A Parade featuring 100 beautiful willow lanterns, giant puppetry depicting the fight between good and evil, and a performance by Mercury Music Prize winner Talvin Singh are among the new additions to this year’s Diwali Day celebrations in Leicester. Belgrave Road will once again be the setting for the celebrations which will run from 3pm to 9pm on Sunday 12 November. This year the city council has been working with local arts organisation Inspirate to bring new and exciting elements to the traditional event format, made possible thanks to funding support from Arts Council England. Deputy city mayor for culture Cllr Adam Clarke said: “Diwali day is a very special time for many people in Leicester, and we expect to welcome many more visitors to Leicester and the Belgrave Road to join in with our celebrations. “This year’s event promises to be a feast for all the senses with spectacular light and fire shows, lots of music and of course great food courtesy of the traders on the Golden Mile.” Jiten Anand of inspirate said: “As someone who grew up on Belgrave Road - I cannot express how excited I am to see this new iteration of Diwali come to life! We have been ambitiously pioneering ways to raise the artistic quality of this historic festival, so it's accessible to a new generation of communities in Leicester. “Diwali Festival has the potential to become a world-class event in the UK's cultural calendar, and we are taking a big leap in making this happen." The celebrations will get under way with a joyful parade of lanterns made by local school children and families, working with artist Shamila Chady. The parade of light and sound will leave from the main stage on Belgrave Road at 5pm. From 5.30pm, gods and demons from South Asian tales will be brought to life in a family-friendly street theatre show featuring giant puppetry, martial arts, dance and storytelling. Beautifully decorated mobile rickshaws will travel around Belgrave Road between 5pm and 8pm, each one uniquely designed and wired for sound to encourage visitors to dance their way through the Diwali celebrations. More music will be on offer from the Diwali truck, also on Belgrave Road, where DJ Yumna Black will spin his decks throughout the evening, bringing contemporary sounds blending east and west and as well as collaborations with live musicians. The nearby Cossington Street Recreation Ground will bring the festival of light to life with a neon waterfall light show, a fire garden of glowing structures, and a spectacular laser light show, all running between 5pm and 9pm. The park will also host the stage of light, where DJ Amrita Kalsi will keep the atmosphere going with modern and old-school bhangra rhythms. This year’s firework display will light up the skies from 7.30pm, and will be accompanied by a soundtrack created and produced by internationally renowned composer and musician Arun Ghosh. The grand finale to the evening will see Talvin Singh headline the stage of light with his explosive fusion of Indian and electronic sounds. A maestro percussionist, producer and composer, Talvin is renowned for creating the bridge between classical Indian arts and electronic music, and will be keeping the festival atmosphere going after the firework display. The event will take place two weeks after the Diwali lights switch-on ceremony, which will be held on Sunday 29 October. More information about this year’s Diwali switch-on and Diwali Day celebrations can be found at visitleicester.info. Printed Diwali guides are available in the Visit Leicester shop on Peacock Lane (King Richard lll Visitor Centre. Leicester’s Diwali celebrations are being held with support from the University of Leicester.

