Detectives are appealing for motorists with dashcam footage to come forward following a serious collision off Saffron Lane this afternoon (Tuesday 19 April). Shortly after 2pm, officers were called to Broughton Road following a report of a collision involving a pedestrian and an electric bicycle (e-bike). The cyclist left the scene prior to officers arriving and the pedestrian – a man in his 30s – was taken to hospital. He is continuing to receive treatment for life-threatening injuries. Broughton Road was closed at its junctions with Saffron Lane and Marriott Road while emergency services attended, but the closures have since been removed. Detective Constable Maggie Langton, from the force’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) said: “This collision happened in Broughton Road, at its junction with Marriott Road. “I am sure there will have been people who saw what happened, or who saw the cyclist leave the scene. “I am particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in the area and has a dashcam in their vehicle. Any information you have, not matter how insignificant you think it is, could help our investigation.” You can pass on information by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/rti/rti-beta-2.1/report-a-road-traffic-incident/ and quoting reference 22*221399. Alternatively, call 101. 🔴 Updated News 28/04/22 Detectives investigating a serious collision in which a pedestrian was struck by an electric bicycle (e-bike) off Saffron Lane have arrested a man in connection with the incident. The man – who is 26 and from Leicester – was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving this afternoon and remains in custody. Shortly after 2pm last Tuesday (19 April), police were called to Broughton Road following a report of a collision. It was reported the cyclist had left the area prior to officers arriving. The pedestrian – a man in his 30s – remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

On the 24th April the newly constructed Whitwick Colliery Disaster Memorial was unveiled in front of around 250 guests. The memorial is on Percival Way off Grange Road in Hugglescote and is located over the area of mine workings where the disaster occurred. Along with the memorial plaque at Christ Church in Coalville, it is the first memorial dedicated to the names and families of the 35 miners who lost their lives on the 19th April 1898 and will become a monument to the 12 men who are still entombed in the workings. In the early hours of the 19th April 1898, a fire broke out underground which cut off the escape route and air to the 42 miners working in No.5 Pit at Whitwick Colliery, today the site of Morrisons Retail Park in Coalville. As the fire increased, eight miners were able to get out, but one, Charles Clamp, returned into the workings to help his fellow miners only to succumb to the smoke and die. Of the 42 men, only seven survived and during the following 10 months, 23 bodies were recovered but sadly 12 men were irretrievable and are still in their place of work. It was the only mining disaster in Leicestershire, when a large number of men were killed in one event. The unveiling was accompanied by the Desford Colliery Band who played a number of pieces finishing with Gresford – The Miners’ Hymn. The memorial was also be dedicated by Reverend Steve O’Rouke, Curate of St. John the Baptist Church in Hugglescote. Whitwick Parish Councillor Susan Colledge, daughter of John Colledge who was the joint author of ‘Banded Together’, the definitive history of the event, also gave a moving eulogy. Renowned actor Stephen Graham, best known for his role as Andrew ‘Combo’ Gascoigne in the film This Is England (2006) and his recent appearance in ‘Peaky Blinders’, was present at the event to cut the ribbon and lay a wreath to commemorate those who lost their lives. Stephen said: “I’ve lived around these parts for a long time and when I was asked to be involved, I didn’t hesitate. For me to be a part of this is an absolute honour and I think it’s a beautiful sculpture. “The pride and sense of being a part of this community must resonate within all of you. It’s an honour to be adopted as one of you.” The memorial has been developed by the Whitwick Colliery Disaster Memorial Project, a partnership between David Wilson Homes, Hugglescote and Donington Le Heath Parish Council, Whitwick Parish Council, Leicestershire Coal Industry Welfare Trust Fund, Coalville Heritage Society, Whitwick Historical Group and the Snibston Heritage Trust. A key feature of the memorial is a headstock pulley wheel from Whitwick Colliery given to the project by Leicestershire County Council’s Museums Service. John Reddington, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “It’s been an absolute honour working with our partners to make this memorial at our Grange View development possible. “We’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and the recent unveiling event was a fantastic tribute to a major part of Leicestershire’s history.” Stuart Warburton, chair of the project team said “I cannot thank David Wilson Homes enough for its help and assistance in the creation of this, the first purpose-built memorial to those men who gave their lives to power the industrial strength of the nation. “There has been great care in the restoration of the Whitwick Colliery wheel and the design of the memorial which will include the planting of primroses, as the disaster happened on ‘Primrose Day’ a Victorian day of celebration, but sadly not for these miners. Their labours, sacrifice and memory shall not be forgotten.” The partners have worked tirelessly as volunteers over the last 18 months and without their dedication and enthusiasm of this project would not have come to fruition”. The memorial has been made possible through the generosity and dedication to the community by David Wilson Homes which has developed the Grange View development and, in addition, has named its 19 streets in the development after the 19 families who were affected by the disaster. Once the housing development has been completed, the long-term care and maintenance of the memorial will pass to Hugglescote and Donington Le Heath Parish Council.

