Parents of St Peters School Hinckley, with the help and support of Michael Mullaney, yesterday Saturday 23rd April attended the St George's Day event in Hinckley. During the event, parents of St Peters School in Hinckley along with the local councillor, Michael Mullaney, raised awareness of the dangerous crossing point outside the school. The crossing point is used by local residents as well as the pupils of three local schools. Being St Peters School Hinckley, Hinckley Parks Primary School and Hinckley Academy incorporating John Cleveland College. Many adult residents retold their own difficulties of crossing London Road in front of St Peters School. It begs the question, why it is necessary to beg the County Council for a safe crossing point in front of the school. The Children’s and other vunerable residents safety should be paramount. How can a monetary value be placed on a child's life? The day was very successful and hundreds of additional petition signatures were collected on the day. The support of the local residents was remarkable. The total number of petition signatures now stands at over 5,250. The parents will continue with their campaign for a safer community crossing on London Road in front of St Peters School. We would like to thank the community for their continued support. See our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StPeters-Crossing-Campaign-101386595877497/

Event festival News. England’s patron saint was celebrated in Leicester as the city’s annual St George’s Festival returned to Orton Square today. The packed programme of activities in and around the Cultural Quarter got under way at 12noon, with a welcome from the Lord Mayor and dancing from the Leicester Morris Men. Even the Lord Mayor had a go dancing with the Morris men. Visitors were able to take part in a Dragon trail with a special map to key locations and activities that revealed hidden dragons. There was lots of things to see and do for all the family. Lots of dance, puppetry, and stilt walking, as well as arts and crafts, maypole dancing, and storytelling inspired by St George and the Dragon. This free event was well managed by Leicester City council events team. More pictures on our Facebook page @leicestermediaonline

A motorist who killed a passenger and seriously injured another in a collision where his speed exceeded 100mph in a residential area has been jailed for five years and two months. Vinit Patel, 30, was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court today (Friday 22 April). At around 11.30pm on Sunday 17 January last year, police were called to Coleman Road in Evington following a report that a Seat Leon Cupra had collided with a tree. On arrival, they found that the impact of the collision had caused the car to split in two – and that the rear end was alight. The back-seat passenger – a man in his 20s who owned the car – was pronounced dead at the scene. Patel and a front seat passenger, now aged 40, were both found unconscious at the scene and taken to hospital for treatment. The passenger was found to have suffered broken ribs and a facial fracture which required three metal plates to be inserted, as well as a fracture to his lower back. Enquiries carried out by the force’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) determined that Patel’s speed was approximately 120mph more than 100 metres before the car collided with the tree. Patel was driving at four times the speed limit in the area – 30mph. Patel, of Crown Hills Avenue in Leicester, was eventually discharged from hospital in March 2021 and interviewed by police the following month. Toxicology reports confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol and cannabis when the collision occurred. A bottle whisky and a cannabis grinder were found the car. At a court hearing on 14 March, Patel pleaded guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Today he was also disqualified from driving for eight years and must sit an extended test when re-applying for his licence. Detective Sergeant Paul Hawkins, from the SCIU, was the senior investigating officer. He said: “It’s difficult to comprehend the speed at which Patel was driving. He was in a lit, residential area where the limit is 30mph, but was travelling at more than four times that. “He didn’t care for the safety of his passengers – or those living in the area – and had complete disregard for them. Sadly, the recklessness of his driving resulted in the most serious of consequences. “While in prison, I hope Patel takes time to reflect on the devastation he has caused and my heartfelt condolences remain with the family of the passenger who lost his life.” Pictures and Video by LM News © 2021

Leicester's forthcoming Concert for Ukraine will be hosted by Amy Payne, regional news presenter and reporter for BBC East Midlands Today, and Rajiv Popat, reporter and presenter for ITV News Central. The event takes place at Leicester's De Montfort Hall on Sunday 8 May, starting at 4pm. The concert will showcase a vibrant celebration of Ukrainian dance and music by first, second and third generation Ukrainians from across the UK including the award-winning Orlyk Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble, one of the few Ukrainian acts left in the world that dance and sing to live music. Peter Los from Orlyk said “Orlyk are delighted to be involved in this Concert for Ukraine and help contribute towards raising humanitarian aid for Ukrainians in need”. It will also feature world music from other Leicester communities alongside well-known songs from musicals. Artists and groups that will perform include West End actor and singer Jonny Fines (Grease, Annie and Curve’s An Officer and a Gentleman), the EAGA Gospel choir (Britain’s Got Talent live semi-finalists), Shiamak Midlands Bollywood dancers, a massed community choir of singers from across Leicestershire, dancers from the Curve Young Company, Leicester Cathedral Choir singing John Rutter’s newly composed A Ukrainian Prayer, plus Rozanna Madylus (British-Ukrainian Mezzo-Soprano), David Morris (tenor and former Swingle Singer), Denise Leigh (soprano), Mike Dewis (baritone), and a variety of other musicians. Please contact Lesia on 07873 254279 or email LC4U@musicalvillage.co.uk for more information. Tickets for the concert will cost £20, with 100% of the money raised from ticket sales going to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. De Montfort Hall will also be donating all bar profits from the evening to the cause. Tickets can be bought in person at De Montfort Hall, by phone on 0116 233 3111 or online at www.demontforthall.co.uk Leicester City Council News 21/04/2022