Rupert Matthews, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner, has welcomed the imminent illegality of the misuse of nitrous oxide as a boost to his campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB). The Government has announced that possession of nitrous oxide, also known as ‘laughing gas’, will be illegal from 8 November 2023. The move, announced as part of the government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, will make nitrous oxide a controlled Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Consequences could include an unlimited fine, a visible community punishment, a caution – which would appear on their criminal record – and for repeat serious offenders, a prison sentence. Rupert Matthews said: “This is another positive move that will help to drive down anti-social behaviour in our communities. “I have received dozens of complaints about the silver canisters left behind by users of nitrous oxide. While the effects of abusing nitrous oxide are no laughing matter. Not only can it cause serious health issues, but its use leads to anti-social behaviour and criminality. This both blights communities and puts additional demand on our police officers. “This move is designed to deter young people from using the substance as a psychoactive substances and consequentially reduce anti-social behaviour. “Having supported the calls for nitrous oxide to be reclassified as a matter of urgency, I’m pleased to see the swift introduction of this legislation.” There are still many necessary uses for nitrous oxide and those with a legitimate reason for possessing the substance will be exempt from the ban. For example, it will continue to be lawful for catering purposes and in maternity wards when used as pain relief during labour. Licences will not be required to carry nitrous oxide, but individual users will need to demonstrate they are lawfully in possession of nitrous oxide and not intending to consume it for psychoactive effects. People who repeatedly misuse nitrous oxide could face up to 2 years in prison whilst the maximum punishment for dealing has doubled to 14 years New law forms part of government’s zero-tolerance response to anti-social behaviour and drug taking in public spaces Legal exemption will be in place for legitimate use in healthcare and by businesses and organisations in both the public and private sectors

Barratt Homes has made a contribution of £1,500 to Leicester-based charity, A Gift To Lift. A Gift To Lift is dedicated to bringing hope and joy to blood cancer patients undergoing rigorous treatments. Its mission is to provide much-needed respite by granting wishes, which can range from something as simple as a spa day to the gift of an iPad, with a maximum value of £200 per wish. The charity’s ultimate goal has been to provide a sanctuary for patients and their families and, in 2022, it fulfilled this dream by acquiring Lexi’s Lodge in Burnham Market in Norfolk, on The Poplars. This lodge will serve as a respite haven, enabling patients to create cherished memories during their battles against blood cancer. Barratt Homes' donation of £1,500 has been allocated to support the ongoing operational costs of Lexi's Lodge, ensuring that it continues to serve as a sanctuary of respite and joy for blood cancer patients and their families. This contribution was made as part of the Barratt Foundation, which aims to empower national and local charities and leave a legacy in the communities where the developer is building new homes. Jacky Hopwood, Director at A Gift To Lift, said: “We were really pleased with the donation from Barratt and David Wilson Homes, and we really appreciate the kind gesture to help our charity. “Its Community Fund scheme is a brilliant idea to help so many charities and, for our charity, it is a massive achievement to receive backing from such a reputable company.” To date, the charity has fulfilled over 200 wishes, making a significant impact on the lives of those affected by blood cancer. Blood cancer is a pervasive issue in the UK, ranking as the fifth most common type of cancer. Even more alarmingly, it stands as the third most deadly, claiming the lives of over 15,000 people annually and surpassing the mortality rates of both breast cancer and prostate cancer. A Gift To Lift goes beyond granting wishes; it is also committed to supporting the broader fight against blood cancer. The charity makes annual donations to Blood Cancer UK (formerly known as Bloodwise), which funds vital research aimed at discovering new treatments and cures for this devastating disease. Mark Cotes, Managing Director at Barratt Homes North Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to contribute to A Gift To Lift's admirable mission. “The charity’s dedication to bringing joy and respite to blood cancer patients is truly inspiring, and we are proud to have played a part in making a difference in their lives.” For more information on the charity or to make a donation, visit the website at A Gift To Lift. https://agifttolift.com/