Applications are now open for On-Call firefighters at a number of stations across Leicestershire and Rutland. Whether you are looking for a new challenge, or wanting to give something back to your local community, the role of an On-Call firefighter could be for you! “Callum Faint, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, said: “This is a real opportunity for members of our local communities, who are looking for a rewarding job where they can also give something positive back to their local area. “On-Call firefighters have a vital part to play in Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, by helping to provide the very best service to our local communities, and making safer people and safer places.” Being an On-Call firefighter, you work alongside Wholetime firefighters, but do not work full-time. On-Call firefighters are paid to spend some periods of time available on-call to respond to emergency incidents. You carry an alerter and respond to emergency calls, where you will face all kinds of challenges within your local communities. This means you must live or work within four minutes of an On-Call station, with the exception of Market Bosworth and Billesdon which is six minutes. Many On-Call firefighters have full-time jobs; others may be self-employed or stay at home parents. Could you make a difference to your community, and help contribute to ‘safer people, safer places’? If you are interested in the role and want to find out more, get in touch with your local On-Call fire and rescue station. You may be able to attend their weekly drill night, where you will find out first-hand about the role and meet your potential future colleagues. The last virtual workshop is taking place on Wednesday 4 May at 7pm. The remaining ‘Have a Go’ days are taking place on the following dates: Saturday 7 May – Oakham Fire and Rescue Station Sunday 8 May – Shepshed Fire and Rescue Station To book onto the workshop or a ‘Have a Go’ session visit: www.leics-fire.gov.uk/on-call. The recruitment website for applications for On-Call firefighter vacancies is now open. For details about the On-Call firefighter recruitment process and to apply, visit: www.leics-fire.gov.uk/on-call. The deadline for submitting an application is Wednesday 11 May 2022, so don’t delay!

Celebrations of a major religious festival are taking place in Leicester this weekend. The annual Vaisakhi festivities, which are marked by thousands from the city’s Sikh community, include an event at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery in New Walk, and a huge parade across the city centre. On Saturday, April 30, the museum hosts a free day-long series of events and activities themed around Vaisakhi, run in partnership with the Sikh Museum Initiative and Falcons Primary School. The event runs from 11am to 4pm and includes a performance by children of the story of Vaisakhi, a Gatka Sikh martial arts demonstration, lectures, storytelling, turban tying demonstration, bhangra dance performances and Vaisakhi arts and crafts. Leicester deputy city mayor for culture, leisure and sport, Cllr Piara Singh Clair, said: “Vaisakhi celebrates the harvest time in India’s Punjab region, and also commemorates the birth of the Sikh Khalsa, and is always a busy time for celebration in Leicester. “These events are open to anyone to take part, to bring to life this colourful celebration.” The traditional Vaisakhi procession will be taking place in the city centre on Sunday, May 1, and drivers are being warned of possible traffic disruption and delays. It regularly involves up to 10,000 participants and thousands of spectators, and will begin making its way across the city from about 11.30am. As in previous years, the procession will travel from Holy Bones near the Vaughan Way slip road, to St Nicholas Circle, High Street, Humberstone Gate, Charles Street, St George’s Way, Swain Street, St Peter’s Road, and arriving at East Park Road at about 2.30pm. It means St Nicholas Circle, on the city’s inner ring road, will be closed to traffic for about one hour from 11.15am, and St George’s Way closed from about 12.30-1.30pm. Leicester City Council is working with police on traffic management for the day, to ensure the city’s road network remains open. Director of City Highways at Leicester City Council, Martin Fletcher, said: “The Vaisakhi parade takes place every year so we have plenty of experience of managing the impact caused to other road users. “We’re working closely with the police to ensure the event goes ahead safely, while also ensuring the impact on the city’s road network is kept to a minimum. “However people coming into the city centre this Sunday will need to allow extra time, and think about how they will travel into the city. “It may be better to use public transport, or to cycle or walk into the city while the parade is taking place, or to plan visits to avoid the worst of any traffic disruption and delays.” More information and travel options are available at: http://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/ Traffic and travel updates are available from Leicester’s Area Traffic Control on Twitter via @ATCLeicester Pictures by Leicester Media

