behalf of Leicestershire County Council. Information about deadlines and candidate nominations, registering for a postal or proxy vote, or applying for a free Voter Authority Certificate, can be found on the Government’s website. More information, including the candidates standing in the election, will be available on the council's website. Thursday, 10 September, 2026

A police cordon is in place this morning on Upperton Road near the Lidl store. Police forensic officers are at the scene, the towpath along the River soar under the bridge is taped off. A spokesperson from Leicestershire police said “Police received a call from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service last night (Thursday 10 September) at 11.33pm following a report of someone in the water near to Upperton Road, Leicester. Officers attended the location and the person, a man in his forties, was taken to hospital where they were later pronounced deceased. A cordon remains in place at the scene as further enquiries are being carried out. The death is being treated as unexplained however there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.” Pictures by Leicester Media Online

Main Street in Ratby was closed by the police this morning due to a medical emergency. The air ambulance was also in attendance, landing at a nearby park. It’s been reported that an elderly gentleman has fallen near the war memorial. We have no further information on his condition at this time. The road has now been reopened. Police update 16:00 Sad news. A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: The force was called at 10.19am following a report of an elderly man falling in Main Street, Ratby. Officers attended, along with colleagues from the East Midlands Ambulance Service. His fall was as a result of a medial episode and, sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Pictures by Leicester Media Online