A Unique partnership has been launched bringing together Leicester City Council and all local bus operators in the city to focus on meeting the city’s current and future travel needs. The Leicester Buses Partnership, the first of its kind for Leicester, sets out a detailed eight-year plan, including a three-year programme of fully-funded transport improvement projects. They include the electrification of key bus routes, new bus lanes, coordinated timetables and significantly improved passenger information, ticketing and waiting facilities. The new partnership was launched on Thursday April 21, in Jubilee Square, with new ‘Leicester Buses’ branded electric buses, complementing the partnership brand which already appears on bus stops and vehicles across the city. It also sees the launch of one of the first Leicester Buses Partnership projects – its innovative “Tap On Tap Off” digital fare system, which automatically enables passengers to get the best fare for the journey they have made, even if they’ve used more than one operator. The scheme is flexible, easy to use and speeds up payment for travel. Arriva, First Bus, Centrebus, Kinchbus, Stagecoach and Roberts Travel Group have agreed to work alongside the council over the next eight years with the aim of transforming the bus network with the aim of making it fully electric, frequent, reliable, easy to use and good value. The partnership will focus on investing in electric or zero-emission buses, measures to beat congestion, offering better value tickets and providing better facilities for bus travellers. Commitments due to be delivered over the next 18 months include: A third of the city’s bus network – around 130 vehicles – to be electric by 2024 Six significant bus priority schemes covering a fifth of the main bus routes Two additional park and ride sites New ticket discount schemes ‘Tap and Cap’ technology across the main operators, creating the first area outside London operating a ‘best fare’ guarantee for journeys involving more than one operator 650 new real-time displays 500 new bus shelters, including the country’s largest collection of ‘living roof’ shelters to help local biodiversity The UK’s first net-zero bus station at St Margaret’s Leicester deputy city mayor for transport and the environment, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: “This is something we have been wanting to do for many years – to bring together all the main local bus operators under one banner and work with them to meet the city’s present and future transport needs. “Since the mid-1980s when the Government deregulated public transport, councils have had little control or input into commercially-run local bus services. “However, by forming this partnership we will be able to have a greater involvement in modernising and improving vehicles, services and routes, to ensure they offer they are as accessible, affordable and reliable as possible for passengers. “The formation of this bus partnership enables us to bid for Government funding, but also strengthens the case to generate locally the funding needed to sustain these improvements, which is why we are looking at schemes such as the Workplace Parking Levy. “Leicester, like all major cities, faces challenges around traffic congestion, air quality and its transport choices for the coming years. Clean, efficient, accessible bus services are a vital part of that solution.” Significant investment has already been made, including the soon to be completed multimillion pound new St Margaret’s Bus Station, electric buses operating from the city’s three Park and Ride sites, and technology allowing all customers to make ‘Tap On Tap Off’ contactless payments with individual operators. Longer term goals of the Leicester Bus Partnership include: Further investment in bus priority schemes on the remaining radial bus corridors Significant investment in express cross-city routes by 2025, to enable people to get to workplaces in more outlying areas Ensuring half the bus network – around 270 buses – are electric by 2025, and all electric or zero emission by 2030 Making buses more frequent on important routes for employment for example Trialling fare discounts for younger passengers Roberts Travel Group operates the city’s three Park and Ride sites, which already use a fleet of 11 electric buses. MD and owner of Roberts Travel Group, Jonathan Hunt, said: “I’m very pleased to be involved in the partnership, and enjoying the positivity of working to take the city forward with lower emissions and better air quality.” Arriva’s commercial director, Andrew Godley added: “Arriva’s network of cross-boundary services, connecting Leicester with market towns across Leicestershire and beyond, has evolved and developed over time to meet the ever-changing needs of the many varied communities we serve. “We’re continuing to investment significantly in our Leicester business, from rolling out real-time tracking and contactless payment across all our services, to upgrading our entire fleet of vehicles with the latest Euro 6 low-emission engines. “Through existing partnerships with Leicester City Council we have already introduced Tap on Tap off ticketing, including the first truly multi-operator price cap which went live in March, and have been successful in securing funding from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme, to top up the investment already committed by Arriva, to the tune of £12m over the next two years. “The Leicester Buses Enhanced Partnership takes our relationship to the next level; we are stronger together and will continue to work towards our shared vision to help beat congestion, improve air quality, and ensure bus travel continues to be great value and easy to use.” Rob Hughes, Operations Director at First Leicester, said:” Exciting times are ahead and through working in partnership with Leicester City Council and other bus operators, I am looking forward to seeing the many inspiring projects, campaigns and initiatives come to fruition that are destined to improve bus provision in the city. “With brand new electric buses heading our way, along with the latest introduction of digital contactless ticketing technology and further plans for bus priority and improved bus stop infrastructure, the city is on track to promote bus travel as a seamless, fully accessible, environmentally friendly mode of travel that can appeal to both local residents and visitors to Leicester.” Kinchbus operates services in Loughborough and the Skylink service linking Leicester to East Midlands Airport. The company’s general manager Christian Allen-Clay also welcomed the new partnership. “We are excited to be part of this partnership, which has clear aims and a vision to put buses at the heart of an efficient, clean, accessible and environmentally sustainable transport network in Leicester," he said. “Kinchbus and other bus operators have worked with Leicester City Council for years and formalising this partnership will allow us to do even more to improve the offering to our customers and encourage non users to choose the bus, and in doing so make a more sustainable transport choice.” Details of the new Leicester Buses partnership are available here: www.leicesterbuses.co.uk.

