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Despite the easing of the current Covid-19 lockdown the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership (LLRRSP) is reminding road users to stick to the speed limits. Current traffic levels are, on average, about two thirds their normal level, however, Leicestershire Police is receiving many complaints of excessive speeds from across the Police force area. Almost 1500 motorists have been issued with speeding tickets despite a recent two week NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council) speeding campaign. The campaign saw Police officers and Special Constables reacting to community concerns by visiting problem areas and collision hotspots. Jonathan Clarkson, LLRRSP spokesperson, “Between Monday 25th May and Sunday 7thJune we have recorded 1497 speeding offences including one vehicle travelling at 105mph, over twice the speed limit, on the A607 Newark Road. We also saw high speeds in Leicester, including 66mph on King Richards Road West and 68mph on the A563 Thurmaston Lane.” “I’d like to take this opportunity to remind drivers that Police patrols maintain a visible and pro-active presence and our speed camera network is operational in order to keep everyone safe.” “As more road users take advantage of the lighter evenings and the summer weather it is worth reminding road users to share the road and drive more considerately around cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and motorcyclists.”

Around 400 small businesses and charities across Leicester who are eligible for Government grants of £10,000 to £25,000 have still not claimed the financial help. Leicester City Council has paid out grants totalling nearly £65million to 5,624 businesses under the Government’s Small Business Grants Fund, and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund scheme. While about 89 per cent of eligible businesses have claimed the grants, up to 400 have still not done so, and the city council is reminding those to make a claim before it is too late. The grants, which do not have to be repaid, are designed to help firms whose income has suffered during the coronavirus lockdown. Businesses, charities and other organisations which benefit from small business rate relief are entitled to receive a non-repayable £10,000 grant. Businesses in larger premises and charities may be entitled to a non-repayable retail, hospitality and leisure grant of £10,000 or £25,000. These ratepayers are being encouraged to visit the city council’s website to check their eligibility and submit their claim. Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “The response to the small business grant funding has been very good, and has provided much-needed financial support for a great many businesses across the city. “However, there are still as many as 400 businesses which appear on our records which have not the money to which they are entitled. It may be that some of these are no longer trading, or have decided not to claim, but I’d urge anyone who hasn’t claimed yet to do so while the help is still on offer. “This is money which the Government has made available to help businesses affected by coronavirus, and it would be good to see it put to good use to help struggling local firms.” Earlier this week a second pot of funding was announced for some businesses and charities which are not eligible for the Small Business Grants Fund, or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. Under the new Discretionary Business Grants scheme, £3.5million has been made available to help businesses in Leicester. Most grants will be for £7,000 to £10,000, depending on the type of business. Market traders can receive up to £2,000. The deadline for the first round of applications under the Discretionary Business Grant scheme is June 22. Details of all business grant schemes are available here. Additional information on advice and support for businesses is available on the website of the Business Gateway Growth Hub – a support network for businesses in the city, run by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). The pages bring together the most relevant national Government information with the guidance and advice of various teams working across the city centre and beyond, focusing on retail, hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, service and other sectors. Leicester City Council is working with the LLEP – an organisation involving the city, county and district councils and local business leaders – to coordinate a citywide information service and has a steadily-growing team of advisers already liaising with businesses, who can all be accessed via the Business Gateway Growth Hub. The LLEP has made a wide range of help and advice available online, and has been working with small local businesses concerned about their future. Up-to-date information on help for businesses is available at: www.bizgateway.org.uk

