The six million Jews murdered by the Nazi regime and all those who have lost their lives in genocides will be remembered in Leicester next week, as countries around the world mark Holocaust Memorial Day. On Thursday (27 January), Holocaust Memorial Day will be marked with two online talks. The distinguished Holocaust scholar Professor Aubrey Newman and Dr Martin Stern, a well-known local Holocaust survivor, will deliver talks inspired by this year’s theme of ‘One Day’. The talks, as well as a video prepared by Fullhurst Community College, will be available at www.leicester.gov.uk/holocaustday on Thursday. Lord Mayor of Leicester Cllr Deepak Bajaj said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a chance not just to remember those who have died in past genocides, but to recognise that the lives of very many people today are still overshadowed by the impact of more recent atrocities across the world. We are reminded of what can happen when prejudice and persecution are left unchallenged. “By inviting people to view this online content on Thursday, we hope to provide an opportunity to reflect on this poignant annual commemoration.” At Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, a day of events on Sunday (30 January) will provide a further opportunity for reflection and remembrance. The day will open with a speech by Professor Aubrey Newman, which will be followed by filmed testimonies of Holocaust survivors and talks by those who lost family members, telling their personal stories. A lament by Israeli oud player, Gal Hever, will accompany a film installation by artist George Sfougaras featuring two illustrated stories: ‘A Winter’s Night in Prague’ and ‘Tale of the Old Fort Town’. The event will also include an exhibition tracing the history of the Wiener Library from its origins in the holocaust, and a ‘Foundation Stones’ workshop, where visitors will be able to paint their own commemorative stones that will form part of the new national holocaust memorial. Tickets are required for some of the planned events, but these can be booked at the museum on the day. The free, drop-in event runs from 12 noon until 4pm. Please note that visitors to the museum are requested to wear face coverings. More information is available here, or please contact Leicester Museum & Art Gallery on 0116 225 4900. A further event will take place next week to celebrate the lives of Jewish refugees who escaped Nazi persecution and made the UK their home. On Tuesday (25 January), an oak tree will be planted in Western Park as part of a national campaign to plant 80 trees to mark the 80th anniversary of the Association of Jewish Refugees – the charity that supports Holocaust survivors and refugees in the UK. The tree will be planted to celebrate the life of Benjamin Abeles – the renowned physicist who arrived in England as a refugee from Prague on the Kindertransport in 1939 and who died in Leicester in 2020. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We must never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. “This day reminds us that we all have a duty to challenge prejudice and the language of hatred. The message of standing together in the face of intolerance and injustice is as relevant today as it has always been.” Holocaust Memorial Day is marked in the UK on 27 January – the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. The day provides an opportunity to remember the six million Jews murdered by the Nazi regime, those who have lost their lives in genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, and all those seeking sanctuary from persecution.

Police have placed a cordon around a Jewellers shop in Belgrave this afternoon. Police have released the following statement and appeal. An investigation has been launched following a burglary at a premises in Belgrave Road, Leicester, this afternoon (Wednesday). Police received a call at 3.05pm reporting that a number of men had smashed a window at the premises before stealing items of jewellery from a window display. The suspects then left the scene. The suspects did not enter the premises and no injuries have been reported. Initial enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident and to find the people responsible. Detective Inspector Charles Edwards said: “Our enquiries are at a very early stage but we have officers at the scene carrying out a full investigation. “This includes checking CCTV and speaking to witnesses. “We are appealing to anyone with any information to make contact with us. If you have any CCTV or dashcam footage from the area this afternoon, please also make contact with us. “We understand this incident will have caused some concern but please be reassured we are carrying out full enquiries to find those responsible. Please know that we also have officers at the scene to offer reassurance and to speak with you regarding your concerns.” Anyone with any information should contact police quoting incident 359 of 26 January. You can report online at www.leics.police.uk, call 101 or speak to an officer at the scene.

