Foster carers needed Leicestershire County Council has seen an increase in residents getting in touch to find out about fostering. Since April, the council’s fostering team have received almost 400 enquiries from people wanting to do something positive and make a difference to the lives of others. There are currently 683 children in care across Leicestershire, and the council is always looking for kind-hearted people to join their network of foster carers and make a difference to young lives. Foster carers must be over 21 and have a spare room in their home, as well as patience, understanding and lots of love and support to offer a child. There is no upper age limit and full training is provided. "We know that living through this situation has encouraged people to re-evaluate their lives and do something to help others. For many, fostering is something they’ve been thinking about for a long time. I want to thank people for answering our call over the last few months, by responding to our adverts, contacting us for more information and asking, ‘how can I help?’. I would urge residents to keep supporting children in care by getting in touch with our team if they think they might be able to foster and would like to know more." Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for children and families As well as the rewarding nature of fostering, Leicestershire’s foster carers have access to 24 hour support to help them achieve the best outcomes for young people in their care. There are many different ways to foster, including long-term fostering, meaning that children remain in a permanent placement with their foster carer, and supported lodgings which involves offering a room and support to a young person over the age of 16. Specialist foster carers roles are also available, for those from professional caring backgrounds to work with some of the county’s most complex young people, supported by a dedicated team at the council. To find out more about the different ways to foster and how you could change lives, including your own, visit: www.fosteringleicestershire.com or call 0116 305 05 05. Leicestershire Contry Council Wednesday, 18 November, 2020

Please take as much care as you can, says Covid-19 survivor With two weeks of national lockdown left, a Covid-19 survivor from Leicestershire says ‘it’s down to all of us’ to unite in the fight against the virus. Alex, from Loughborough, says he is still ‘having days that are not so good’, even though it’s now six months since he left hospital after spending two weeks on an intensive care ward. Alex is bravely sharing his experience at the same time as a rallying cry is issued by the county council reminding people there are two weeks to drive down rates across Leicestershire. The 46-year-old project manager said: “I just want people to take as much care as they can and follow the guidance. I know, for some people, wearing a mask, for example, is uncomfortable, but try being incubated in terms of being uncomfortable. “I really wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I’ve been through. I wouldn’t want anyone’s partner or people themselves receiving a phone call saying that their significant other might not come out of hospital – but that was the scenario we were faced with.” Mike Sandys, the county council's director of public health, says that bringing down rates to around 150 per 100,000 people is the ballpark figure for the county to leave lockdown in tier one. He said a rate of 150-200 could tip Leicestershire into tier two and the current rate of around 300 could mean tier three restrictions after 2 December. "Alex’s experience really resonates with me. It’s clear he is still dealing with the effects of having Covid-19 and he’s right that it is down to us all to play our part. “The advice is pretty clear – if you have symptoms, please get tested. You must book an appointment by contacting 119 or through the nhs.uk website. “We know there’s an impact on people’s lives, but we have to keep doing the right thing by staying at home, except for education, work, exercise, medical reasons and food shopping, following a good hygiene regime, wearing a mask and keeping two metres apart. “This will help to bring down the numbers. We need to be halving our numbers to give ourselves the best chance of leaving lockdown in tier one.” Mike Sandys, county council director of public health Alex added: “I still have days when I’m not so good. I still get breathless. It just means I’ve had to learn to adapt to what I can do. “It’s also made my fully appreciate the things which are important in life – the things I value the most, such as my family, who this probably affected the most.” Alex’s story is available here For the latest coronavirus updates, visit https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19 People with symptoms are being urged to get a test. They must book an appointment by calling 119 or at http://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test Leicestershire County Council Tuesday, 17 November, 2020