Former air ambulance patient, Sean Ottey, is raising the awareness of the importance of early and quick medical interventions this Restart a Heart Day (16 October) after suffering a cardiac arrest in August 2020. As a medical professional, Coalville GP Sean Ottey (56) knows exactly what difference early interventions and being flown to hospital by the local air ambulance made to his recovery after he suffered a cardiac arrest whilst exercising. “It’s all down to time. Getting the right treatment as quickly as possible is absolutely crucial in terms of minimising damage to the heart muscle, memory and brain,” he explains. On 29 August 2020, Sean was flown to Derby Royal Infirmary in just 12 minutes by Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) after the helicopter was called out to Hood Park Leisure Centre in Ashby-de-la-Zouch – where Sean was taking part in a high intensity training session. “The air ambulance critical care doctor gave me drugs which helped my condition and the speedy transfer to hospital was crucial in the chain of events that saved my life,” he says. Sean “felt absolutely fine” on the morning in August this year when he was taking part in the weekly class, he has attended at the local leisure centre for the past 15 years. “I remember doing a backward lunge and the next thing I was waking up in intensive care,” he says. There is a history of heart problems in Sean’s family and despite him being a non-smoker and exercising regularly he believes “it is inevitable that I would have had a cardiac arrest at some point.” Looking back now he says that he “was in the right place at the right time” when it happened as the leisure centre staff were First Aid trained and did CPR on him straight way. “If I had a cardiac arrest when I was out walking on my own in the middle of nowhere the outcome would have been completely different,” he says. Sean spent over two weeks in hospital – 48 hours in an induced coma – and during that time he had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and stent fitted. Since his incident, life has been hectic for Sean. Unfortunately, he was held back a little while awaiting a VT (Ventricular tachycardia) ablation operation as the heart continued to be problematic after the cardiac arrest, but he has managed to return to work full-time after a few months. “I managed to get my driver’s licence back just over six months ago which has been liberating but more importantly, I moved house and moved in with my partner, and we had a little baby girl called Sapphire,” says Sean. “I have also managed to return to some of the exercises I was doing before my cardiac arrest and I have been skiing once again - I am a qualified skiing instructor and it was a real passion that I had,” he adds. Members of the exercise class he was attending at the time of his cardiac arrest have raised funds for Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Sean is encouraging others to support the charity. “Once again, I can only thank WNAA so much for their care and the opportunity they gave me to continue to enjoy life and more importantly create a new little life in the process. “I also hope my story inspires anybody who doesn’t know how to do CPR to find out. I am living proof that lives can helped to be saved by CPR,” he adds. WNAA Doctor and Clinical Lead, Matthew Wyse explains: “The best chance of survival for a cardiac arrest recognises there is a chain of survival that involves dialling 999 for help, good CPR, using a defibrillator to shock the heart and excellent critical care to support the patient until they recover. “The team from WNAA have a role to play at every step in the chain of survival but especially in providing exceptional critical care at the scene of an incident and quick transfer to hospital – just like we did for Sean.” It is estimated that more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year in the UK, and less than one in 10 people survive. Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival in some cases.Restart a Heart Day - led by the Resuscitation Council UK - is highlighting the importance of everyone learning CPR and actively promoting the use of public access defibrillators, to greatly increase the chances of survival following a cardiac arrest. Anyone wishing to find out more about DLRAA, or to support the charity can visit: www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999

Tickets are now on sale for Leicester’s biggest and best Bonfire Night celebrations – and firework fans who buy them by Friday (13 October) will get a bumper Early Bird discount. Abbey Park will host the city’s stunning fireworks display and Bonfire Night festivities on Saturday 4 November, with a fun-packed programme of events for all ages, including live entertainment, fire performers and a funfair. There’ll also be plenty of hot food stalls and – for the first time – a licensed bar. A quieter firework display for noise-sensitive and younger visitors will take place at 6.45pm, when a magical, mythical creature – with flares and fire fountains – will light the bonfire, before the dazzling main display lights up the skies above the city at 8pm. People are advised to buy their tickets as early as possible to take advantage of some heavily discounted prices. This year, the best discounts are available to those who buy their tickets before midnight on Friday (13 October). Between now and then, a family ticket (two adults plus two children aged five to 15) will cost just £26 and a group ticket (up to four