Residents in many of our towns and villages feel their lives blighted by the anti-social effects of excessively speeding traffic through their communities. In response to this, detailed covert traffic speed surveys are undertaken and if a particular location meets the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership (LLRRSP) criteria it will become a community concern site and will benefit from regular speed camera van visits over the course of approximately eighteen months. From this weekend speed enforcement will commence at the following community concern sites in both Leicester and Leicestershire: Liberty Road, Glenfield Henley Road, Leicester Glenfield Road, Leicester Melton Spinney Road, Melton Mowbray Swithland Lane, Rothley Coopers Lane, Dunton Bassett B582 Blaby Road, Enderby (30mph) Broughton Road, Croft Brookfield Way, Lutterworth Riverside Way, Littlethorpe Coventry Road, Burbage Main Street, Swannington Peckleton Lane, Desford Brascote Lane, Newbold Verdon Ashby Road, Donisthorpe Burton Road, Ashby Measham Road, Moria / Donisthorpe (30mph & 40mph) Jonathan Clarkson, LLRRSP spokesperson, said, “The difference between a few miles per hour can be the difference between life and death. A speed limit is not a target; you should always drive at a speed suited to the weather conditions and type of road, but not in excess of the advised speed limit. Make sure you drive at a safe speed at all times.” The complete list of LLRRSP Community Concern locations is here Speed camera facts and myths: It can often be the case that motorists think they’ve got a pretty good idea about speeding enforcement and road safety in general, however, this isn’t always the case. We don’t resort to sneaky tactics to catch speeding drivers or put speed cameras in places just to make money. Some of the most common misconceptions are: You have to be a police officer - No, the enforcement officer can be a civilian who has authorisation from the Chief Constable. You have to be visible – No, there are no laws about visibility, however, we maintain that being visible acts as a deterrent so therefore we only used marked vehicles and all speed cameras are Hi-Vis yellow. You have to put signs out – No, we do not have to place any signs at an enforcement site, however, to assist those drivers who are unsure of the speed limit a sign is fixed to the street furniture or placed at the roadside before entering the enforcement area. NB only at our core enforcement sites. The threshold for speeding is 10% + 2mph, so I can travel at 35mph in a 30mph limit -Thresholds vary and can change without notice. Any offence occurs at 1mph over the limit, officially you can be prosecuted at that speed, however, most forces will allow a variance. Where we park - A camera van isn’t subject to parking regulations when carrying out speed enforcement, however, we expect our staff to use discretion & common sense while adhering to local guidelines & designated parking locations.

Nomination deadline approaches for the Leicestershire’s Community and Business Platinum Jubilee Awards Organisations which have made a huge difference to their communities are being sought. The very best of Leicester and Leicestershire will be recognised by special awards made to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Today Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapur has issued a call to all residents to submit nominations for schools, businesses, voluntary and community groups across the city and county whose exceptional efforts deserve to be recognised by a Platinum Jubilee Award. The awards are part of Leicestershire’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and acknowledge the outstanding contributions that have made a big difference to improve local communities. In all, 70 awards will be given out – one for each of the seventy years of Her Majesty’s reign. Any group of two or more people can be nominated for an award. Nominations can be made by the group themselves or by someone in the community who thinks a particular group deserves recognition. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday 29 April 2022 and to make a nomination. click here For support in completing a nomination, contact the Leicestershire Lieutenancy by email lieutenancyoffice@leics.gov.uk or by telephone 0n 0116 3056002. Award winners will be announced by Friday 27 May 2022 and the award will be presented by a Deputy Lieutenant on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