Two new pop-up schemes to create pedestrian and cycle-friendly areas linking Leicester’s West End and De Montfort University campus are due to be put into place this week. Changes are due to be made at Braunstone Gate and nearby Mill Lane to help enable greater social distancing among pedestrians, reduced traffic and safer cycling routes, amid a rise in cycling and walking in response to the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus lockdown. The schemes are the latest in a wide-ranging programme of improvements to help the city’s economy, businesses and transport recover as lockdown conditions began ease across the UK for the first time since March 2020. Braunstone Gate will see a pop-up “Mini Holland” – a scheme creating public space which gives more priority to cycles and pedestrians, by limiting vehicle access and closing the road to unnecessary traffic, and also creating wider pavement areas to help visitors to shops, bars and cafes maintain social distancing as businesses start to reopen. It includes restricting access from Duns Lane and New Park Street into Braunstone Gate to buses, taxis and cycles only, and also removing the left turn from Western Boulevard into Braunstone Gate except for cycles. Traffic flow coming from the Narborough Road end will also have to give way to oncoming traffic traveling south. The work, which is being done on an experimental basis, is designed to reduce through traffic flow in the area. An advisory 20mph zone is also being introduced in the area. On-street parking on Braunstone Gate itself will also be removed, with the extra space used to make pavements wider. Businesses will also be able to apply for street cafe licenses and outside seating areas. Permanent Mini Holland schemes have been installed in urban areas including the London borough of Walthamstow (pictured), leading to a huge increase in cycling and walking, and a 56 percent drop in vehicle numbers. At nearby Mill Lane, a one-way system will be put in place, meaning traffic can access Mill Lane and Grasmere Street from Western Boulevard and Jarrom Street, but not in the opposite direction. A signed diversion route will be provided via Jarrom Street, Havelock Street, Walnut Street, Upperton Road and Western Boulevard, and a two-way cycle route introduced instead between the pedestrianised section of Mill Lane and the cycle routes across Bede Park and beyond. Both experimental schemes will be marked out temporarily at first using traffic cones, signs and lines, with a view to making them permanent in future if they prove successful, by adding street furniture such as planters and bollards, and enabling businesses to apply for licenses for street seating. The projects will also improve the network of cycling and walking routes connecting the city centre, Bede Park and the DMU campus. Work at Braunstone Gate is due to take place on Wednesday, June 10, with the Mill Lane changes being installed on Thursday, June 11. Both schemes are being carried out under the Leicester Covid-19 Transport Recovery Plan, which was published earlier this month and sets out the priorities for helping boost the city’s economy and health while making the most of opportunities to encourage more sustainable transport choices. The recovery plan includes plans to put in place a mile per week of cycling and walking infrastructure, such as the pop-up cycle tracks already in place in Aylestone Road, Saffron Lane, London Road, Hinckley Road and Abbey Park Road, as well as pavement-widening work to help businesses in Belgrave’s Golden Mile and Queens Road. The Government has made £363,000 available to Leicester to fund such schemes. Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Our Transport Recovery Plan has set out ways in which we can help bring the city out of the slump caused by the coronavirus lockdown, and do so in a way that enables us to achieve our environmental goals of improving the city’s air quality and making our streets safer and more pleasant. “Braunstone Gate is home to a vibrant mixture of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and other independent small businesses, which are exactly the kinds of businesses which have been hit hard by the loss of trade from the lockdown. “These emergency measures will encourage cycling, walking and ensure socially distancing as businesses reopen, and also longer term bring the possibility of cafes and bars including outside seating for example.” Research carried out by Transport for London (TfL) in 2018 showed that improvements to make high streets and town centres more easily accessible by cycle or on foot had led to an increase in retail rental values, more retail space being filled and a 93 per cent increase in people walking in the streets. The research also found that people walking, cycling and using public transport spent the most in their local shops, spending 40 per cent more each month than car drivers. Deputy city mayor for environment and transportation, Cllr Adam Clarke, added: “We’ve seen the success of Mini Holland schemes elsewhere over the last few years, and could be an important part of our work to help kickstart the city’s economy and transport in a way that also tackles our environmental obligations. “We need to help the city’s businesses to get back on their feet as we come out of lockdown, but also don’t want to lose the benefits to air quality and the rise in cycling and walking, that has happened over the last 10 weeks. “Initially, it will be a temporary pop-up scheme, which we can amend if needed to address any specific local issues. But longer term, changes like this to streets and local shopping areas in communities across the city could become more commonplace as we try to address the needs to economic prosperity, public health and safety of all road users.” Picture caption: A permanent 'mini Holland' scheme in Walthamstow, East London.

