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Police are trying to trace a number of boxing belts stolen from a burglary in Quorn. Sometime between 3pm on Sunday 19 March and 7am the following morning (Monday), a house in the Station Road area was broken into and four World Championship professional boxing belts were stolen. The belts were all signed by professional boxers and each contained a written message to the victim’s son. Also stolen from the address were four watches, wedding rings, designer clothing, a PS5 games console and a suitcase. Officers are appealing for anyone who may have any information regarding the current whereabouts of these stolen belts or has been offered them for sale. Anyone with information regarding the burglary or any of the property is also asked to get in touch. You can contact police on 101 quoting 23000168779 or online at www.leics.police.uk

Mr Nixon said: “Continuing to improve the visibility and accessibility of police across all communities is a key priority for the force and in rural locations, like parts of Rutland, it is even more important. “Throughout the last few years we have continued to expand the different ways the public can contact us, particularly digitally – with the use of online reporting. “But we know different people prefer to engage with us in different ways and so it is vital we provide as many options as possible. Having a FEO at the station will help to strengthen the service we offer in the area.” Inspector Lindsey Madeley-Harland, NPA Commander for Rutland and Melton, said: “It is great to have a FEO open again. This facility is an extension of the service we already provide in Rutland and offers people in the county another point of contact. “Our local officers and staff will still be policing across the region – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – patrolling the streets, engaging with our communities and responding to incidents.” Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews added: “Being able to see and talk to a police officer matters a great deal to our communities. “Rutland has been the only county in the country not to have a public facing enquiry desk, so I’ve pushed very hard for this. I’ve listened to local people who feel very strongly about the need for a contact point to meet officers in the heart of the community and this new facility is the result. “I recognise that feelings of safety go hand in hand with the ability to see police officers doing their jobs effectively in the community. This is what makes this provision so important. “This latest improvement will help to reassure residents that we are working hard to deliver the responsive service they expect. It also represents excellent value for money, eliminating rental costs and providing a secure base in the long-term.”

On Sunday 23 April 2023, there will be a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service. Emergency Alerts is a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a danger to life nearby. In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe. The government does not need to know your phone number or location to send you an alert. Reasons you might get an alert You may get alerts about: severe flooding fires extreme weather Emergency alerts will only be sent by: the emergency services government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies What happens when you get an emergency alert Your mobile phone or tablet may: make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent vibrate read out the alert The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds. An alert will include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more information. You’ll get alerts based on your current location - not where you live or work. You do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts. What you need to do. When you get an alert, stop what you’re doing and follow the instructions in the alert. If you’re driving or riding when you get an alert You should not read or otherwise respond to an emergency alert whilst driving or riding a motorcycle. If you are driving, you should continue to drive and not respond to the noise or attempt to pick up the mobile phone and deal with the message. Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. If there is nowhere safe or legal to stop close by, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, tune into live radio and wait for bulletins until you can find somewhere safe and legal to stop. It is illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding. If you cannot receive emergency alerts If you do not have a compatible device, you’ll still be informed about an emergency. The emergency services have other ways to warn you when there is a threat to life. Emergency alerts will not replace local news, radio, television or social media. If you’re deaf, hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have an emergency alert. Alert languages Emergency alerts will be sent in English. In Wales, they may also be sent in Welsh.