Two police officers have received the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for their heroic bravery following the helicopter crash at Leicester City Football Club in October 2018. Sergeant Mike Hooper and PC Steve Quartermain both ran towards the helicopter after it crashed in the car park of the King Power stadium shortly after the final whistle and attempted to save those inside. All five people on board – the club’s owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, the pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz – tragically died. PC Quartermain said: “I feel very honoured to be recognised in this way, it’s very humbling. “It’s important to remember those who lost their lives and everyone who tried to help that night.” Sgt Hooper added: “I feel incredibly honoured and proud to be receiving the Queen’s Gallantry Medal. “While it was extraordinary circumstances and something that no police officer would ever want to face in their entire career, I know only that I instinctively; how any other officer from across the country would have reacted.”

A man who bundled a woman into a van in Mountsorrel minutes before she was found seriously injured on the A6 has been convicted of kidnap. Chay Bowskill, 20, was found guilty yesterday (25 January) following a trial at Leicester Crown Court. Bowskill, of Empingham Drive, Syston, was also convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour and perverting the course of justice. He was found not guilty of a charge of section 18 grievous bodily harm. Chay Bowskill A second man, Rocco Sansome, 20, of Wanlip Lane, Birstall, was also found guilty of kidnap. Both were sentenced at the same court today (26 January). Bowskill was sentenced to a total of seven-and-a-half years in prison, while Sansome was sentenced to 21 months in prison. At around 10.45am on Thursday 17 September 2020, members of public approached officers after they came across 19-year-old Angel Lynn lying seriously injured in the carriageway of the A6 near Loughborough. At the same time, the force control room also started to receive a number of calls from concerned members of the public – unaware of what had happened - reporting that they had seen something in the road as they travelled past. Colleagues from the East Midlands Ambulance Service attended the scene and the Angel was taken to hospital. Despite intensive medical intervention she remains in hospital with life-changing injuries. Our investigation uncovered that shortly before being found injured, Angel was seen exiting a silver transit van which had pulled up in Loughborough Road in Mountsorrel. Bowskill followed her out of the van, forcibly picked her up in the street and carried her back into the van. The vehicle which was being driven by a Sansome then swiftly left the area at speed. At some point in the journey after, Angel exited the vehicle while it travelled along the A6. Further enquiries later identified the man who carried out the kidnap was Bowskill – who was Angel’s boyfriend - while the driver was Sansome. Both men were arrested at the scene. Detective Chief Inspector Tony Yarwood from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Crime team was the senior investigating officer. He said: “Angel is a young woman who had plans and aspirations in place and the rest of her life to look forward to. Because of the extent of her injuries she now faces constant medical treatment and round the clock care. “Her family remain devastated by what has happened and I praise the strength and bravery they have shown and continue to demonstrate to this day. “No verdict or subsequent sentence can make up for the quality of life this young woman has lost. I can only hope that in time her family can find some comfort knowing justice has been done.” Family of kidnap victim issue statement Statement issued on behalf of Angel Lynn’s family following the conviction of two men involved in her kidnap. Angel’s father, Paddy, said: “Our lives have been changed beyond recognition forever. Angel was so full of life and had such a great future ahead of her. That future has sadly been taken away from her. “The catastrophic injuries Angel suffered will mean life will never be the same for her or our family. Every day is not only a huge struggle for Angel but also a huge struggle for our family and friends. We are lucky in some ways as we are a close family, we have lots of lovely friends who help us and people that care in other ways. “We try to remain strong but we know that every day will be difficult and a struggle for us all especially for Angel. I know that Angel will never get married now and I will never get to walk my daughter down the aisle. Nikki and I will never be grandparents to Angel’s children. We don’t know what the future holds for our daughter but we try to put smiles on our faces each day but inside our hearts are bleeding out. “We’d like to thank all the officers involved in the investigation, our family liaison officers and our barrister, Mr Janes for their support throughout the last 16 months. They have all worked so hard and their dedication to Angel’s case has been remarkable.” Leicestershire Police News