The Leicestershire Search and Rescue (LeicSAR) group have been named as recipients of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. The group’s primary role is to assist Leicestershire Police in the search for high-risk missing persons, including people who have dementia, mental health conditions and those who have had an emergency while out walking. LeicSAR’s Chairperson, Simon Headley, says: “The team are absolutely delighted to be receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is a huge achievement for us and recognises the vital work we do. The whole team are extremely proud to be part of such an amazing group of people. “Our team members come from all walks of life, we have serving and retired emergency service workers, people who are self-employed, people who work in education, engineers and more. We all have our own reasons for wanting to be part of the team, but we all have that one common goal, which is assisting our communities in their time of need and giving something back.” The team is made up of 44 highly trained volunteers, among them are dog handlers, technicians, search planners and managers, team leaders and medics. They also have a nationally accredited air-scenting dog team and a specialist bicycle team, allowing them to search large or rural areas. Chief Constable Simon Cole said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that the Search and Rescue team will be receiving this prestigious award. The team volunteer thousands of hours every year, selflessly giving up their own time to help people in a crisis. “Their commitment and expertise has generated a very high level of respect from officers and staff across the force and it is a joint effort to secure the safety of a missing person. The team are highly trained in planning, coordinating and running searches, and will turn out whatever the time, day or weather to save lives and reunite families with their loved ones. “They are a fantastic support to the force and I am tremendously grateful for the outstanding effort they put into finding missing people. This award is truly well deserved and I look forward to congratulating them in person once restrictions are eased.” Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach added: “This is richly deserved recognition of an excellent voluntary team who provide an outstanding service and I’m delighted for everyone involved. “Often working with the police, their work is often critical in helping to find missing and vulnerable people and lives are saved as a result. It is hard to imagine a more important and inspirational public service to perform and I’m immensely proud to have supported their work. “Earlier this year LeicSAR also received my Special Recognition Award at my Community Celebration Awards for its exceptional contribution to the delivery of my Police & Crime Plan. “This expert Search and Rescue team, made up entirely of volunteers, turns out at any time and in all weathers to help locate people and the vital role it plays is appreciated across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.” The group is fully self-sufficient and relies purely on donations, grants and fundraising as a registered charity. To find out more about the team and their work, please visit www.leicestershire-sar.org.uk. Leicestershire Search and Rescue is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including a community shop in Cornwall, an environmental group in Swansea, a group working with refugees and vulnerable people in Stirling and a thriving community arts centre in County Down. Representatives of Leicestershire Search & Rescue will receive the award from Michael Kapur OBE Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire later this summer. Furthermore, two volunteers from the team will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Urgent Update: Flexible Furlough and What Every Employer Needs to Know Employers have been awaiting detail on how the continued Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will work since 12th May 2020. On 29th May The Chancellor announced the changes to how the CJRS arrangement will work for businesses who have furloughed employees. Toni Robinson, Managing Director of NucleusHR provides an urgent update for employers on the latest announcement from the government regarding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The main announcements are: There are no changes to the scheme up until 31 July 2020 – therefore employers will receive the same support as they currently do – 80% of pay up to a maximum of £2,500 per month, plus associated pension and employer NIC costs. From 1 July 2020 – “Flexible Furlough” will be introduced, which means a CJRS grant can be claimed for the days an employee is on furlough even if they return to work for certain days (e.g. on furlough for three days of the week and working two days). This introduction of the Flexible Furlough means that CJRS cannot be used for anyone who has not been furloughed before 10 June 2020. From 1 August 2020 – whilst the employer will still be able to claim a CJRS wage grant of up to £2,500 (or 80% of pay if lower) per month, the additional CJRS pension and NIC support will stop. From 1 September 2020 – The employer will be required to contribute 10% of the CJRS wage costs, with the Government’s contribution therefore reducing to 70% (maximum of £2,187.50). From 1st October 2020 – The employer will be required to contribute 20% of the CJRS wage costs, with the Government’s contribution therefore reducing to 60% (maximum of £1,875). The CJRS arrangement is due to come to an end completely on 31 October 2020. It is important to note, that regardless of employer or government contribution an employee who is benefiting from the CJRS scheme should always receive a minimum of 80% of their salary up to £2,500 per month. Although the detail has altered since the government announcement on 12th May, the announcement demonstrates that the government is keen to continue to support businesses and also help get individuals back to work as soon possible. Nucleus HR Press release 1st June 2020 http://www.nucleushr.com/