A FREE electric bus service that will connect transport hubs, shopping areas and visitor attractions in Leicester city centre will be introduced next month, making it much easier for people – especially those with mobility difficulties – to get around. From Monday 3 April, the new Greenlines Hop! service will link the train station with the city’s bus stations and destinations including Leicester Market, the Highcross shopping centre, the King Richard III Visitor Centre, the LRI and Mandela Park. Three zero-emission green buses – each seating 21 passengers – will operate every 10 minutes on an anti-clockwise loop, with 12 stops along the route. Running from 8am-6pm from Monday to Saturday, the new buses will be fitted with electronic information displays, next stop announcements, WiFi and USB charging at each seat, while each of the stops will offer real-time information displays and text-to-speech facilities. Branded with a friendly frog motif, the Hop! buses will also have a unique sound, as all three buses have been fitted with a distinctive ‘ribbit’-effect bell. The city council will launch the free service on an 18-month trial basis as one of its Leicester Buses Partnership commitments. Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke said: “The new Hop! service will provide people with an easily accessible, free, green, transport option that connects key sites around the city centre, with bus stops conveniently close to Leicester’s pedestrian zone. “We’re proud of our city centre and want those who might struggle to access it, including older residents and people with mobility problems, to be able to enjoy all it has to offer, sustainably. “The new Hop! buses will also be useful for visitors, with their circular route providing a good introduction to Leicester and its attractions for those who are new to the city. “These new zero-emission buses will be the latest addition to Leicester’s growing fleet of clean, green electric buses and are part of our commitment to addressing the climate emergency, with the city’s whole bus network due to be fully electric or zero-emission by 2030.” Three fully-accessible zero-emission electric midi buses, costing around £1million, have been purchased for the Hop! scheme, thanks to a successful bid for funding from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund. Centrebus have been contracted to operate the service, with the city council funding the scheme and its promotion with a budget of around £325,000. David Brookes, commercial and operations director at Centrebus, said: “Hop! will be the latest addition to the ever-increasing network of electric bus routes in Leicester. It will not only provide a new and sustainable way to get around the city centre, but will also contribute to better air quality and reduce carbon emissions. “Centrebus are proud to be working with the city council on this project. We hope the service will prove popular with passengers and we’re excited to launch these new electric vehicles in the city centre.” Louise Collins, senior stakeholder manager for independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “Transport Focus welcomes the launch of Hop! services by Leicester Buses Partnership, providing free bus services around Leicester city centre. This is a great initiative that gives passengers what they want – a frequent and reliable service that links key transport hubs with popular destinations. “This will go a long way to help people see that buses are an attractive way to make journeys that are good for air quality and the environment.” More information about Hop! is available at leicesterbuses.co.uk/hop

New road safety campaign launched to raise awareness of risks when speeding or driving too fast for road conditions, especially on rural roads Latest statistics show 60% of all young male car driver serious and fatal collisions happened on rural roads The campaign highlights that speed kills and injures 54 young people every week in the UK Drivers are being urged by road safety experts to think about the dangers of driving too fast for road conditions in a new THINK! campaign which launches today (Monday 6 March 2023). The new THINK! campaign, “Is pushing it worth it?” is targeted at young male drivers as statistics show male drivers aged 17-24 are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged 25 or over. Research findings also show that 60% of all young male car driver serious and fatal collisions were on rural roads. Saftey experts further raise concerns as less than half (43%) of young men consider exceeding the speed limit to be unacceptable, while over two thirds (68%) see drink driving and over half (52%) think using a mobile without handsfree is unacceptable. Alongside the campaign, the Government continues to consider how to enhance road safety, with a particular focus on rural roads. As part of the Safer Roads Fund, the Government, together with local authorities and safety groups, is continuing to deliver a wide range of improvements across rural roads To date, £100m has been provided through the programme to improve the fifty most dangerous roads in England, the majority of which are rural roads. Some of the improvements already made include improved signage, safer pedestrian crossings and better designed junctions. Road Safety Minister Richard Holden said: "Road safety is our priority, but we want to accelerate our efforts to tackle unsafe driving habits and create some of the safest roads in the world. “We’re highlighting the dangers of relaxed driving attitudes on rural roads so that everyone recognises that pushing the speed limit is just not worth it. ”Speeding accounts for around one in four fatal collisions, but despite this is considered one of the least risky and most acceptable behaviours among drivers, especially young men. The campaign highlights that speed kills and injuries 54 young people every week in the UK. Dr Gemma Briggs, Professor of Applied Cognitive Psychology at the Open University, said: Most drivers consider themselves to be ‘better than average’ at driving. This can make drivers feel that while others shouldn’t speed, their own increased skill means they can handle a bit of extra speed, and every journey completed seemingly without incident for a speeding driver confirms to them that their behaviour is acceptable, even if they endanger others.“ Young drivers also have these biases, but have the added problem of a lack of driving experience. They can’t rely on their previous experience to understand driving situations, so adding other elements to this such as additional speed increases the likelihood of young drivers failing to notice hazards and being involved in a collision. ”THINK! research shows young males underestimate the risks of driving just a few miles per hour over the right speed for the road conditions. The campaign seeks to challenge overconfidence among younger drivers and highlight that while excessive speeding is an issue, it is equally important to not slightly go over the speed limit or drive too fast for the road. The campaign comes as part of a wide range of safety initiatives, including the recent research project ‘Driver2020’ which considers the different ways to make young drivers safer, more confident and more skilful in their first year of driving. RAC road safety spokesperson Simon Williams said: "We know speeding presents a clear and present road safety danger, particularly on country roads where the number of collisions is much greater. We also know that far too many young people are injured or killed every year in car accidents, so hopefully this campaign can bring about some much-needed behavioural change among the nation’s least experienced drivers which helps to keep everyone safe on our rural roads. "The campaign marks another milestone for the government’s award-winning THINK! campaign, a dedicated road safety awareness campaign which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on UK roads. In the decade that followed the conception of THINK!, road deaths in the UK reduced by 46%. Over the past five years, THINK! has primarily targeted young male drivers who are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads than drivers aged 25 and over. During this time THINK! campaigns have helped to shift attitudes among this audience towards drink driving, passenger distraction and using a handheld mobile at the wheel.