Changes to the Highway Code will mean drivers need to give way to pedestrians at a junction, while cyclists must give way to people using a shared-use cycle track An update to The Highway Code has introduced a hierarchy of road users, which creates ‘clearer and stronger priorities’ for pedestrians. The Department for Transport claims that the changes, which are split into three main rules, ultimately aim to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. The changes are due to come into force on 29 January. Below, we run through the major changes laid out in the updated The Highway Code, plus we have details on smaller additions that might affect your journey from A to B. At a glance: How has The Highway Code changed? Drivers of large passenger vehicles and HGVs now have ‘the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger posed to other road users’ Drivers at a junction should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road that they’re turning into Drivers should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing Cyclists should give way to pedestrians that are using shared-use cycle tracks Drivers should not cut across cyclists going ahead when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane. New ‘Dutch Reach’ technique tells road users how to open the door of their vehicle while looking over their shoulder Three new rules added to The Highway Code Rule H1: hierarchy of road users The first (and most significant) rule in the refreshed The Highway Code sets out the hierarchy of road users. Road users who can do the greatest harm (those driving large vehicles) have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to other road users. Pedestrians (children, older adults and disabled people in particular) are identified as ‘the most likely to be injured in the event of a collision’. Here’s a look at what the hierarchy of road users looks like: Pedestrians Cyclists Horse riders Motorcyclists Cars/taxis Vans/minibuses Large passenger vehicles/heavy goods vehicles As you can see, cyclists and horse riders will also have a responsibility to reduce danger to pedestrians. Even so, the updated The Highway Code emphasises that pedestrians themselves still need to consider the safety of other road users. The Department for Transport says this system will pave the way for a ‘more mutually respectful and considerate culture of safe and effective road use’. Rule H2: clearer and stronger priorities for pedestrians This rule is aimed at drivers, motorists, horse riders and cyclists. The Highway Code now states clearly that, at a junction, you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road that you’re turning into. Previously, vehicles had priority at a junction. Drivers should also give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing (a combined pedestrian and cycle crossing). Meanwhile, cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared-use cycle tracks, and are reminded that only pedestrians (including those using wheelchairs and mobility scooters) can use the pavement. Pedestrians are allowed to use cycle tracks unless there’s a road sign nearby that says doing so is prohibited. Rule H3: drivers to give priority to cyclists in certain situations The updated The Highway Code urges drivers and motorcyclists not to cut across cyclists when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane. This rule applies whether the cyclist ahead is using a cycle lane, a cycle track or simply riding on the road ahead. Drivers are meant to stop and wait for a safe gap when cyclists are: Approaching, passing or moving away from a junction Moving past or waiting alongside still or slow-moving traffic Travelling on a roundabout Are these rules legally enforceable? These updates are aimed to keep road users as safe as possible, but not everything in The Highway Code is legally enforceable. While some of the rules are legal requirements (and you’re committing a criminal offence if you disobey them), many simply serve as guidance. If you scroll through The Highway Code, you’ll see some rules include ‘must’ or ‘must not’ – these rules are supported by existing laws. For example: You must give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing Those that include ‘should’ or ‘should not’ are only guidance and not supported by existing laws, but may be used in evidence to establish liability. For example: You should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing What else is changing? Rules H1, H2 and H3 aside, there are some other changes to The Highway Code in 2022. The ‘Waiting and parking’ chapter of The Highway Code has been updated to describe the ‘Dutch Reach’. This suggests you should open your door using your hand on the opposite side to the door you’re opening. So, you would use your left hand to open a door on your right side – this naturally makes you turn your head to look over your shoulder. Meanwhile, EV owners are being reminded that the charging cables for their cars can present a trip hazard for pedestrians.