people of any age) will cost £28. Tickets can be bought online or in person from the Visit Leicester information centre, which is based at the King Richard III Visitor Centre on St Martins. Anyone who misses those Early Bird bargains can still pick up cut-price Advance tickets, if they buy their tickets between Saturday (14 October) and Friday 3 November. The cost of family tickets (two adults plus two children aged five to 15) rises to £28, while the group ticket will cost £30. Those who wait until the day of the event to buy their tickets, however, will pay the full price of £40 for a family or group ticket. Children aged four and under do not require a ticket and will be admitted to Abbey Park free of charge. Customers are reminded that ticket sales – both online and in person – will end at 2pm on Saturday 4 November and no tickets will be sold on the gate at Abbey Park. E-tickets can be printed out or scanned from a phone to gain access to the park. Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke said: “Leicester’s traditional bonfire night is one of the highlights of the year – and it’s always a great night out for people of all ages. “With big discounts for those who buy their tickets early, and with free admission for children aged four and under, this is a great value way for people to enjoy a giant bonfire, live music and a spectacular display of fireworks. “Please remember that no tickets will be sold on the gate on the night, so make sure you’ve bought your tickets before turning up at the park.” The Abbey Park gates will open at 5pm on Saturday 4 November, when the funfair and food stalls will open. Live music and entertainment will get under way at 6pm, with the children’s firework display and the lighting of the bonfire due to take place at 6.45pm. A countdown to the main firework display will start at 8pm, with musical entertainment continuing until 9pm. To ensure all visitors can enjoy the event, a viewing area will be reserved for wheelchair users. People are reminded that no sparklers, fireworks or alcohol can be brought onto the site – and only assistance dogs can be admitted. Car parking is not available in Abbey Park, Abbey Park Road, St Margaret’s Pastures car park or the surrounding areas during the event, and visitors are encouraged to walk, use public transport or cycle to the event, using the bike parks on site. A limited number of parking spaces for Blue Badge holders are available close by, but these must be booked in advance by emailing festivals@leicester.gov.uk Advice on cycling and walking routes are available here Full details of the event, and a link to the ticket sales site, are available at www.visitleicester.info

Leicestershire police force has a new team of volunteers on horseback who have been recruited to spot and report crime in the countryside. The team, made up of 20 horse riders, have volunteered to become the ‘eyes and the ears' of the force while out riding in the countryside to protect rural communities from crime and anti-social behaviour. The volunteers will report to the force's rural sergeant, Paul Archer, and will support neighbourhood policing teams and the Rural Policing Team by providing information on issues impacting rural communities. It is an innovative way to mobilise rural communities across Leicestershire and Rutland in the fight against crime. They will also be asked to assist in rural crime prevention initiatives and local operations, to develop contacts with farms and local businesses, provide advice to the public and increase feelings of safety by providing reassurance and visible patrols. Mounted Volunteers Co-ordinator, PC Kelly Tones, said: "The volunteers are a real asset to the rural team and the scheme will be an excellent way to further engage with our rural communities in the harder to reach areas. "They are also a crucial part of Operation Snaffle, which is the force's response to improving the safety of horses and riders on our road network. "We have recruited a really good team spread across the entire county and I am really looking forward to working alongside them, listening to their ideas and developing the scheme further." The volunteers, who will work flexibly depending on availability, have already taken part in an induction session to help understand their new role and additional training relevant to the role within the force. The Police and Crime Commission has been very supportive of the new scheme. Rupert Matthews said; "Tackling rural crime is one of my key priorities. I am delighted to launch the Volunteers on Horseback Scheme - a resource I have fought hard to develop since my election. "Our Volunteers on Horseback will provide a special service to our rural communities, using their unique vantage point on horseback to retrieve valuable information and intelligence that will help local officers solve crime and keep residents safe. "They will not only provide much-needed reassurance to their communities but will provide a valuable service by building connections with landowners, businesses, residents and farmers and providing an additional bridge between rural officers and the local people they serve. "I would like to thank every volunteer who has stepped into this new and exciting role. Your support is gratefully received."