“People coming here can feel safe and supported, with no pressure to do anything they aren’t comfortable with.” “People coming here can feel safe and supported, with no pressure to do anything they aren’t comfortable with.” These are the words of the SARC – sexual assault referral centre - manager, Millie Gant. The centre, based just outside the city centre, was set up in 2016 and offers a safe space for adult victims of sexual assault or abuse to come for help. There are specialist services available there – from giving an initial account to a crisis worker, to finding out about what support options you have, to understanding around a forensic medical examination and aftercare medicine, to reporting the offence to the police. But even with all this available, Juniper Lodge – as the SARC is known – it doesn’t feel like a hospital or a police station. “We wanted it to feel reassuring; safe. People accessing us have been through something very traumatic either very recently or historically, and have made a big decision to come to us, through, whichever channel they’ve come,” Millie said. She added: “We want to make sure people get the support they need before deciding whether to report it and supporting that process, if that’s chosen.” The centre is co-commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire and NHS England, and some referrals to the centre come through NHS channels. Millie said: “I think many people assume that the only way to get help if you’ve been sexually assaulted or abused is by reporting it to the police, but that’s far from the case. “We have referrals through GP practices – people feel safe talking to their GP and may disclose what’s happened to them there, voicing concerns about their health as a result – and we have referrals through 111, and local A&E departments too.” Walking into Juniper Lodge, with its purposeful design, feels calming, with sofas, cushions and a soft floral scent. The soft green paint on the walls immediately makes you feel like you’ve walked into a neutral, safe space. “The whole centre is victim-led, putting their needs and choices at the heart of everything we do. Supporting a person through our forensic medical processes is the role of a forensic nurse and crisis worker, working together to ensure that the decisions about what happens are down the person we are caring for,” Millie said. The centre has medical suites, where a person is able to choose what forensic evidence is gathered from them, as well as being offered a head-to-toe check, documentation of any injuries – if there are any – and aftercare medicines and support. But even with this gathered, there’s no pressure to ever make a report to the police; it’s such a personal decision. Mille said: “Some people want to come to us to complete a medical examination and obtain emergency medicine while they access support to help them decide what to do; this way, a person is in control of their care and they can decide to report it to police or not, with no pressure to do so. “Once that report has been made, it’s out there and it’s a big decision. Some people feel it’s enough to have had their account listened to and taken seriously, and don’t progress it with the police. Others decide to later. It really is such a personal choice and there is never any expectation to report formally or not.” The team, at the moment, is all women; from the nursing staff, the clinical lead and the ISVAs – the independent sexual violence advisors. This is reflective of the majority of the victims that come through the SARC’s doors. Millie said: “We see a much higher level of women at our centre, so it feels empowering to have a strong team of women, supporting other women when they need it most, giving them help and guidance following something awful happening to them. “But, of course, men are victims of sexual assault and abuse too. We recognise that men may find it harder to access us, but please know the same level of care, support and advice is available to any victim of a sexual assault, no matter when the abuse took place. “If you have been sexually assaulted or abused, turn to us; we are here to help.” For further details about Juniper Lodge visit the website at www.juniperlodge.org.uk Details for partner organisations are in the table below: Trade Are a health charity, supporting the LGBT+ community with their sexual and overall health needs and concerns 0116 254 1747 info@tradesexualhealth.com First Step Work with male abuse survivors aged 13 and above 0116 2548535 contact@firststepleicester.org.uk Quetzal Offer counselling and a helpline to women who have suffered sexual abuse as a child. 0333 101 4280 Jasmine House, Leicester Rape Crisis Offer specialist counselling and support for females aged 13 and above that have suffered sexual violence or assault. Office line: 0116 255 5962 Helpline: 0116 255 8252 www.jasminehouse.org.uk FreeVa Provide a dedicated helpline along with specialist support including access to an independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) for males and females of any age, including children. Helpline: 0808 80 200 28 Text support: 07715 994 962 www.freeva.org Juniper Lodge Is a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) that offers support, forensic medical facilities and advice, to anyone aged 18 years and above regardless of whether a report is made to the police. 0116 273 3330 juniper.lodge@leics.police.uk Website: www.juniperlodge.org.uk