A new initiative has been launched between the force and the Leicestershire and Rutland County FA (LRCFA) to tackle discrimination in football. A ground-breaking educational course has been developed between the two organisations to educate the football community that adverse, inappropriate and discriminatory behaviours will not be tolerated – and could also be treated as a crime. Developed by utilising like-minded partners, focus groups, key stakeholders and the Independent Advisory Group (IAG), the course provides a range of experiences and real-life examples that people have witnessed but were not reported. Initially, clubs, leagues and referees will be offered a chance to sit on one of two dates coming up over the next few weeks. After this, clubs and leagues will be offered the opportunity to take the course back to their own settings as well as having it made available for disciplinary panels to issue in proven cases. Isla Dixon, Leicestershire Police’s dedicated hate crime officer, helped to develop the course. She said: “I am incredibly proud to have been part of this initiative from its inception, working closely with colleagues from Leicestershire and Rutland County FA. “Using existing educational resources, and my personal experience of working with victims of discrimination, I have been able to support the creation of an educational resource which can be utilised with Leicestershire and Rutland County FA to aid clubs, leagues and referees to address inappropriate behaviour and language. “I am looking forward to supporting LRCFA in its delivery and to continue to develop, and strengthen, our partnership going forward.” Jamie Clarke, Football Services Lead at LRCFA said: “Over the last 12 months we have been working in close consultation with Leicestershire Police to review incidents that have happened and design an education process to highlight that actions taken in a football setting could also be an act of criminality. “We are able to take this stance by creating a dual reporting process that lets us share information with the police should the reporter of the incident give consent. While we have always investigated every allegation reported to us, this takes the level of action able to be taken to another level. “We also hope the education course helps to teach people that things they hear and see are not ‘just what happens in football’ but should be reported so appropriate action can be taken by both organisations.” Surinder Sharma, Chair of LRCFA and IAG, said: “This collaboration is a fantastic approach to addressing a very topical issue of discriminatory behaviours in not only football but society as well. “We hope that it acts as a deterrent and makes people think twice about their actions but also gives people confidence to report things that they see and hear. Together we can all create the best possible environment for all in football in our diverse county.”

Protesters have surrounded a Leicester Factory on Meridian East. The action group gathered outside the entrance of the Israeli-owned Elbit Systems subsidiary UAV Tactical Systems in Leicester shortly after 11am this morning. Elbit which makes drones for military use here in Leicester. It’s reported that after protests their factory in Oldham has been forced to close down. Elbit Systems announced earlier on this January that it was selling its Elbit Ferranti factory in Oldham to UK-based TT electronics for a sum of approximately $12 million. Elbit is infamous for manufacturing parts for Israeli drones and other pilotless aircrafts. These aircrafts are used by the Israeli military in attacks against Palestinians, including in Israeli air strikes against Gaza. Apart from Oldham, Elbit has nine other manufacturing sites still operating within the country including the Leicester site. The protesters has again joined up and wants the Leicester factory closed down. The 7 day protests at this factory last year in May ended with a heavy police presence with riot shields and a number of arrests were made. One protester said “We will do whatever it takes to close Elbit down. We all need to stop them making drones used to kill Palestinian people.” Another said “It’s important to show that people in our diverse city of Leicester don’t want blood on our hands, and that we show solidarity in this peaceful protest” There was a small police presence in the area and the protest was peaceful.

Leicester’s popular African Caribbean Centre could be run by the local community in the future. A recent consultation on the centre, in Maidstone Road, Highfields, found that people would like to see it run by a community organisation. It is currently owned and managed by the city council. The consultation ran from 12th October until 21st November last year, with people able to share their views either online or through paper questionnaires, which were available at all Leicester City Council libraries and community centres. A total of 352 responses were received. The majority of respondents, 84%, were African Caribbean Centre users. The consultation confirmed that the centre is highly valued by users, with some commenting that they have used it since childhood. Visitors to the centre live across the city and many said they use the centre for cultural reasons. The majority of respondents who expressed a preference (53%) said they would prefer community organisations to be given the opportunity to take on the lease and running of the centre. As a result, the city council will now explore options to take this forward. Assistant city mayor for neighbourhoods, Cllr Kirk Master, said DRAFT: “We know that our community asset transfer (CAT) programme has been very successful in other areas of the city. It’s where we offer community groups the chance to lease some of our neighbourhood buildings, if they are considered suitable for this and if there is likely to be some interest from local groups. “The aim of our consultation was to find out if this was something users of the African Caribbean Centre would like to see. We’ll now look to explore options with local groups who could potentially run the centre.” Assistant city mayor for tackling racism and disadvantage, Cllr Sue Hunter, said: “It’s clear that this centre has a special role, attracting people from across the city and people who use the centre throughout their lives. Currently 45 partners and organisations are registered to deliver activities at the centre, with more than 125,000 visitors each year. “Now we can move to getting the community even more involved and invested in the running of this centre so that it continues its important and valued role in the diverse life of our city.” The African Caribbean Centre has been identified as one of a number of council buildings where investment can be made to improve its environmental efficiency. Around £100,000 of improvements, such as installing solar panels, are due to be carried out later this year. Leicester City Council News