Leicester's Golden Mile will be lit up by 6,000 sparkling lamps from Sunday 29 October, when the city holds its annual Diwali lights switch-on event. This year will be the 40th anniversary of the switch-on, which started as a small neighbourhood celebration and now attracts people from all over the country and the world. The first switch-on ceremony was held in 1983 when the lights, stretching from Dorset Street to Loughborough Road, were switched on by the community’s oldest resident. This year’s event is expected to attract crowds of more than 30,000 people and will include a Diwali village on Cossington Street recreation ground, as well entertainment on stage on Belgrave Road. The Wheel of Light – an illuminated big wheel that offers riders a birds-eye view of the city – will also return to Belgrave Road from Friday 13 October to Sunday 12 November. Deputy city mayor for culture Cllr Adam Clarke said: “What was once a small community gathering has become one of the highlights of Leicester’s festival calendar, and I’m proud that our Diwali celebrations bring together people of all ages and all faiths, from all over the country, and from other parts of the world. “If you haven’t joined us before for the festival of light, we look forward to welcoming you to the Golden Mile and to Leicester this year.” This year’s event is once again being supported by the University of Leicester. Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University said: “The University of Leicester was founded by the local community and is a part of the community – that is why our participation in this wonderful showcase event is so important. It literally shines a light to the world about the multi-cultural wonder of Leicester – Britain’s foremost superdiverse city. Our support speaks to our pride in Leicester, our commitment to community harmony and our mission to create a better future for all. “I congratulate everyone involved for reaching this milestone 40th anniversary – it really is a spectacular achievement.” The celebrations will begin at 3pm on Sunday 29 October with the opening of the Diwali Village on Cossington Street recreation ground. Open until 9pm, the Diwali Village will include children’s funfair rides and food stalls. Visitors will be able to pop-in to Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre from 4pm to see the annual Rangoli exhibition, with its mixture of modern and traditional Rangoli styles. The stage programme on Belgrave Road will begin at 5.30pm and will include a programme of music and dance presented by the city council and Leicester Hindu Festival Council. The switch-on of 6,000 colourful lights at 7.30pm will be followed by a spectacular firework display – best viewed from Belgrave Road. Diwali Day will be celebrated on Belgrave Road on Sunday 12 November. Local arts organisation Inspirate will be providing new and exciting elements for this year’s event, including two stages for DJs and musicians, a lantern procession and walkabout theatre production consisting of two giant puppets, musicians and dancers. More information on both events and the Wheel of Light is on the Visit Leicester

Launch event for the My City My Shirt Leicester campaign & exhibition Calling for unity & celebrating the diversity of Leicester fans. Friday, 6 October The launch of the My City My Shirt Leicester campaign & exhibition at Leicester Sports Centre. An event calling for unity & celebrating the diversity of Leicester fans. Join Leicester For All, Fans for Diversity & Foxes Pride for an evening to view the exhibition & panel discussions on inclusion and football. Invited speakers and guests include the Lord Mayor of Leicester, the chair of Leicestershire FA, speakers from LCFC and our footballing community across the City and Leicestershire. For the launch we are asking guests to arrive at 6 for a prompt 6.30pm start. Some snacks and soft drinks will be available and the bar in the venue will be open. The exhibition will be open for viewing from 2pm for anyone who wants to view it in advance or any community groups - please let us know: lestaforall@gmail.com so we can manage numbers. Please do share the invite far and wide with your friends, families and communities. Football shirts encouraged, especially Leicester shirts but all welcome. More information https://www.eventbrite.com/e/my-city-my-shirt-leicester-launch-panel-discussion-networking-tickets-725605303997