Police are appealing for the whereabouts of a number of ornaments stolen from a business in Leicester. Overnight between 18 and 19 January, a business in Lunsford Road was broken into, and four religious ornaments were stolen. As part of our investigation, a 33-year-old man has been arrested in suspicion of burglary and remains in police bail pending further enquiries. If anyone knows of the current whereabouts of these statues or have been offered similar items for sale, please contact police on 101 quoting 23000037027.

A Blue plaque commemorating Leicester suffragette Alice Hawkins is due to be unveiled on the house in the city neighbourhood where she lived. The plaque at 18 Mantle Road, Newfoundpool, marks the address where she and her family lived during her campaigning years in the early 1900s. It is being unveiled to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023. The commemorative plaque is the result of work by local Fosse Ward councillors, Alice’s great-grandson Peter Barratt and Ismail Dale of Heritage Schools. Pupils from local primary and secondary schools will lead the event which takes place at 10am. Many suffragettes, including Alice, refused to provide their address for census purposes of the day, but a postcard from Alice’s suffrage memorabilia, which is still in the ownership of her descendants, gave the address. The postcard, which was sent to her by Leeds suffragette Mary Gawthorpe on June 11, 1907, provided valuable formation on where Alice lived. This has enabled councillors in Fosse Ward and Peter Barratt to confirm the address with the Records Office and, via a local community ward fund grant, to bring the blue plaque campaign to fruition. Tying in with International Women’s Day, it not only commemorates Alice Hawkins, but many of the other local women who campaigned alongside her for equality at the ballot box. Councillor Sue Waddington, who has been involved in leading the campaign, said: “I am very pleased that the plaque to celebrate Alice’s life will be a permanent reminder of her life in Fosse ward and her struggles for votes for women. “It was a hard-won fight for the vote and Alice was imprisoned many times during the campaign. “I hope the plaque reminds us of her sacrifices and that we should all use our precious right to vote at every election.” Following the unveiling there will be a short talk on Alice by Peter Barratt, at the Fosse Neighbourhood Centre, immediately opposite the house in Mantle Road. The event is open to the public to attend. Peter Barratt added: “To see a plaque unveiled on the very house where Alice and family, including our grandfather, lived over a 100 years ago will be a very touching moment for myself and all her descendants who will be with me on the day.” Pupils from nearby Inglehurst Junior School, Castle Mead Academy and Fosse Mead Academy will be taking part in the unveiling ceremony. The plaque also ties in with Historic England’s Heritage Schools project to connect youngsters with their local history. Heritage Schools’ Ismail Dale said: “Place-based local history is a very powerful tool to engage school children and connect them with their shared past. “Alice’s struggle for democracy has inspired pupils in Leicester to appreciate their inherited legacy of British democracy and encourage them to become active citizens. “Historic England’s Heritage Schools Programme has enabled Peter Barratt, the great grandson of Alice, to go into schools and over several years, share her stories with thousands of Leicester’s pupils. “It is his hard work that eventually led to the unveiling of the statue in Green Dragon Square and, with Councillor Sue Waddington, the installation of this plaque in Mantle Road. “The enthusiastic involvement of these local pupils shows how her story resonates with them today and her legacy will continue well into the future.” A statue of Alice Hawkins was erected in 2018 at Green Dragon Square, next to Leicester Market, near to the spot where she would have addressed crowds on the subject of women's suffrage.

Thousands of children across Leicester will be offered places at secondary schools today – with a record number of children being offered a Year 7 place at a city school. Today (Wed 1 March) is National Offer Day, when children up and down the country learn which secondary school they will attend for the 2023/24 academic year. In Leicester, 4,785 city residents applied for a secondary school place. Of those, 4,083 (85.3%) gained a place at their first-choice school. A further 445 (9.3%) got their second preference, 83 (1.7%) their third preference and 13 (0.3%) their fourth preference. In total, 96.6% were offered a place at one of their top four schools, with the remaining 3.4% offered alternative places. Every applicant who applied on time was offered a place at a school. A record number of applicants (4369) were offered a place at a Leicester city secondary school. This is the seventh consecutive year of increasing numbers of applicants being granted places at city schools, up from 3,541 in 2016. Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, assistant city mayor for education, said: “I’m really pleased to see that the vast majority of applicants – 96.6% – gained a place at one of their preferred schools, with most getting their first choice. “We know starting secondary school can be an anxious time for families, and we do all we can to make the applications process as straightforward as possible while meeting demand. “Despite making a record number of offers of places within city secondary schools, we have made sure that, once again, no-one who applies on time is without a place.” This year, 91% of parents made an online application, meaning they can view their results online on offer day, rather than having to wait for a letter to be posted out to them.