Children in Leicester who normally have a free school meal won’t miss out over the half-term break, thanks to a holiday food programme that’s supported by Company Shop and Leicester-based Samworth Brothers. The city council has teamed up with the surplus retailer and the food manufacturer to provide eligible families with fruit, vegetables, milk, bread and store cupboard essentials to ensure children have some breakfast, lunch and dinner options over half-term. Families who have registered for the scheme will be able to collect their food from 19 pop-up community pantries that will be set up at sites across the city – including local schools, children’s centres, leisure centres, the King Power stadium and the Morningside Arena. Each site will be open for a specified time between Thursday 10–Sunday 13 February. Families will be able to select a good food hamper and additional items from the community pantry, choosing food that their child likes to eat up to a value of around £15. Deputy city mayor Cllr Sarah Russell, who leads the city council’s anti-poverty agenda, said: “It’s been another tough year for everyone, but it’s been particularly difficult for families on low incomes, especially as we see fuel and food prices soaring. “I’m therefore really pleased that we’re going to be opening up our half-term food ‘shops’ next month, which will hopefully make life a little easier for many local families. “Around 14,500 children and young people in Leicester are eligible for free school meals and it’s vital that they don’t miss out on a meal when the schools are closed. “I’d like to thank the team at Samworth Brothers and Company Shop for helping us support thousands of young people and their families across the city with this important half-term initiative, and I’d also like to thank the dozens of volunteers who will give up their time to help staff our 19 community pantries. “Families who have been contacted by their child’s school should now make sure they register for the half-term scheme by Monday (24 January).” Leicester-based Samworth Brothers produce premium quality chilled and ambient foods – from sandwiches, meals and savoury pastries to salads, cooked meats and snacks – so they were perfectly placed to provide the city council with the thousands of items required to provide a week’s worth of meals for 14,500 children. Paula Gagin, Samworth Brothers Community Champion, said: “We’ve worked together across the group and with the Company Shop team to secure the huge amount of food required. “It was quite a challenge, but we have some fantastic people who pulled out all the stops to make it happen. We are passionate about our role within our local communities and I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to support such a great initiative.” Steph McGinty, Group Managing Director, Company Shop Group, said: “Food insecurity remains a real concern, particularly during school holidays, so we’re delighted to be working with Leicester City Council and Samworth Brothers to support this activity. Ensuring people can access fresh and healthy food is vital so that they and their communities can thrive.” The city council has allocated £200,000 from the Covid Household Support Grant to fund the initiative and help support the city’s most financially vulnerable families. Children who are eligible for the scheme will have been directly contacted by their schools. Families wishing to take up the offer have until Monday (24 January) to complete their registration form and select the pop-up shop they wish to use. Anyone who thinks their child might be eligible for free school meals can find out more at leicester.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals Leicester City Council News release.

Three men are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Thursday 20 January) after they were charged with kidnap and a number of sexual offences. Vahar Manchala, 22, of Gaul Street, Leicester has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of assaulting a female aged 13 and over by penetration with a part of his body/a thing and one count of kidnap/falsely imprisoning a person with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence Rana Yellambai, 28, of Gaul Street, Leicester has been charged with one count of one count of kidnap/falsely imprisoning a person with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence and one count of assaulting a female aged 13 and over by penetration with a part of his body/a thing Ajay Doppalapudi, 25, of Gaul Street, Leicester has been charged with one count of one count of kidnap/falsely imprisoning a person with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence and one count of assaulting a female aged 13 and over by penetration with a part of his body/a thing The charges relate to a report that a woman was subjected to a serious sexual assault in Misterton on Sunday (16 January). A fourth man, aged 27, was arrested as part of the investigation and released with no further action. 🔴 Updated News 20/01/22 The men, all in their 20s and from Leicester, were remanded in custody by Magistrates’ in the city and will appear at Leicester Crown Court next month. Leicestershire News release 19/01/22