Businesses across the Leicestershire Police force area are being urged to remain vigilant after incidents of fraud resulting in the loss of large sums of money. Business Email Compromise (BEC), commonly known as mandate fraud, occurs when businesses are contacted by someone pretending to be one of their suppliers and informed they have changed their bank, requesting they amend the direct debit to reflect this. It’s not always businesses who fall victim to this type of fraud. Individual’s online bank accounts can also be hacked into and monthly payment details altered so that the money is transferred to the fraudster's account. Fraudsters have also been known to claim they are calling from an organisation you have a standing order with and they request that you change the order to reflect a change in their banking. The standing order mandate is changed accordingly but the following month the organisation fails to deliver your products or a membership has been cancelled due to payment not being received. That money has ended up in the hands of the fraudster. People are asked to take these steps to reduce their chances of becoming a victim to this fraud:- If you’re a business verify all invoices, as well as requests to change bank account details. To check a request is legitimate, contact the supplier directly using established contact details you have on file. Access to sensitive financial information should be carefully controlled. Don't dispose of confidential documents without shredding them first. Check your bank statements regularly for any suspicious transactions. If you notice anything unusual, notify your bank immediately. To protect important accounts, such as email, social media and shopping accounts, we very strongly advise applying #2FA (two factor authentication) to your account settings. This simply means when logging in, it will require an extra check in addition to the password, so even if a criminal knows your password, they won't be able to access your accounts, as they will not be able to complete the second factor of logging in. For more information, visit https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/setting-two-factor-authentication-2fa Rebecca Hinchcliffe is a fraud investigator in the force’s Economic Crime Unit. She said: “We have had reports of a number of businesses falling victim to BEC. In some cases there have been losses of more than £1m. “As a result of such losses some businesses can’t afford to continue, they have shareholders who lose faith in the business, suppliers decide they can’t trust the business as they don’t have sufficient controls in place and this may also lead to arguments between suppliers and businesses about whose system was compromised some even resorting to litigation. “One recent case which resulted in a successful conviction in December last year related to an individual who tricked a house buyer out of a £55,000 deposit for his new home after hackers diverted the funds into a money launderer's account. “Fraudsters carried out the scam by accessing the email account of the victim's conveyancing solicitor and sent a bogus message giving him details of where to send the payment. The defendant was jailed for 18 months and will also be the subject of further court proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. “If you have been the victim of a similar offence and haven’t reported it we would advise that you do so. In the first instance contact Action Fraud who will log the report and allocate it to the relevant police force.” Further information and advice can be found on the Action Fraud website www.actionfraud.police.uk/mandate-fraud Leicestershire Police Press release.

Lockdown measures imposed by the Government in March have meant big changes to the way we all live, work and socialise. And although the Government has now taken some tentative steps towards modifying those measures, the message for people in Leicester remains the same: stay at home as much as possible – and work from home, if you can – to help save lives by slowing the spread of the coronavirus. If you can’t work from home, and your workplace is reopening, your employer should be following Government guidelines to ensure your workplace is safe. Until further notice, you should continue to: Stay at home as much as possible Work from home if you can Limit contact with other people Keep your distance whenever you go out (keeping two metres apart) Wash your hands regularly with soap and hot water or hand sanitiser Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms, however mild. You may also want to consider wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces – such as on buses – where social distancing isn’t always possible. From tomorrow (Wednesday 13 May), time restrictions on outdoor exercising will be lifted, which means people will be able to spend us much time as they like exercising outdoors, or sitting in parks, with members of their household. People will also be able to meet up with one individual from another household in outdoor spaces, providing they remain two metres apart. Please note that public gatherings of more than two people from different households are prohibited. The police have powers to fine anyone who flouts the social distancing rules, with fines for a first offence set to increase from £60 to £100. However, no one should leave home, if they – or anyone in their household – have symptoms of coronavirus: a high temperature (you feel hot to touch on your chest or back) or a new, continuous cough (this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours). Check the NHS website if you have symptoms. If you have either of these symptoms, however mild, you need to remain at home and self-isolate for seven days, if you live alone. Anyone you live with should not leave your home for 14 days. Remember: you can still pass the virus on, even