A New bike-friendly footbridge spanning the River Soar has been officially opened to pedestrians and cyclists. The new 3.5m wide footbridge was safely lifted into place next to the historic Abbey Corner Bridge on Leicester’s Abbey Park Road just over a fortnight ago, and will become the centrepiece of a major £7.5million revamp of the busy road. Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “This fabulous new footbridge will be at the centre of our ambitious revamp of Abbey Park Road. The changes we’re making will help radically change the way people think about travelling along this important route and help make it a safer, more appealing and people-friendly route. “Without this new bike-friendly route, the existing road bridge would continue to be a daunting prospect for cyclists at busy times. "It is absolutely vital that we continue to invest in healthier, greener and safer streets to accommodate future growth of the city and its economy, all of which supports our commitments to address the climate emergency and to reduce air pollution.” With the new footbridge in place, work has shifted to essential maintenance of the Grade-II listed road bridge, which dates back to 1878. The bridge is showing signs of corrosion in the cast iron structure along with other issues which require extensive repairs to ensure that the bridge can continue to be used safely by heavy traffic. The major and complex nature of the bridge maintenance works mean that Abbey Park Road will remain closed to through traffic until early in the new year. A well-signed, short diversion is in place and access is being maintained for residents, businesses and for the main car park at Abbey Park. The £7.5million revamp of Abbey Park Road – which will also see new bus lanes introduced and footpaths improved to create a safer and more attractive route for pedestrians and cyclists – is supported by the Transforming Cities Fund as part of an ambitious programme of investment in sustainable transport across the city. The Transforming Cities Fund is a major £80million citywide programme of investment in sustainable transport, backed by £40million of Government cash from the Department for Transport. The ambitious package of works will focus on major sustainable transport improvements to provide attractive choices for people to get to work, education, shops and other local facilities to help support the city’s growth and deliver on the council’s climate emergency, air quality and healthy living commitments. The programme includes the development of new bus priority corridors linking the city centre to local neighbourhoods and suburbs along with the continued development of a network of high-quality cycling and walking routes throughout the city. Leicester City Council News

Office accommodation that offers a flexible way of working for freelancers, remote workers and start-ups is now open for business in Leicester’s former Fenwick store. Managed by the city council, Gresham Works provides more than 11,000sqft of office space on the ground floor and basement of the fully refurbished building, featuring a variety of desk and office options that can be hired on flexible terms. Tenants including a law firm, an app developer and an organic drinks supplier are already working from their new flexible, city centre space, but Gresham Works’ official opening will take place tomorrow (Tuesday 26 April). City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “The redevelopment of the former Fenwick’s store into The Gresham Aparthotel has given a huge boost to the shops and businesses in this area of the city centre. “Now, in the next stage of its opening, The Gresham will provide a bright, light and contemporary workspace for freelancers, sole traders or start-up businesses – and will give these workers the opportunity to be part of a creative, supportive community in the heart of the city. “I’m very pleased that the city council was able to support the redevelopment of this iconic building by investing £450,000 into this scheme, and I’m confident that Gresham Works will prove to be just as successful as our existing serviced units in supporting new and small businesses to thrive.” A wide range of working spaces is on offer, with flexible hot-desking available from as little as £175 per month, plus VAT. Rental fees include high speed broadband, reception services, tenant events and a number of other incentives – including unlimited free coffee! Grant Carlisle from Atom Engine Limited, which has already moved in to Gresham Works, said: “We were looking for a city centre base that would give us a flexible workspace that would grow with us. “Gresham Works is perfect for us and our clients. It’s great to be part of a new community and have a base in such contemporary and stylish surroundings.” Gresham Works’ manager Crystal Carter said: “We have focused on creating an inviting environment and a variety of spaces for people to work in to help them bring the best out of what they do. “We’ll also cater for a wide range of needs as people change the way that they work. We expect to have tenants who normally work from home, but who want a change a couple of times a week, people who will come in every day to work, and those who believe it’s nice to have a city centre base away from their usual office. “The beauty of this scheme is its flexibility and we’re looking forward to providing people with the office space, and a flexible contract, that works for them.” The Market Street premises are the city council’s first dedicated co-working space and will complement its established serviced workspaces at Dock and the LCB Depot. For more information about working at Gresham Works, contact info@greshamworks.co.uk or call 0116 296 8000. The Gresham building’s 133-bed aparthotel and its restaurant – Black Iron Social – opened in November 2021, following a £17m refurbishment by developer Aimrok Holdings. The development was supported by funding from the city council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), with the majority of the £17million costs coming from a mixture of development finance and private investment.

Motorists and bus users are advised to expect delays to their journeys on Thursday evening (28 April), ahead of Leicester City’s Europa Conference League semi-final with AS Roma. A multi-agency policing operation will ensure that visiting fans can get to the King Power stadium safely, with a series of rolling road closures in place from around 6pm on Thursday to allow 1,700 Roma fans to make their way to the stadium on foot. Roads along the route will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. City Highways Director Martin Fletcher said: “We’ll be supporting the policing operation on match-day and we’re advising people to allow extra time for their journey. “Whether you’re on your way home from work, or you’re on your way to the match, please expect some disruption to your journey and set off in good time. “Peacock Lane and the Southgates slip road towards Newarke Street will be closed from 6pm for around half an hour, and we’re expecting the rolling road closures to have particular impact on the inner ring road around Southgates underpass and its slip roads from about 6.15pm-6.30pm, with delays likely around the Swan Bridge area at about 7pm. “This is a huge game for Leicester City, and we wish them all the best for their semi-final.” The first leg of Leicester City’s Europa Conference League semi-final against José Mourinho’s side kicks off at 8pm on Thursday (28 April). The second leg will be played in Rome at 8pm next Thursday (5 May). For up-to-date traffic information in Leicester, follow the city’s Area Traffic Control team on Twitter at @ATCLeicester