A Package of wide-ranging investments in vital services and community facilities across Leicester has been set out in the city council’s draft capital spending programme for 2022. Work including refurbishing children’s homes, carrying out flood risk prevention measures and improving parking and public spaces in neighbourhoods across the city are due to be funded in the programme over the coming year. The ongoing reductions in Government funding over the last decade mean the city council does not have the funds to finance all the work needed to meet the city’s needs. The 2022/23 draft capital spending programme report includes projects to the value of £56m. Capital works include works to buildings and roads. These are funded with grants paid to the council for capital spending and other one-off funding. This funding is different to the revenue budget which is facing severe problems due to Government funding cuts. The revenue budget pays for day-to-day running costs such as staff pay, maintenance and keeping services open. The capital programme is primarily focused on the council’s key pledges, including: A fair city Connecting Leicester Homes for all Lifelong learning A city to enjoy Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “This programme of spending for the next year aims to ensure that essential building and improvement work is carried out, as well as works to help the city recover from nearly two years of disruption from the pandemic. “By focusing our spending programme on just the year ahead and on our key pledges, we can do our best to carry out the work which will make a positive difference to people in neighbourhoods across the city despite the uncertainties of the future.” Projects that are part of the draft capital programme include: £8.4million for Social Care and Education, of which £7.5m will be used on maintenance and improvements to school buildings, and £850,000 used to refurbish the city’s children’s homes. £11.3million is set aside for planning, development and transport schemes including community improvement works, road safety schemes, flood prevention works and maintaining the city’s roads. £5.4million for private sector housing, which includes work such as home repair loans, Disabled Facilities Grants to cover adaptations to homes, and also bringing empty homes back into use as much-needed housing. £0.6m to improve or create multi-use games areas in the city’s neighbourhoods, some of which have fallen into disrepair. The draft programme also includes some schemes which involve investing now in facilities which will attract inward investment or generate more business. £1m will be spent on refurbishing Malcolm Arcade in the city’s Lanes, including a new roof and improvements to the floors, walls, staircase, lighting, doors and windows. The work is designed to help attract new businesses and customers. Likewise, £850,000 is due to be invested in making retail and shopfront improvements in communities across the city, by providing grants for businesses to make changes which will help their businesses recover after the disruption caused by Covid-19. The work includes shop front grants, café seating grants and related works such as new paving, bollards, landscaping or roofing. Other proposals include £7.3m set aside for the next phase of improvements to Leicester’s outdoor market. Leicester City Council News 20/01/22

Improvements have been made to Knighton Library as part of a £75,000 investment by the city council. New flooring, energy-efficient LED lights, a new reception area and free-standing shelving units are among the changes made to the library, in Clarendon Park Road, as part of the council’s Transforming Neighbourhood Services programme. There are also new public computer work stations, plus desk space for customers to plug in their own devices. In addition, the library has been extensively decorated inside, with a partition taken out to open up the space and make it more flexible for community use. The refurbishment work has been carried out over a 14-week period, since 11 October 2021, with the library reopening to customers with its new look on Monday (17 Jan). Later in the spring, a new trial self-access system will be launched, giving customers access to the library even when staff are not there, so that they can borrow books and use the computers and study desks outside of the library’s normal opening hours. Knighton and Evington libraries will be the first in the city to try out this new self-access system, with Evington library also due to launch a trial this spring. Assistant city mayor for neighbourhoods, Cllr Kirk Master, said: “We know that library services are something that people really value and see as an integral part of their neighbourhoods. That’s why we’ve been determined to think innovatively so that we can keep libraries at the heart of our communities. “We listened to people in Knighton who told us in a consultation that they wanted to see investment in their local library. “Providing out-of-hours access to libraries, transforming our community buildings and investing in refurbishment programmes are just some of the ways in which we are ensuring that our neighbourhood services are fit for the future. I hope these improvements in Knighton will mean even more people join Leicester city libraries – it’s free and easy to join!” Find out more about Leicester’s libraries, our online and e-book services, and how to join at: www.leicester.gov.uk/libraries Leicester City Council News 20/01/22