Leicester City Council is set to renew powers to stop landlords putting up boards advertising their properties in some parts of the city. In summer 2018, the city council brought into effect a new Regulation 7 Direction which effectively banned the use of ‘To Let’ boards in some areas of the city, close to the University of Leicester and De Montfort University. It means that landlords and agents now need to apply for planning consent to put up signs advertising properties for rent in parts of the Castle, Knighton, Saffron and Westcotes wards. If they fail to comply, they could face court action and be fined up to £2,500. The ban covers some addresses in the Windermere, Hazel, Clarendon Park, Greenhill, West End, Ashleigh Road and West End conservation areas. The existing legal direction is due to expire in July 2023, and the city council is planning to apply for this to renewed. Before then, people are being invited to have their say of the effectiveness of the measure and whether they support a continuation of the ban on unauthorised 'To Let' boards in these parts of the city. Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair, who leads on regulatory services, said: “Prior to bringing these new powers into effect, many people who lived close to the universities were concerned about the almost permanent proliferation of ‘To Let’ boards on their streets. “Since the direction was implemented, there has been a significant reduction in illegally displayed ‘To Let’ boards which has led to an improvement in the appearance of the affected areas. We don’t want to see the advertising boards becoming an eyesore in these areas again and hope to renew the legal powers which have helped us to successfully tackle the problem.” Councils can apply for powers to control the display of ‘To Let’ boards under Regulation 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007. Leicester City Council submitted its bid for the Regulation 7 direction in October 2016, following a public consultation on the proposal. The successful bid was confirmed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in February 2018. The powers first came into effect from 2nd July 2018 and last for five years. To have your say on plans to renew the existing ban on To Let boards in certain parts of the city, visit consultations.leicester.gov.uk Closing date for comments is Wednesday 5 April.

A gang of 16 men who sold cocaine via text message have been jailed for more than 86 years. Operating out of addresses in Leicester city centre, the group operated three mobile phone numbers which allowed members of the public to buy drugs. Both were monitored by an ‘operator’ who would be a direct point of contact with the buyer. The operator would then contact a ‘courier’ – who was using a different number – who would then meet the buyer, hand over the cocaine and collect the cash. However, the group’s criminal activity – between October 2019 and January 2021 – was uncovered following a comprehensive investigation by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU). It is estimated that the group received just under £2m dealing drugs in this 16-month period. During the case, more than £74,000 was seized by the police. Forfeiture orders have been made for the full £74,000. The group, who are all of no fixed abode, previously appeared at court where they admitted their crimes. Sentencing took place both yesterday and today (Wednesday 1 March) at Leicester Crown Court. They are: Besfort Agaj, 30, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to eight years Liridon Agaj, 28, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs – cocaine and one count of possession of an identity document with improper intention, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years Elvi Bajrami, 36, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to six years and eight months Erlind Bashukaj, 28, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine and one count of possession of an identity document with improper intention, was sentenced to four years and eight months years Bledar Cakraj, 26, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine and one count of possession of an identity document with improper intention, was sentenced to four years Elidon Dega, 26, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to four years and months Bekim Gjongecaj, 25, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to four years and 2 months Bujar Hykaj, 30, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine and two counts of possession of an identity document with improper intention, was sentenced to six years and eight months Erdilant Kucana, 28, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to four years and two months Eraml Kucana, 21, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to four years and eight months Kismet Memia, 35, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to six years and eight months Fatjom Memia, 32, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to four years and eight months Arland Rexhat, 27, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to six years and eight months years Ervin Sinani, 34, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to four years and two months Shkelzen Sokolaj, 51, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine and cone count of possession of an identity document with improper intention, was sentenced to six years and eight months Andi Sula, 36, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine, was sentenced to four years and eight months Detective Sergeant Lindsay O’Nion, from EMSOU, said: “This group were running a very thorough and complex operation to supply drugs across Leicester. “Their approach – using numerous different mobile phone numbers – was developed in the belief it would make it difficult for police to identify them and bring them to justice. However, as a result of a very long, detailed and thorough investigation, they’re now serving custodial sentences. “I hope the public can take some reassurance from this case and know that we will investigate and take action against anyone attempting to bring drugs to the streets of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.” Detective Supeintendent James Avery added: “The sentencing of this group is the culmination of a thorough and highly professional police investigation which was recognised in court today. “It represents our determination to identify, catch and convict those who are involved in the supply of drugs and that there is no limit to our reach as Leicestershire Police works collaboratively with colleagues in EMSOU to bring offenders to justice.” A 39-year-old man, also of no fixed abode, was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine following a trial. Leicestershire Police News 01/03/23