Work is due to begin this month on the latest schemes to create much-needed additional parking spaces in neighbourhoods across the city. The rolling programme of local environmental works by Leicester City Council is creating scores of new parking areas in communities where parking is at a premium, by making alterations to existing parking bays or verges, or improving upon existing hard surface areas in some places. Similar work carried out over the previous two years has seen over £1million invested in creating 150 new spaces and parking areas in 19 neighbourhoods. The latest programme of work begins on November 23 and will see three parking areas providing 11 spaces being built at a cost of £100,000 in Kirkwall Crescent, in Thurncourt ward. At New Romney Close, in Humberstone and Hamilton ward, a new 10-space parking area is being created at a cost of £65,000, starting from November 30. On the same date, work will start on installing a new five-space layby in Braunstone Avenue, costing £27,500 while in Stoughton Street, in the city’s Wycliffe ward, a new 15-space parking area costing £75,000 will get underway, incorporating an existing hardstanding area. At each site, the works will take between two and six weeks to complete, depending on the amount of work involved, and will total over £267,000. Further stages of work are planned for early 2021, including creating a five-space parking area a Apollo Court, in Wycliffe ward, at a cost of £45,000. In the city’s Western ward, work will be carried out to create five new parking spaces at Wood End, costing £32,000, along with three new spaces at Withen Close (£13,000), four new spaces at Thornholme Close, costing £27,000, and three new spaces across two sites in Mossgate, totalling £32,000. Alterations will also be made to the bay markings at an existing parking area in Butterwick Drive, Beaumont Leys, to create four new parking spaces. Proposed schemes which are still awaiting formal planning permission include the creation of a 10-space parking area at Gees Lock Close, in Aylestone, costing around £80,000, and in North Evington, where there are plans for 12 new parking spaces, costing £75,000, at a scheme in Farnham Street. The schemes focus on residential areas and housing developments where there isn’t sufficient parking, and where concerns over parking issues have been raised locally. In total, the work being carried out this year and the planned schemes for early 2021 will see an investment of over £500,000 in improving neighbourhood parking. Funding for the schemes is coming from a combination of highways budgets and housing budgets. Leicester assistant city mayor for neighbourhoods, Cllr Kirk Master, said: “This is part of ongoing work in communities across the city, where parking continues to be a major issue for residents. In many cases, streets which were designed decades ago can’t handle the much higher number of vehicles which we see today. “In some cases the solution involves making improvements to existing car parking bays, or adapting hard standing areas into new parking spaces, while at other locations we have to start from scratch and create something new. “In each instance we’re working closely with local ward councillors to look at what can be done and trying our best to find answers which meet the needs of local residents.” Leicester City Council Published on Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Its Christmas, and Santa’s on his way... An original charity single titled ‘It’s Christmas ( Santas On His Way)”, to help raise money for Hope Against Cancer, is due to be released shortly. The song has been produced and recorded at Mark Morrison’s (Return Of the Mac) studio - Macklife, with 8 local Leicester business owners. the song set to reach the souls of many people, whilst aiming to raise as much money and awareness as possible for the local charity. The performers include Tommy Reid & Sam Halden from BHIB insurance Brokers, Jo Peters - JSP Virtual, Pete Simpson - MME mortgages, Satwinder Sidhu - Paradigm Wills Gurbinder Singh, - BGS Accounting Byron Dixon - Microfresh, Gavin Dilkes - Synergy Personal, Steph Beeston-Clarke - Beeston Clarke Management Solutions, Tracey Hallam - Hope Against Cancer. Tommy Reid, writer and organiser of “It’s Christmas” commented: “I called on a network of business owners to come together to try and add some fun and joy in what has been a very challenging year. They all gave up their busy time to record and will give more time for the video. I approached Mark Morrison and his new Macklife Studio team to help record it and they went over and above in supporting us. We were supplied with a highly experienced vocal producer which was definitely needed! We believe this song is fun, relevant and would love to get it exposure to help raise more money for our beloved HOPE Against Cancer” “It’s an extremely Fun, relevant and smile spreading song that gives joy to all the children this year for Christmas, when there is lots of worry and concern in the world as everyday people are feeling a little anxious and scared right now”. The theme of the song is all about Christmas spirit especially during these challenging times and how, whatever happens in between now and then, In order to create an original song I approached Dom at Capp Records in san Francisco as I heard an instrumental on a site that I thought was perfect for what I wanted to achieve , and Dom put me in touch with Martin Stack and Mark Gamble who composed the original song, when I explained what I wanted to achieve and for what I wanted they couldn’t wait to get involved and incredibly allowed us to use the song as we wish for the charity single which I was blown away by. Christmas is most certainly not cancelled and lets make the best of what we have. Not missing also, that some family members may be forced to celebrate alone so we mustn’t forget to call on the big day! The original single is will be available to download on all major streaming platforms and social media platforms on 2nd December, plus all proceeds will go to HOPE Against Cancer. For more information of this charity click here www.hopeagainstcancer.org.uk