if you don’t have symptoms. Coronavirus can make anyone seriously ill – but for some people, the risks are much higher. Those classed as 'clinically extremely vulnerable' and at high risk include people with certain cancers, those who have received organ transplants, people on certain immunosuppression therapies, and people with severe respiratory conditions, such as severe asthma or severe COPD. All those classed as at high risk should not leave their home for any reason and should ‘shield’ themselves from the disease until further notice. Those at high risk should have received a letter from the NHS, providing further help and advice. Further information is available here. People at ‘moderate risk’, and therefore clinically vulnerable, include those aged 70 and over, people of any age with an underlying health condition, people with a weakened immune system, very obese people (with a BMI of 40 or above) and pregnant women. Those at moderate risk should stay at home as much as possible and follow social distancing guidelines closely. With the Government updating its advice to people on a regular basis, it’s important that you only go to trusted sources – such as BBC Radio Leicester and the Leicester Mercury – for reliable and up-to-date information that will help keep you and your family safe. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “What is clear is that lockdown is not going to end all in one go and it will be a complex and gradual process. “The government has announced it would like schools to begin to re-open on 1 June, and we are working to set dates for our other buildings and services to re-open. But when we do so it will be in a managed way, with careful regard for people’s safety. “Please continue to follow the rules on distancing, and, if in doubt, stay home. We have done well to limit the spread of the virus in Leicester – let’s not risk a second wave of infections.” The Government’s latest advice is available at www.gov.uk Guidance for vulnerable people, and for those who care for older or vulnerable people, is available here. If you're struggling because of coronavirus - for example, with paying bills, being out of work, or taking care of your mental health - you can find help here. Information about the coronavirus in Leicester is available at leicester.gov.uk while information about council services affected by coronavirus can be found at leicester.gov.uk/serviceupdates Leicester City Council Press released

A total of 16 arrests have been made during a week-long police operation in the Coalville, Ashby and Leicester areas following intelligence gathering on criminal activity in the areas. Following work carried out and information received, warrants were obtained and enforcement activity was planned. A total of 22 warrants were executed over four days last week as part of the planned enforcement, known as Operation Hatch. Following the 16 arrests, a number of charges have also been made. Arrests made on Monday during the operation were: A 30-year-old man, of Coalville was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. He has since been released under investigation. A 26-year-old man, of Leicester, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. He has since been released under investigation. A 41-year-old woman, of Ashby, was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation. She has since been charged with the offence. Arrests made on Tuesday during the operation were: A 23-year-old man and an 18-year-old man, of Leicester, were arrested in connection with a non-stop collision in Belvoir Road in Coalville on Monday 13 April. Leicestershire Police have issued previous appeals in relation to the investigation. Both men have since been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and remanded into custody. This is addition to charges for other separate offences including drugs offences. A 28-year-old man, of Coalville, was arrested under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He has since been released under investigation. A 35-year-old man, of Leicester, and a 20-year-old man, of Coalville, were arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply. The 35-year-old man has since been released on police bail and the 20-year-old man has been released under investigation. A 29-year-old man, of Leicester was arrested and has since been charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A and one count of possession to supply class B. A 41-year-old man, of Coalville, was arrested on suspicion of sexual communication with a child. He has since been released under investigation. Arrests made on Wednesday during the operation were: A 32-year-old woman, of Coalville, was arrested on suspicion of theft. She has since been charged with two counts of theft. A man and a woman, both aged 63, of Coalville, were both arrested on suspicion of drugs offences. They have since been released under investigation. Arrests made on Thursday during the operation were: A 40-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. Both have since been released under investigation while further enquiries are carried out. A 25-year-old man was arrested and has since been charged with two counts of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Inspector Rich Jackson, NPA Commander for North West Leicestershire, said: “Officers from across force have worked together on this operation in order to gather information, obtain warrants and then carry out this enforcement activity. Investigations following these arrests will remain ongoing. “This has involved a lot of commitment and dedication from all involved and my thanks go to them as well as to members of the community for working with us while the enforcement has been carried out. “Anyone who has any information in relation to crime in their area should report it to us immediately. We will listen to you and we will take action.” You can report online at www.leics.police.uk or by calling 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.