A major £7.5million revamp of a busy Leicester road is nearly complete, with the final phase of resurfacing work due to begin this week. Leicester City Council has been carrying out an extensive programme of improvements to Abbey Park Road, alongside essential maintenance to its Grade II-listed road bridge. The work is now entering its final stage with resurfacing of the road – from its junction with Belgrave Circle up to and including the historic road bridge – scheduled to take place from Friday (24 Feb). Work is expected to take around three weeks to complete, and will be carried out in two phases to help minimise disruption. The first phase will see the stretch of road between Wolsey Island Way up to and including the historic road bridge resurfaced. This will take around three to four days. A second phase of work is then due to begin from Monday 27 Feb when the remaining section of Abbey Park Road, between Wolsey Island Way and Belgrave Circle, will be resurfaced. This is expected to take up to three weeks to complete. Access will be maintained throughout the works, except for on Monday 27 February when the junction to Abbey Meadows will be closed to all traffic for up to one day. Abbey Park Road will remain closed to through traffic during this final stage of work. The road is due to reopen during week commencing Monday 17 March, but some temporary lane restrictions will be still required while work to the bridge parapets is completed. The city council has carried out an extensive programme of maintenance to Abbey Corner Bridge, which spans the River Soar. A detailed survey of the bridge, which dates back to 1874, found evidence of corrosion in the cast iron structure and other issues that have now been remedied following months of expert repair and restoration. This will help ensure that this important road bridge can continue to be used safely by heavy traffic for many years to come. Bridge maintenance work was carried out at the same time as an ambitious programme of highway improvements that will help make Abbey Park Road a more appealing and safer route for all road users, with a new 3.5m-wide bike-friendly footbridge alongside the Abbey Corner Bridge providing the centrepiece. New bus lanes have been created to run in both directions to give more priority to public transport, improve service reliability and encourage more people to use the bus. Some on-street parking has been removed to create more space for the bus lanes. The scheme has been carefully modelled and designed to ensure that traffic capacity will be maintained, helping to reduce delays and congestion. Footpaths have been widened with new off road cycle lanes created to provide more space for people walking or riding bikes, and two new road crossings have been installed. The area immediately in front of the main gates to Abbey Park has also been overhauled to create a more open and attractive approach to the award-winning, historic park. A new gas main has been installed along Abbey Park Road during the works, ahead of the planned resurfacing. This has sightly extended the anticipated work programme but also reduced the likelihood of further disruptive closures of the road for the foreseeable future. The £7.5million revamp of Abbey Park Road is supported by the Transforming Cities Fund as part of an ambitious programme of investment in sustainable transport across the city. Deputy City Mayor Cllr Adam Clarke said: “The ambitious revamp of Abbey Park Road will help change the way that people think about travelling on this busy and important route. “The new bike-friendly footbridge might be the centrepiece, but a range of carefully considered improvements mean that the road will be more people-friendly whatever means of transport they choose. New bus lanes will help improve journey times and what was a fairly daunting road for cyclists is now a much safer and more appealing route. “We are grateful for people’s patience. This has been a major programme of work – which has also seen extensive repairs carried out to one of the city’s oldest road bridges. “Schemes like this don’t come cheaply or without disruption, but it is vital that we continue to invest in helping people make the shift to cleaner, greener, healthier and cheaper modes of travelling around Leicester to further improve the city’s air quality and support our 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.” Leicester City Council is carrying out an ambitious £80million citywide programme of investment in sustainable transport, backed by £40million from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund. The package of work is delivering major sustainable transport improvements to provide attractive choices for people to get to work, education, local and other facilities supporting the city’s growth and deliver on the council’s climate emergency, air quality and healthy living commitments. Leicester City Council News