Operation Sceptre formed part of a national campaign aimed at reducing knife crime by targeting those carrying weapons and disrupt the supply of knives available to use. In all, 10 knives were seized by officers, 20 knives were recovered during 15 knife sweeps across the county and a total of 370 knives were recorded in the knife surrender bins around Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. As part of the week, officers conducted a knife sweep in the New Parks area of Leicester and visited habitual knife carriers across the city and county. Knife arches were deployed in several locations, including Leicester and Loughborough train stations, working in connection with the British Transport Police. Officers also conducted proactive patrols and a number of stop and search activity where appropriate. Working closely with the Violence Reduction Network and local partners a number of engagement activities were conducted with young people. Officers supported local community colleges with anti-knife and drug events and were out on patrol alongside youth workers. The VRN launched its new Mentors in Violence Prevention programme in a number of schools, the programme aims to empower and equip secondary school students to play their role in helping to prevent violence. Online, officers conducted digital knife crime awareness sessions, these were hosted virtually and attended by 6,559 students and 322 professionals across 26 establishments. The workshops acted as forum for pupils and teachers to discuss aspects that lead to potential knife carrying and explore preventative measures, advice and support. T/Detective Superintendent Michelle Keen, of Leicestershire Police’s Violent Complex Crime Unit, said: “This was part of a national campaign and given the Covid-19 guidelines, some operation activity has had to be scaled back. “Despite this we are pleased to have been able to reach so many young people with our lives not knives messages, we have achieved this by working cross-functionally as a force but also through our continued collaboration with partners and the Violence Reduction Network in our joint commitment to tackle violent crime. “We were keen to continue this operation and show those who carry knives that this remains a force priority and will not be tolerated. “If you are looking for help and support, we want to emphasise that change is possible and there are resources available to adults and young people through our website. If you are a concerned family member or friend there are is also information on our website to help you, including multi-lingual flyers and a 10 step guide to starting a conversation with a young person. “Carrying a knife, even for protective purposes, puts you at greater risk of becoming a victim yourself.” Earlier this month 33-year-old Carlos Racitalal was jailed after being convicted of four counts of attempted murder. Each count related to a separate incident in Leicester – and three of those involved victims being stabbed. He was also convicted of three counts of possession of a bladed article. Racitlal was handed four life imprisonment sentences and must serve a minimum term of 22 years and six months. Detective Chief Inspector Chris Baker, Head of the Complex Investigations Team which led the case, said: “The four life sentences that Carlos Racitalal received reflect the seriousness of the offences against vulnerable victims and the danger he presented to the public. He chose his victims apparently at random and without motive. The police response and investigation ensured that he was quickly identified and arrested before he had opportunity to offend again. “Serial offenders like Racitalal are very rare. I am deeply grateful to the community for their support and vigilance throughout this investigation and I am pleased that Leicestershire Police achieved justice not only for the victims and their families, but for the wider community who were so affected by these shocking attacks.” T/Chief Inspector Manjit Atwal, who leads the force’s response to knife crime, added: “Whilst our knife crime figures are down year on year we will continue to do everything we can to catch offenders and deal with them appropriately. Ultimately, knife crime will not be tolerated on our streets.” Lord Willy Bach, Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Despite the current operational challenges resulting from Covid-19 Operation Sceptre proved a big success, highlighting the determination of the police and partners to really tackle knife crime. However, while last week’s action delivered tangible outcomes the work must, and to be fair does, continue all year round. “We need long-term improvements and my focus has always been on prevention activity and to do this we must address the root causes of knife-related harm. The focus needs to be on early child development and early intervention and that’s why I set up the Violence Reduction Network. It’s a little over a year since the launch, so I’m proud to see its ambitious and innovative approaches, which I’m confident will change the mind-set of our young people and that of future generations, beginning to show positive results.” To find our guide and more anti knife crime resources and advice please visit our website - www.leics.police.uk/KnifeCrime. Leicestershire Police press release dated 18/11/20