England’s patron saint will be celebrated in Leicester as the city’s annual St George’s Festival returns to Orton Square on Saturday 23rd April. The packed programme of activities in and around the Cultural Quarter gets under way from 12noon, with a welcome from the Lord Mayor and dancing from the Leicester Morris Men. Visitors will be able to take part in a Dragon trail with a special map to key locations and activities that will reveal hidden dragons. There will be lots of things to see and do for all the family. There’ll be dance, puppetry, and stilt walking, as well as arts and crafts, maypole dancing, and storytelling inspired by St George and the Dragon. Visitors can also look forward to a visit by ‘Flame’ the mighty Dragon. Flame and friends will be in Orton Square at 1pm, 2.15pm and 3.15pm. Young children will be able to dress up as knights or princesses and join in the costume parade at 2.30pm. Elsewhere in the Cultural Quarter, LCB Depot on Rutland Street will host family activities until 4pm, where you can make your own crowns, shields, wands, and puppets. Refreshments will be available from its coffee shop. Leicester Print Workshop will be offering drop-in sessions so you can create your own mythical beast. Visitors can also take a sneak peek behind the scenes at Two Queens Open Studios Gallery and make a crest inspired by their favourite things. It’s advisable to wear clothes that you don't mind getting messy. Phoenix Cinema and Arts Centre will be bringing artwork to life on interactive screens as part of a digital workshop. People also can try their hand at the potter’s wheel and find out about the fantastic workshops on offer at Makers’ Yard. St George’s Church will be opening its doors and inviting people in to explore the fascinating historical building and the foundation of Leicester’s Cultural Quarter. The Exchange bar has a special St George’s themed guest ale, warming hot chocolate and limited-edition medieval menu to enjoy while decorating your very own dragon. Then people can wind down by taking in the city sights from the cosy rooftop terrace of the Brick & Beam from 6pm, where there will be live jazz from local artists. Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair, who leads on culture, leisure and sport, said: “St George’s Festival is always a great day out for the family and a fantastic way to enjoy the Cultural Quarter. There will be a range of free activities on offer, both in Orton Square and in nearby venues, that people of all ages can enjoy.” A free programme for the St George’s Festival can be picked up from Visit Leicester information Centre, 4A St Martins (LE1 5DB). Details are also available online at visitleicester.info

Police standoff with man on Bridge in the West End of Leicester This standoff continues into the darkness of the night. A man has been up on the bridge and is threatening to jump off for over 2 hours. Police negotiators are now at this incident.  Narborough Road is still closed by the police. and a cordon remains below and around the bridge. The road closure is Narborough Road between Winchester Avenue and Westleigh Road is closed. Access from Ivy road and Danvers Road. Leicestershire Fire and rescue are now in attendance.  We await a statement from Leicestershire police. Updated News The man came down at 21.40 and has been taken into police custody. In a statement issued today Leicestershire Police said: “Just after 7.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 20 April) a report was received regarding concern for a man on a bridge in Narborough Road.“ “Officers attended and to ensure the safety of the man. The road was closed. The man came down from the bridge at his own accord shortly before 9.45pm and was taken into custody by officers from British Transport Police.”