Detectives in Coalville are appealing to speak to the two men pictured after a teenager was assaulted inside an Ashby nightclub. The victim was inside Manhattan’s bar in Market Street when he was attacked by two men at around 2.55am on Saturday 9 April. The 19-year-old was punched by one of the men and while on the floor he was kicked in the head by the other. He was taken to hospital and has suffered a fractured jaw as a result of the attack. He has since been discharged. Officers would like to speak to the two men pictured as they may have information that could assist with the investigation. Detective Constable Steve Williams, the investigating officer, said: “The victim suffered a nasty injury that required surgery and will likely take many months to recover. “We know the images aren’t the clearest but I hope by releasing them someone may recognise either one or both of the men. If you know who they are or have information that could help us – please get in contact.” Anyone with information is asked to report it online at www.leics.police.uk or call 101, quoting incident number 22*203836.

Leicestershire Police begins its search for special constables today (Monday 25 April) and for the first time is offering applicants the opportunity to complete a fast-track training programme. Special constables are volunteer police officers who play a key role in helping to police Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. They hold the same powers as regular police officers, wear the same uniform and work hard to make communities safer. Special Constable Kai Monachello joined four years ago after witnessing a hit and run in his hometown. He said: “Ever since I was a kid I was interested in the police, and seeing them respond to the hit and run reignited my interest. “I’ve always been told that you have to have a strong moral compass to do this, which I have, and I’m proud to be able to stand up for what’s right.” Kai works full-time as a recruitment consultant and says that his experiences as a special constable have helped him to work better under pressure, analyse situations calmly and keep a cooler head in the workplace. He added: “If you want something to do on a Friday night, that isn’t watching tv, please come and join us. It could give you some of the proudest days of your life.” Every officer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with them, and in return will receive specialist training, a whole host of new skills and will be part of Leicestershire's policing family. There are opportunities to gain experience in specialist areas such as roads policing, rural crime, cybercrime and much more. Superintendent Adam Slonecki, lead for Leicestershire’s Special Constabulary said: “The role can be so incredibly varied; one shift you could be out with officers responding to emergency calls and the next could be spent supporting neighbourhood officers to build a safer community. “This year we’re very excited to be introducing a new fast-track training option along with our existing training. The fast-track training programme will take place at our headquarters in Enderby for six full weeks, Monday to Friday, from 15 August until 23 September 2022. Attendance is compulsory so you will need to make sure you’re able to attend every session. “There is still the option to select our existing training programme which has been designed to fit around your other commitments. This training will begin in November and last for six months, taking place over weekends and during some evenings. “If you’re looking to make a valuable contribution to your community, learn new skills and challenge yourself, then becoming a Leicestershire Police special constable could be the role for you." The force is holding a number of online recruitment seminars for those who are interested in applying. The seminars will offer the chance to find out first-hand what it is like to be a special, learn about the role, training, eligibility, application process and speak to serving specials about their experiences. To find out more and to book a place on a recruitment seminar, please visit leics.police.uk/couldyou. There are limited spaces available so please book early to avoid missing out. The force will also be hosting a question and answer sessions live on Facebook on Tuesday 26 April at 12:30pm. No registration is required for the Facebook Live sessions but make sure to follow the force’s Facebook page (Leicestershire Police) beforehand. Leicestershire Police will be accepting applications for the role of special constable on the fast-track training programme until Sunday 8 May 2022, and the deadline for the existing training programme is Sunday 15 May 2022. To find out more and apply online, please visit leics.police.uk/couldyou.

Police and forensic officer’s were seen this afternoon in the area of a block of flats along King Richards Road. A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said “Police attended a flat in Norfolk Walk, Leicester at around 12.20pm today (23 April) regarding the concern for the welfare of an occupant.” “The body of a man was found inside the address.” “The death is currently being treated as unexplained although early enquiries suggest it is not suspicious.” #LeicsPolice #NorfolkStreet #NorfolkWalk