As we all continue to adapt to the changes brought on by Covid-19, police are asking that people pay attention to changes in behaviour of those they love and act early if they see signs of radicalisation. Radicalisation is the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extreme ideologies, often through grooming. The Home Office’s Prevent programme aims to avoid this happening. Specially trained police Prevent officers, alongside professionals in health, education, local authorities and charities, as well as faith and community groups, seek to help vulnerable people move away from extremism. Together they put the right package of support in place to help them find a new direction. The new ActEarly.uk website aims to explain the process, share people’s experiences and highlight the signs to look out for, in a bid to encourage more referrals from the community. Between January 2019 and June 2020, 17 children were arrested in relation to terrorism offences. Some were as young as 14. Of all Prevent referrals in 2018/19, under 21s made up 58%, with nearly half of those relating to under 15s. Currently, just 2% of referrals into the Prevent programme are made by family and friends, despite the fact that they are more likely to spot the signs of radicalisation before anyone else. Inspector Alex Wood, from the East Midlands Prevent team, said: “As vulnerable people have been further isolated during this pandemic, we worry their susceptibility to negative influence, particularly online, may increase. At the same time, however, families who share the same household are spending much more time together. This offers an important opportunity to take note of anything untoward. “You are best placed to see when the behaviour of a loved one is changing; when something just doesn’t seem right with them. Are they spending a lot of time online? Do they seem guarded about their activities? Showing anger and displaying extreme views? “Could they be being radicalised? “It’s not a nice question to have to ask yourself, nor something anyone wants to be thinking about someone you care about, but it is vital that we all know the signs and act early if we suspect something is wrong. That way, they can get the support they need before the situation escalates into something more serious. “You are not alone. Together we can help prevent them from becoming drawn into harmful activities or groups, and help them choose a different path.” Receiving support is voluntary. We’ll need the person’s permission to help them. We won’t tell the person you’re worried about that you called us, unless you say we can. Visit ActEarly.uk for more information. You can also call the national Police Prevent Advice Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, where our specially trained Prevent officers will listen carefully to your concerns. You won't be wasting our time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.

Members of Leicester’s Muslim community have united in giving thanks to police officers and staff on the frontline. The monetary donation has been given by the community of Masjid Al-Falah, based at Spinney-Hill, as a show of appreciation for the tremendous work served to the community. The community feel grateful to the force for keeping people safe and reassured throughout COVID-19. Chair of Masjid Al Falah, Abdul Karim Gheewala, said: “God bless you, as you serve humanity without hesitation." It was important that the money donated supported officer on the front line. Leicestershire Police Federation (LPF) fund a welfare van which provides a comfortable space to support officers and staff on the front line when they are part of a large operation or responding to significant events, requiring extended care. It has been decided the donated funds will be put towards ensuring this vital resource is stocked with essential items such as food, drink and PPE. Chief Superintendent and Head of Local Policing, Adam Streets, said: “I would like to say a huge personal thank-you to the committee of Masjid Al Farah and its congregation. “The money which has been donated will ensure that officers and staff will have enhances access to provisions to improve their welfare when deployed on the front line during these unprecedented times. I have been truly humbled by the generosity shown.” Spokesperson of the Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO), Suleman Nagdi, said: “Providing essential supplies such as food and drink at times of need is vital to ensure the force’s police officers and staff working tremendously hard are well looked after. “FMO are humbled by one of its affiliates, Masjid Al-Falah, who have donated money which was collected from their congregation for our frontline workers who have worked so hard during the pandemic. Thank you for all of the work you do to keep our communities safe. Your commitment to our safety is greatly appreciated.” Leicestershire Police Press Release 18/11/2020

Construction has started on the transformational development of 300 new homes and new offices at Waterside. Housing developer, Keepmoat Homes is delivering the city centre regeneration scheme in partnership with Leicester City Council. Supported by Brackley Property Developments Ltd who are constructing the office accommodation, the partnership will redevelop the 18-acre brownfield site, located by the Grand Union Canal and River Soar, into a brand-new neighbourhood. Featuring a mix of modern yet contemporary apartments along with 2-bedroom and 4-bedroom houses, the new development is aimed at working professionals aspiring for sustainable city living on the waterfront with an enviable urban design. In addition to the new homes, homebuyers will also benefit from new public green spaces and parks along with luxury office space and retail units, which are already underway. As part of their commitment to the local community and the city of Leicester, Keepmoat