A man has been stabbed on Evington Road this afternoon. Police have closed parts of Evington Road to allow investigations to take place. The road is closed at the junctions of Mayflower Road and Saint Stephens Road. A Police spokesperson said  “Officers were called to a report of a stabbing in Evington Road, Leicester, just after 2.30pm this afternoon (Monday). The injured man has been taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre with a single stab wound, however it is not believed to be life threatening or life changing. Evington Road is closed between St Stephens Road and Mayflower Road to allow an investigation to be carried out. No arrests have been made at this time.” Police were seen searching for a man at an address on Evington Road early this evening. more to follow. #EvingtonRoad #LMNews #Stabbing #LivesNotKnives

Major redevelopment of Leicester’s historic former Fenwick building has been given its final go-ahead, with the complete £17million investment package now in place. The iconic 19th century four-storey building on the corner of Market Street was bought in 2017 by developer Aimrok Holdings. Its ambitious plans for the building will see it converted into a 121-bedroom aparthotel, including a lobby bar, restaurant and gym. The development will also feature four new ground-floor and basement commercial units totalling nearly 11,000sqft, along with almost 12,000sqft of flexible business workspace under a newly signed lease with Leicester City Council. Aimrok Holdings will use the building’s original name ‘The Gresham’ for the new development, in a nod to the architectural heritage of this local landmark. The development will be part-funded by 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. Leicester City Council is investing £450,000 to fund the fit-out and set-up costs for the new flexible workspace with capital set aside for the Leicester Economic Action Plan. The LLEP has agreed an investment loan of up to £4million from the Growing Places Fund, a Government-funded scheme that supports key infrastructure projects designed to unlock wider economic growth and create jobs. Andrew Crainey, managing director of Aimrok Holdings, said: “We are very pleased to have been able to finalise the funding for this project in what is a very challenging time for everyone. This is testament to the belief in the recovery and long term view our partners have for Leicester. Our attention continues to be the redevelopment of the site to provide a strong product for the city. “Knowing that the country as a whole will take time to bounce back from the effects of Coronavirus, we will be incentivising potential future partnerships for the occupancy of the four available commercial units to assist in bringing benefits to other businesses in this area as we all attempt to push through into a recovery period.” City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This is great news for the city. The substantial private investment in this important scheme is a huge vote of confidence in Leicester. The Fenwick building is an important local landmark and its redevelopment will bring huge benefits to other businesses in this part of the city centre. “Our own plans to create new flexible business workspace as part of this redevelopment will build on the success of our workspaces at LCB Depot and Dock and provide an alternative and attractive option for new or small businesses and freelancers looking for a city centre base. “The Gresham will be just the latest chapter in the ongoing revitalisation of this part of the city centre.” Kevin Harris, chair of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) board, said: “With the make-up of our high streets evolving, it is important that we plan new uses for some of our most cherished buildings. This development at the old Fenwick’s store will see one of Leicester’s architectural gems preserved and restored to public use, with high-quality apartments in a prime city centre location. “The site will also provide more much-needed office space in the city, with businesses, start-ups and freelancers able to make use of flexible facilities. This modern approach to working life is sure to be popular with the dynamic businesses that increasingly see Leicester and Leicestershire as a highly attractive place to work.” Preliminary construction work is already underway at the former Fenwick building. The redevelopment is expected to take around 18 months to complete and it is hoped The Gresham will be opened and welcoming its first occupiers by late 2021. All work is being carried out in accordance with current Government advice to the construction industry, and the site is being operated under the strict guidelines and procedures published by the Construction Leadership Council and Public Health England. For initial enquiries or to express an interest in the council-run flexible business workspace contact, please contact luke.pulford@leicester.gov.uk For enquiries about the commercial and retail space being offered by Aimrok Holdings please contact enquiries@thegresham.co.uk Leicester City Council News Release