'Incredibly popular' support as children cycle, walk or wheel to school. A county council scheme, which reduces ‘school run’ congestion and improves air quality at two Leicestershire schools, has been so well received it’s now set to become permanent. In the final months of term-time earlier this year, ‘School Streets' were put in place at both Latimer Primary School in Anstey and Coalville’s Belvoirdale Primary School, creating safe and clear pedestrian and cycle zones at drop-off and pick-up times. This resulted in dozens of children and their parents walking, cycling, and wheeling to schools. " We’ve had some incredibly positive feedback from parents, who we surveyed during a second trial of the scheme, as well as the local community in and around the two schools. We’ve been contacting residents to make them aware of the decision to make the scheme a permanent one and I’m sure it will be welcome given the feedback received" Councillor Ozzy O'Shea, cabinet member for highways and transport. The scheme will be made permanent, with associated signage displayed on site, following the October half-term week. Richard Dax, head teacher at Belvoirdale, said: “It’s creating a happy environment for our children and other pedestrians too – it’s been very positively received.” The schools have selected local volunteers to support the scheme with the necessary training so that roads can be cordoned off at specific times. Residents on the two streets will still be able to use the roads for access using a permit. Leicestershire County Council News

Camera enforcement has begun in Leicester’s Belgrave Gate to tackle motorists who illegally park in a bus stop. Over the last two weeks, 245 warning notices have been issued to drivers stopping to load, unload or park in the bus stop clearway near Haymarket Bus Station. The stop is part of the free, electric city centre Hop! circular bus route, which carries around 1,000 people a day around the city centre, and the frequent illegal parking there is causing congestion and slows down the Hop! service’s journey times. More than 17 people a day have been handed warning notices during the two-week period from September 4. From Monday, September 18, motorists using the bus stop are being issued with £70 penalty charge. At the same time, civil enforcement officers working for the city council have stepped up enforcement of the loading only bay immediately opposite the bus stop, which again is often used for free parking, blocking the route to other traffic. In all the work has cost around £25,000 for the CCTV installation and five-year operating contract, which is funded by the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). Leicester deputy city mayor for climate, economy and culture, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: “Keeping the city’s bus stops and bus lanes free of congestion is key to ensuring the buses remain reliable and run on time. “As the high number of warning notices issued in the last two weeks shows, this particular bus stop is regularly used by people as a free place to park, unload or drop off people close to the city centre. “Hopefully this enforcement action will help deter people from stopping there, meaning the bus stop remains clear and buses can pull right up to the kerb which is vital for passengers with mobility problems.” Camera enforcement is already in use to keep the bus clearway outside Leicester Station free of traffic. The city council launched the free Hop! service on an 18-month trial basis as one of its Leicester Buses Partnership commitments. The Leicester Buses Partnership was launched in April 2022 to bring together all the local bus operators and Leicester City Council, to work jointly on addressing both the city’s transport needs and its environmental responsibilities. Three zero-emission green Hop! buses – each of which features a distinctive frog “ribbit” effect bell – seat 21 passengers and 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 are fitted with electronic information displays, next stop announcements, WiFi and USB charging at each seat, with each of the stops offering real-time information displays and text-to-speech facilities. Moe details can be found at the Leicester Buses Partnership website here. Leicester City Council News

Music fans will be heading to Leicester this weekend to enjoy two days of live music in Victoria Park, as the city hosts this year’s BBC Radio 2 In The Park. The prestigious event, organised by the BBC, will attract around 35,000 visitors each day – and while it’s a huge boost for the city, it does mean that Leicester’s roads and car parks will be busier than normal on Saturday 16 September and Sunday 17 September. With around 3,000 parking spaces at dedicated ‘Park & Walk’ sites already pre-booked by ticket-holders, event organisers expect a further 4,000 cars to be heading for the city this weekend. Leicester City Council’s highways network asset manager Rupert Bedder said: “The BBC has developed a travel plan for the event, with ticket-holders encouraged to travel to Victoria Park as sustainably as possible, and with measures in place to mitigate the impact of the event on local people. “Residents’ parking schemes in Clarendon Park, for example, have been extended to cover the entire weekend, with temporary schemes introduced in streets off London Road and in Stoneygate to prevent unauthorised parking in the areas closest to Victoria Park. “The event organisers have also set up dedicated ‘Park & Walk’ sites, which will divert more than 3,000 cars to areas away from the city centre. “With more than 9,000 spaces available in our main city centre car parks, there’s plenty of capacity for the extra cars we’re expecting, but clearly demand for spaces will be higher than normal. “If you’re coming into Leicester city centre this weekend to shop, or