Homes has pledged to support local people and help generate opportunities in training and employment through the use of sub-contractors, work placements and educational visits to the site, which will be delivered throughout the lifetime of the project. Shaun Fielding, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes, said: “We are very excited to have started work on at Waterside. We have already received huge interest from potential homebuyers as the location alone, adjacent to High Cross but with a riverside setting is unique and highly appealing. We have worked collaboratively with the city’s design team to create a development of bespoke houses and apartments formed within an incredible urban layout which will be award winning, I have no doubt. “This development means more to us than just delivering quality homes to the area. We are driven to make a big impact to the local community and deliver real value to real people, whether that’s through training and career opportunities or supporting local community groups and we are confident that the Waterside development will benefit not only the area, but the lives of those who choose to live there.” City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “The start of work on the first new homes as part of the Waterside regeneration project marks another milestone for this long-neglected part of the city. “After several years of planning, negotiation and site preparation, our partnership with Keepmoat means that we can begin to see the transformation of this important part of the city into a thriving new neighbourhood. “The regeneration of the Waterside area represents a tremendous opportunity for the city’s growth and future prosperity, by creating great new places to live, space for business to flourish and much better access to our beautiful riverside.” Work at Waterside is expected to take six years, with the first homes becoming available to purchase in Summer 2021 and the sales centre and show homes will be available to view early Spring 2021. The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) has invested £20 million from its Local Growth Fund into the Waterside redevelopment project, that is part of the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone. The construction work will require some temporary closures of nearby towpaths to ensure public safety. These will be clearly signed, with diversion routes in place. About the development A new way of living is coming to Leicester. One that opens up a whole new part of the city to urban living, giving access to a forgotten waterside along with the immediacy of the city centre. Located by the Grand Union Canal, Waterside Leicester is an exciting new development featuring modern yet contemporary 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and 2-4 bedroom homes. Minutes away from the bustling city centre of Leicester with everything you need within walking distance, this development will prove popular for working professionals, small and growing families, investors and downsizers. Find out more www.keepmoat.com/waterside-leicester

Leicester's giant Christmas tree will be a symbol of hope for the city this winter, as the whole country locks down to stop the spread of coronavirus. The 50ft tree – from a sustainable source in the Kielder Forest in Northumberland – arrived in the city in the early hours of yesterday morning (Tuesday 10 November) and now stands proudly alongside Leicester’s Clock Tower. From today (Wednesday), contractors working for the city council will start the mammoth task of decorating the tree with hundreds of pink, turquoise and gold baubles, and around 6,000 pea-lights. And while many of the events and activities scheduled for the run-up to Christmas will not now take place, the tree – and the city centre’s streets – will be lit up in lights from next week until January. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We have to accept that the festive season will be very different for all of us this year, and we simply won’t be able to do all the things we associate with the run-up to Christmas. “The priority now is to stop the virus in its tracks – and that means staying at home as much as possible for the next few weeks. “Fortunately, all the hard work to dress the city centre for Christmas has already been done by our fantastic street lighting team – so when all the city centre’s shops are allowed to open again, they’ll do so under our colourful Christmas lights. “There’s been a Christmas tree at the Clock Tower for as long as anyone can remember, so I’m very glad that the tradition will continue this year, with the tree a symbol of hope in what’s been a very difficult year. “This lockdown is not going to be easy for anyone, but our intention is to do what we can to bring a bit of light into people’s lives during the winter months – and remind ourselves that spring, and better times, aren’t too far away.” The traditional event to switch on the Christmas lights won’t be taking place this year, because of the current restrictions on mass gatherings. Instead, the lights will simply be switched on during the hours of darkness next week. The city council’s lighting team started work in October to put up the decorations that span more than 20 city centre streets. This year, an extra £38,000 has been spent on brand new decorations for Horsefair Street and Humberstone Gate. In Town Hall Square, families will be able to see the traditional Christmas nativity scene, as well as an animated tableau featuring characters from the Tales of Narnia. White pea-lights will light up the trees in Green Dragon Square, while Christmas lights and decorations will also brighten up St Martin’s Square, Highcross and the Haymarket shopping centre this winter. Ideas and activities for Christmas in Leicester will soon be available at www.christmasinleicester.co.uk Leicester City Council Published on Wednesday, November 11, 2020