Households across Leicester will be getting help towards meeting the rising cost of energy bills. People living in homes in council tax bands A to D will be getting a £150 council tax energy rebate as part of a Government scheme administered by Leicester City Council. The money is part of funding being made available to help people cope with the rising costs of energy bills, brought about in part by the increase in the energy price cap from April 1. Those who pay council tax by direct debit will be get the money paid automatically into their bank accounts from late April. People who use other methods of payment will automatically receive a Post Office voucher which can be exchanged for £150 cash. Vouchers will be issued from May onwards, and anyone who doesn’t cash them within three months will instead receive £150 credited to their council tax accounts automatically to ensure they don’t miss out. The help is available to each household paying council tax and living in council tax bands A to D properties. It must be their sole or main residence and the must have been living there on April 1, 2022. Over 95 per cent of city households will receive the £150 payment. Help for people living in bigger properties in bands E to H is available for those on council tax support, or who qualify for an exemption or discount. This will also be paid automatically into bank accounts or through Post Office vouchers. People living in households of multiple occupation (HMOs) or who moved into their current homes after April 1 may also be eligible for help under discretionary funding. Details of the funding and information on applying will be announced in May. The payment will not be made for empty homes, second homes or non-resident landlords. The £150 payment is a grant, and does not have to be repaid. Leicester deputy city mayor for social care and anti-poverty, Cllr Sarah Russell, said: “This money is being made available to help support many households across the city at a time when energy prices and the cost of living are soaring. “Many people already pay their council tax by direct debit, and they will automatically receive the £150 payment into their bank accounts over the coming weeks. Those who pay by other methods will be sent vouchers for the same value, to exchange for cash at a Post Office. If the vouchers are unused, the money will instead be paid into their council tax account. “We have been allocated some discretionary funding to help people not automatically entitled to the £150. We are working up the full details, which will include people living in households of multiple occupation (HMOs) and vulnerable people in higher banded properties. “The city council is administering the scheme and we will make sure everyone who is eligible for payment is helped as soon as possible. “As part of that, I’d remind householders to be on the alert for scam callers pretending to be from the council and asking for bank details. We will never contact households asking for bank details by phone, text or email – if you are in any doubt, please get in touch with our Customer Service Centre who will be able to help.” For more details on the rebate scheme visit here. Leicester City Council News 20/02/2022

Government sets out changes to Highway Code to ensure first self-driving vehicles introduced safely on roads Changes clarify drivers’ responsibilities in self-driving vehicles, including when a driver must be ready to take back control Future technology could improve and level up transport, easing congestion, cutting emissions, and reducing collisions caused by human error  Drivers will be able to experience the full benefits of the first self-driving vehicles when they arrive, as Government sets out how they should be driven safely on UK roads. The Government has today confirmed planned changes to The Highway Code, responding to a public consultation, continuing to pave the way for safer, more efficient travel. The changes to the Code will help ensure the first wave of technology will be used safely, explaining clearly that while travelling in self-driving mode, motorists must be ready to resume control in a timely way if they are prompted to – such as when they approach motorway exits. The plans also include a change to current regulation, allowing drivers to view content which is not related to driving on built-in display screens, while the self-driving vehicle is in control. It will however, still be illegal to use mobile phones in self-driving mode, given the greater risk they pose in distracting drivers as shown in research. With self-driving technology rapidly developing across the globe, Britain’s first vehicles approved for self-driving could be ready for use later this year. Vehicles will undergo rigorous testing and only be approved as self-driving when they have met stringent standards. The Government is continuing to develop a full legal framework for self-driving vehicles to enable the safer and greener movement of people and goods in the UK. The Department for Transport will also work with industry, regulators and safety organisations to ensure drivers can access information, including online, to help them use the vehicles safely. Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said:    “This is a major milestone in our safe introduction of self-driving vehicles, which will revolutionise the way we travel, making our future journeys greener, safer and more reliable.   “This exciting technology is developing at pace right here in Great Britain and we’re ensuring we have strong foundations in place for drivers when it takes to our roads. “In doing so, we can help improve travel for all while boosting economic growth across the nation and securing Britain’s place as a global science superpower.”   The development of self-driving vehicles could create around 38,000 new, high-skilled jobs within Britain’s industry that would be worth £41.7 billion by 2035.  The measures confirmed today follow a public consultation launched by the Government, which found the majority of respondents were broadly supportive of the proposed changes to the Highway Code to clarify drivers’ responsibilities in self-driving vehicles. The introduction of the technology is likely to begin with vehicles travelling at slow speeds on motorways, such as in congested traffic. Following a landmark Call for Evidence, the Government announced in April last year that vehicles fitted with Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS) technology could be the first example of self-driving technology. Existing technology available on the market is ‘assistive,’ meaning drivers must currently always remain in control and responsible.  Designed for use on a motorway in slow traffic, ALKS enables a vehicle to drive itself in a single lane, up to 37mph, while maintaining the ability to return control easily and safely to the driver when required.   Meanwhile, the Government expects to have a full regulatory framework in place to support the widespread deployment of the technology by 2025, helping to make the movement of people and goods safer, greener and more efficient.   The technology could improve road safety across Britain by reducing human error, which is a contributory factor in 88% of all recorded road collisions.    The Department for Transport News