to enjoy a day out, bear in mind that your usual car park may be busier than normal, so please be prepared to park elsewhere and allow extra time for your journey. “Look out for the real-time parking information that’s displayed on the approach roads to the city centre, which will help you find an available space. “And if you want a quick and easy journey into Leicester on Saturday, why not use one of the city’s Park & Ride services?” Green, clean, electric buses leave the Enderby, Meynell’s Gorse and Birstall Park & Ride sites every 15 minutes from 7am on Monday to Saturday. Parking is free and a return ticket for everyone in the car (up to five people) is just £4, with the last buses leaving the city centre at 7pm on Saturday. While Park & Ride services don’t run on Sundays, regular bus services provide cost-effective – and sustainable – travel options to the city centre. The multi-operator Family Flexi Day ticket, for example, costs just £10 and allows two adults and up to three children travelling together to have a day’s unlimited travel within the Leicester Flexi Zone. Once in the city centre, shoppers and visitors will be able to make use of Hop! – Leicester’s free electric bus service, which loops the city centre and serves both the Haymarket bus station and Leicester railway station. Hop! will be running an extended service during BBC Radio 2 In The Park, with buses running every 10 minutes until 10.30pm (last departure from Haymarket bus station) on Saturday 16 September, and with a special Sunday service operating from 10am until 10.30pm on Sunday 17 September only. A temporary Hop! bus stop will be placed on Tigers Way, just before the junction of Lancaster Road, for passengers travelling to and from the BBC Radio 2 In The Park event. Deputy city mayor for climate, economy & culture Cllr Adam Clarke said: “The BBC has used an experienced traffic management company, that’s delivered many successful travel plans for major events in the city and across the country before, to help them understand how people will be travelling to this weekend’s events. “Based on their analysis of people’s travel plans, the organisers have assured us that the measures they’ve put in place will meet the demands of festival goers, while also ensuring that the rest of the city will be open for business across this exciting weekend. “With around 57% of ticket-holders living locally, I’d like to encourage them to choose green travel when planning their journey to Victoria Park. “Hop on one of Leicester’s green, clean electric buses, enjoy the city’s walking and cycling routes, and make use of the two free bike parks that will be provided at the event. “Let’s make sure that BBC Radio 2 In The Park is not only a sensational event for the city, but that it’s also a sustainable one.” More details about travelling sustainably in Leicester can be found on the Choose How You Move website – a one-stop shop that provides information about walking, cycling and public transport in Leicester, as well as a handy journey planner. Travel information for those with tickets for BBC Radio 2 In The Park – including details of the event’s free bike parks – is available here BBC Radio 2 In The Park runs from 10.30am until around 10pm on Saturday 16 September and until around 9.30pm on Sunday 17 September. More than half of all tickets (57%) sold across both days of the event have been bought by people with an LE postcode. To facilitate the event, a number of road closures will be in place over the weekend. • Regent Road (between Granville Road and Salisbury Road) will be closed from 6am on Saturday 16 September until 11.59pm on Sunday 17 September. • Regent Road (between Tigers Way and University Road) will be one way only eastbound from 6am on Saturday 16 September until 11.59pm on Sunday 17 September. • Granville Road will be closed from 6am on Saturday 16 September until 11.59pm on Sunday 17 September. • London Road (between Mayfield Road and Waterloo Way) will be closed from 9pm until midnight on both Saturday 16 September and Sunday 17 September. • Victoria Park Road (between St Marys Road and St Leonards Road) will be closed from 9pm until midnight on both Saturday 16 September and Sunday 17 September. • University Road will be one way only southbound from 6am on Saturday 16 September until 11.59pm on Sunday 17 September.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has published a formal report into the fatal accident involving a Leonardo AW169 (G-VSKP) helicopter which occurred at the King Power Stadium, Leicester on 27 October 2018 Summary At 1937 hrs the helicopter, carrying the pilot and four passengers, lifted off from the centre spot of the pitch at the King Power Stadium. The helicopter moved forward and then began to climb out of the stadium on a rearward flightpath while maintaining a northerly heading and with an average rate of climb of between 600 and 700 ft/min. Passing through a height of approximately 250 ft, the pilot began the transition to forward flight by pitching the helicopter nosedown and the landing gear was retracted. The helicopter was briefly established in a right turn before an increasing right yaw rapidly developed, despite the immediate application of corrective control inputs from the pilot. The helicopter reached a radio altimeter height of approximately 430 ft before descending with a high rotation rate. At approximately 75 ft from the ground the collective was fully raised to cushion the touchdown. The helicopter struck the ground on a stepped concrete surface, coming to rest on its left side. The impact, which likely exceeded the helicopter’s design requirements, damaged the lower fuselage and the helicopter’s fuel tanks which resulted in a significant fuel leak. The fuel ignited shortly after the helicopter came to rest and an intense post-impact fire rapidly engulfed the fuselage. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured in the accident. Investigation findings The investigation found the following causal factors for this accident: Seizure of the tail rotor duplex bearing initiated a sequence of failures in the tail rotor pitch control mechanism which culminated in the unrecoverable loss of control of the tail rotor blade pitch angle and the blades moving to their physical limit of travel. The unopposed main rotor torque couple and negative tail rotor blade pitch angle resulted in an increasing rate of rotation of the helicopter in yaw, which induced pitch and roll deviations and made effective control of the helicopter’s flightpath impossible. The tail rotor duplex bearing likely experienced a combination of dynamic axial and bending moment loads which generated internal contact pressures sufficient to result in lubrication breakdown and the balls sliding across the race surface. This caused premature, surface initiated rolling contact fatigue damage to accumulate until the bearing seized. The investigation found the following contributory factors for this accident: The load survey flight test results were not shared by the helicopter manufacturer with the bearing manufacturer in order to validate the original analysis of the theoretical load spectrum and assess the continued suitability of the bearing for this application, nor were they required to be by the regulatory requirements and guidance. There were no design or test requirements in Certification Specification 29 which explicitly addressed rolling contact fatigue in bearings identified as critical parts; while the certification testing of the duplex bearing met the airworthiness authority’s acceptable means of compliance, it was not sufficiently representative of operational demands to identify the failure mode. The manufacturer of the helicopter did not implement a routine inspection requirement for critical part bearings removed from service to review their condition against original design and certification assumptions, nor were they required to by the regulatory requirements and guidance. Although the failure of the duplex bearing was classified as catastrophic in the certification failure analysis, the various failure sequences and possible risk reduction and mitigation measures within the wider tail rotor control system were not fully considered in the certification process; the regulatory guidance stated that this was not required. Safety actions and recommendations AAIB Special Bulletin S1/2023, published on 14 November 2018 and AAIB Special Bulletin S1/2023, published on 6 December 2018, provided initial information on the circumstances of this accident. During the course of this investigation and as a result of the findings made, the helicopter manufacturer has issued sixteen Service Bulletins and EASA has published nine Airworthiness Directives for the continued airworthiness of the AW169 and AW189 helicopter types. Eight Safety Recommendations have been made in this report. These have been made to EASA to address weaknesses or omissions identified in the regulations for the certification of large helicopters - Certification Specification 29. The recommendations address the main findings of the investigation and include: validation of design data by suppliers post-test; premature rolling contact fatigue in bearings; life limits, load spectrum safety margin and inspection programmes for critical parts; and assessment and mitigation of catastrophic failure modes in systems. Chief Inspector’s statementSaid Crispin Orr, Chief Inspector of Air Accidents: “This was a tragic accident in which five people sadly lost their lives. Our thoughts are with their loved ones, and everyone affected.“The AAIB has carried out an extensive investigation to establish why the accident happened and how safety can be improved. This involved a multi-disciplinary team of skilled investigators from the AAIB, supported by a wide range of experts from industry, academia, and safety investigation authorities from around the world. “As a result, safety action has already been taken for the continued airworthiness of the AW169 and AW189 helicopter fleets. “Today we are publishing our final report which sets out eight recommendations to enhance safety in the longer term, regarding the design, validation and in-service monitoring of safety critical components on large helicopters.”