A Project to improve bus journey times by creating a new slip road from St Margaret’s Bus Station to the city’s inner ring road has been completed. The exit from St Margaret’s Bus Station has been redesigned, meaning buses can now exit the bus station directly onto Burleys Way, rather than taking a lengthier route along New Road, Gravel Street and Abbey Street to get onto the ring road. New traffic islands on Burleys Way, new footpaths, and a crossing point and guard rails along the front of the bus station itself have also been included in the scheme. Work began in the spring, but was then delayed by the lockdown. The new bus gate came into operation this week, and is expected to cut up to five minutes from journey times. The scheme has cost £750,000 and was funded from the Government’s National Productivity Investment Fund under its Bus Pinch Points project. St Margaret’s Bus Station handles around 60 buses every hour, and has been at the centre of the city’s public transport system since 1985. It was last given a major refurbishment in 2007. In August, designs were revealed for a major overhaul of the whole area surrounding the bus station as part of the St Margaret’s Gateway scheme, which will see £10.5m of Government regeneration funding invested in transforming that area of the city with a new bus station and better roads and paths. The money was the result of a bid by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) for a share of the £900m pot of Government’s Getting Building fund, designed to help tackle the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus disruption. That work will be paired with the creation of a transport hub at Charles Street to improve connections between the city railway station and two bus stations. Leicester Deputy City Mayor for environment and transportation, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: “The St Margaret’s Bus Station slip road will significantly reduce journey times for bus users and cut traffic congestion by enabling buses to access the city’s inner ring road directly. “This, combined with the more major improvements, including the complete redevelopment of th bus station itself, will ensure better connectivity and accessibility, as well as reviving that part of the city by opening the way for larger scale regeneration.” Simon Mathieson, area managing director for bus operator Arriva, added: “We very much welcome the opening of this link and the benefit it will bring our passengers, particularly those heading along the Groby Road. This may not look like much but it could well deliver time savings of up to five minutes at busy times.” In addition to local services, St Margaret’s Bus Station also handles coaches from National Express, with destinations including London Victoria coach station, and major cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow airports. It is also the terminus of the Skylink shuttle service, run by Kinchbus, between the city and East Midlands Airport. Sue Blount, Kinchbus general manager, said: “This new road layout will provide a more direct exit from one of the city’s major transport hubs and means bus users will no longer waste time sat in traffic queuing to leaving the city.” Leicester City Council Published on Thursday, November 12, 2020

Leicester City Council will be getting more than £1m to help boost active travel - such as walking and cycling – and to make residential streets quieter and safer. After a successful bid to the Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund, the city council has been awarded £1,378,450 to spend on further improvements to city streets and neighbourhoods. It follows an initial award of more than £405,000 from the fund. This was used on initiatives including the creation of ‘pop up’ cycle lanes in Leicester, helping key workers in particular to get around safely during the coronavirus pandemic. The new funding will be used to help make some of these cycling and walking routes more permanent, as well as to stop traffic from rat-running through neighbourhoods. More space will be created on local streets for people who want to walk or cycle to get around. Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “This is very welcome funding that will help us continue the innovative work we began during lockdown, when we successfully delivered more than 10 miles of new cycle lanes in under 10 weeks. “Now we’ll be able to look at our pop-up cycle lanes and keyworker corridors, consult with local people and work out where it will be most beneficial to make them permanent fixtures. “We’ll also be making improvements to neighbourhood streets so that it is easier for people to choose more active forms of travel - and we will look to move through-traffic away from where it’s not wanted. “Lockdown showed us that people do want to walk and cycle more, but it has to be a safe and easy choice to make. Creating quieter residential streets is key to getting people out of the car and travelling differently.” Over the past decades, there has been a significant rise in traffic volumes on residential streets, resulting in greater noise and air pollution and increasing levels of road danger. In a partnership between Leicester City Council and the sustainable transport charity Sustrans, the funding