Thousands of children across the city will be offered a place at a primary school today, with a record 96.3% of children gaining a place at their first preference – the highest level recorded. 99.3% of children gained a place at one of their preferred schools. Today (19 April) is National Offer Day when children up and down the country learn which primary school they will attend from the 2022/23 academic year. In Leicester, 4,111 applications were received on time. Of those, 3,959 (96.3%) received their first preference, 100 (2.43%) their second preference and 18 (0.44%) their third preference. Five (0.1%) received their fourth preference. Only 0.7% of children (29 applicants) did not gain a place at one of their preferred schools. Where families were not offered a place at one of the schools they had indicated on their application form, the maximum distance to any alternative school they were offered was 0.73 miles. Of the four choices open to parents, 60.9% (2,505) of parents only submitted one choice of school, with only 8.9% opting to make the most of using all four choices. Assistant city mayor Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, who leads on education, said: “We know that starting school for the first time can be an anxious time for families, and our aim is always to take away as much of the stress from the process as possible, which is why we’re always really pleased that we manage to provide chosen school places for the vast majority of people who apply to us on time. “We still have an issue with parents who only put down one preference believing it will help their chances. What this in fact does is significantly raise the chance you will be offered a place outside of your local area, so we would encourage every applicant to always use all four preferences. “We have made sure that, once again, no-one who applies on time is without a place.” Online applicants – who made up 81.6% of all applications - will be able to log on to the website and see their offers from midnight on national offer day, 19 April 2022. Emails will also be sent out on offer day, with letters posted out to the home addresses of all applicants within two to three days. Leicester City Council News 19/04/2022

Detectives investigating the death of Abdirahim Mohamed last September have today (Tuesday 19 April) charged a man with assisting an offender. Adam Brant, 29, of Bale Road, Leicester, is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Wednesday 20 April). Mr Mohamed, 18, was found in Melbourne Street, Leicester, on the evening of 8 September with multiple stab wounds. He died in the early hours of Thursday 9 September. Six men have been charged with his murder, while a further three men were previously charged with assisting an offender. Leicestershire Police News 19/04/2022

Derelict farm is making way for a roundabout The very early stages of work on the North & East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (N&EMMDR) gets underway over the next few weeks. Work to demolish a derelict farm building is now starting as part of the vital advance programme for the road scheme, which should see major construction work begin in early 2023. However, this is all subject to a final business case being submitted by the county council and then Government approval, which is expected by the end of the year. "This enabling work is a very early step in the road-building programme. Major construction work won’t start until early next year, but the road will bring a multitude of benefits to the Melton area through reducing congestion and helping to remove traffic from the town" Councillor Ozzy O'Shea, county council cabinet member for highways and transport The demolition of Sysonby Farm is being carried out by Galliford Try as part of the company’s early contractual involvement in the scheme. The site is then making way for a roundabout which will join the existing A606 Nottingham Road. County councillors will meet next week to approve the implementation of the compulsory purchase orders for the land required for the scheme. The orders have now been confirmed by Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport.ant Shapps. Later in the year, archaeological mitigation will be carried out along sections of the 7.1km single carriageway. During the same period, ecological work to relocate badgers will take place together with further preliminary work, such as such as creating access routes for construction vehicles and machinery and the setting-up of compounds. The distributor road is designed to take traffic away from Melton town centre, providing access to future housing and employment areas. The road will also accelerate the delivery of over 4,500 dwellings and create 6,000 jobs. Cabinet will discuss the Melton report when it meets on Tuesday, 26th April at 2pm. The meeting can be viewed at www.leicestershire.gov.uk/webcast Leicestershire County Council News