People in Leicester are being encouraged to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day by celebrating at home. With public events of commemoration and remembrance now cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, the city council is signposting people to online resources that will help everyone feel part of the national tribute to the Second World War generation – and help them make the most of the special bank holiday on Friday (8 May). A VE Day 75 page has been created on the council’s website that’s full of ideas for marking the anniversary – from baking war-time eggless cakes and making bunting, to learning the Lindy Hop and listening to music from the 1940s. There are also links to useful educational resources – and to the University of Leicester’s oral history collection, recorded in the 1980s and featuring personal memories of VE Day in Leicester. A timetable of events for 8 May is also included, starting with the two-minute silence at 11am, an online service from Leicester Cathedral at midday, the national toast at 3pm, and the Queen’s speech at 9pm – which will be followed by the nation coming together to sing Vera Lynn’s war-time classic, ‘We’ll Meet Again’. Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Annette Byrne, will pre-record her reading for the cathedral’s VE Day 75 service, which will be available via the cathedral’s website and its YouTube channel. “Sadly the many public events that had been planned to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day have had to be cancelled,” she said. “But there are still lots of ways for people to reflect on the sacrifices that were made to defend our freedom – and to pay tribute to the men and women who served in the Second World War. “This important anniversary is taking place in extraordinary times, but in spite of our current limitations, local people will be marking the date in their own way and in their own homes – with a shared sense of community spirit that will help bring the whole country together during these difficult days.” Leicester City Council’s VE Day 75 page can be found at www.leicester.gov.uk/VEDay75 The council has also been asking people to send in their family memories of VE Day in Leicester – and those local stories and photographs have been used to create a special VE Day 75 page on the Story of Leicester website. Contributions include a certificate signed by King George VI that was presented to schoolchildren after the war, pictures of street parties on Saffron Lane and Stonesby Avenue, and a photograph of a VE Day three-legged race next to the railway embankment near Roseneath Road/Barkby Lane. The commemorative VE Day 75 page can be found at storyofleicester.info/VEDay75 A summary of national – and local – events on Friday 8 May is set out below: 11am: Join the nation in a two-minute silence of reflection and remembrance. 12 noon: Join an online service from Leicester Cathedral at www.leicestercathedral.org 2.45pm-3.45pm: Watch the BBC’s coverage of VE Day 75, featuring extracts from Winston Churchill’s victory speech – recreating the moment when peace in Europe was declared 75 years ago – and a message from the prime minister. 3pm: Raise a glass or a cup and join the Nation’s Toast: “For those who gave so much, we thank you.” 9pm: HM The Queen will address the nation on BBC1 – at the same time that her father, King George VI, made his radio broadcast in 1945. 9pm: Join the nation in a rousing rendition of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ on BBC1. VE Day celebrations 1945: Courtesy of the Leicester Mercury - New Release by The Leicester City Council.

Central England Co-op’s Leicester-based distribution network has come up with a unique way to honour our NHS heroes – with the help of some pallets and social distancing. The Central England Co-op distribution team in Leicester pay tribute to the NHS. The retailer’s three-strong distribution hub, based in Scudamore Road, decided to use pallets normally designed to move food and essentials to stores, two of its vehicles and colleagues to create a visual tribute to front-line health workers who are going above and beyond during the Coronavirus pandemic. The pallets were used to spell out NHS and a photo was then snapped and shared on social media just in time to mark the weekly 8pm clap in support of health workers and their efforts. Steve Johnson, who works at the Society’s Chilled Distribution Centre, posted the picture online and said: “We are all proud of the amazing work our NHS is doing and the team here wanted to mark that with a lovely tribute with a distribution influence.” This comes as Central England Co-op is currently offering a 10% discount for all NHS workers to say thank you for their efforts working on the frontline to help tackle the Coronavirus. All NHS workers have to do is show their ID card when they visit any of the retailer’s 242 food stores to receive 10% off all food and other essentials. They will also be able to get priority access to Central England Co-op stores by moving to the front of any external queue when waiting to enter. People can keep up to date with what is happening in their local community by visiting a dedicated online hub at www.centralengland.coop/updates