will be used to provide experimental interventions on neighbourhood streets to reduce the impact of traffic on residential areas and create quieter, safer streets. For example, large planters or moveable barriers could be used to make roads one-way or no-through routes. These schemes will be installed on an experimental basis, so that adjustments to improve effectiveness can be made if needed. Improvements to the ‘keyworker corridor’ cycle lanes could include converting some of the pop-up walking and cycling routes to more permanent facilities; installing bollards to provide more protection for people on foot and cycles in the carriageway; providing segregated cycle tracks as part of carriageway maintenance schemes and creating a cycle and pedestrian crossing over Troon Way. Each of these schemes will complement the city’s existing extensive cycle network and enhance the roll-out of the recently announced bike share project, Santander Cycles Leicester. Funding will also be available to provide additional cycle parking at some schools, workplaces and local shopping centres. Usage of the new infrastructure will be monitored with traffic counts and route user surveys sent to people who use the Betterpoints app. Betterpoints is an app for people travelling in Leicester and Leicestershire which allows you to track your walking and cycling levels, win prizes and collect reward points which can be redeemed for high street gift vouchers or donated to your favourite charity. Engagement and consultation with people living and working in the neighbourhoods and along the corridors where changes are proposed will start to happen over the next few weeks. Views expressed by people on the Widen My Path website, where you can nominate local streets for improvements, will also be considered. This new phase of work will be a continuation of the objectives outlined in the city council’s Transport Recovery Plan, published in May. The plan pledged to deliver 10 miles of pop-up cycle lanes in 10 weeks – actually delivering 11 miles in nine weeks - and also led to the production of a popular Tube-style map of cycling routes available across the city. The map, plus lots more information about cycling and walking in Leicester, is available on the Choose How You Move website at https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/ Leicester City Council Published on Friday, November 13, 2020

Short film commemorating those who have lost their lives in conflict will form the centrepiece of Remembrance Day in Leicester this weekend. Coronavirus lockdown restrictions mean that the traditional Remembrance Day service at the War Memorial in Victoria Park will not be taking place this Sunday, November 8. Instead, Leicester City Council has produced a special commemorative film, taken at Edwin Lutyens’ Arch of Remembrance. Dignitaries including Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapur OBE, and Leicestershire’s Chief Constable Simon Cole, joined a small group of representatives from the Armed Forces and faith groups to lay poppy wreaths at the memorial earlier this week. The wreath-laying is combined with stunning aerial footage of the war memorial, and the tributes left in memory of those killed in wars around the world. A short trailer for the film can be viewed here: youtu.be/YuF7BAOOALI The complete Remembrance Day film will be broadcast just after 11am on Sunday, November 8, on Leicester City Council’s Youtube channel, here: youtu.be/b5rPpsUqtEo It is part of a range of alternative commemorations taking place this year across the city. Leicester City Council will be working alongside BBC Radio Leicester on a Remembrance Day programme to be broadcast on Sunday, November 8, at 10.30am. It will feature personal stories and information from those who have fought in different conflicts, along with a message from the Bishop of Leicester, as well as two minutes’ silence at 11am. The Arch of Remembrance in Victoria Park is illuminated in red. Members of the public have also submitted almost 100 poppy-themed images, photographs and other creative ideas for the Lord Mayor’s Post a Poppy campaign, which invited people to bake cakes, draw pictures or even plant remembrance-themed flowers, and to send in photographs of their works. The images are being projected onto the large wall at Green Dragon Square, near Leicester Market, from 4pm to 10pm every day from now until Tuesday, November 10. They will also be made into a commemorative online gallery. Leicester Lord Mayor, Cllr Annette Byrne, said: “This year’s Remembrance Day commemorations are unlike any other due to the circumstances, but that doesn’t mean they are any less important or poignant. “Although we are unable to hold our traditional service at the war memorial, it will still be the centrepiece of this specially-commissioned short film, which gives people the chance to take a moment and remember all those who have lost their lives in conflicts. “We’ve also had a wonderful response to our Post a Poppy campaign, and it has been very encouraging to see so many people of all ages getting involved in the act of remembrance, despite the challenging circumstances we find ourselves in.” Leicester City Council has a long-standing commitment to help members and former members of the Armed Forces community, through the Armed Forces Covenant, which focuses on removing disadvantages so armed forces service personnel, past and present, get the same treatment and access to services as the civilian community. The city council last re-signed the covenant in 2018. Leicester City Council Published on Friday, November 6, 2020