Investment will benefit whole city
Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has been accused of neglecting Leicester's outer estates while ploughing millions of pounds into city centre improvements, as we reported in yesterday's newspaper.
The criticism comes from trade union representatives and from the city council's sole Conservative opposition councillor, Ross Grant.
Sir Peter has announced a series of city centre improvements under the banner of his £19 million Connecting Leicester scheme.
These include the much-criticised Jubilee Square as well as the demolition of the existing indoor market and its replacement with a pavilion and plaza.
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The idea behind Connecting Leicester is to link up the city centre's main shopping area with the historic parts of old Leicester.
It is a regeneration plan which is aimed at making the city more attractive to visitors, so boosting the economy and creating more jobs and wealth.
This will benefit Leicester as a whole, not just the city centre.
Those criticising Sir Peter for focusing on the city centre are missing the point.
The purpose of investment is to target the money where it will have the maximum effect.
This is clearly the city centre because this is where the shops and businesses are located.
This will create wealth which will flow out across the city via people's wage packets, having a beneficial effect across every area.
It is not a case of focusing on the city centre while neglecting other part of Leicester. The whole point is that everybody benefits.
Of course money has to also be spent on maintaining community facilities and infrastructure in other parts of the city.
However, that is separate to an investment programme.
And there is indeed such work going on at the moment in terms of improvements to the city's primary and secondary schools.
While people may disagree about some of the details of the city centre programme, the principle behind it is a sound one.
Leicester has to invest now to profit in the future and it has to do so in the way which will benefit the maximum number of people.
12 Comments
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by aristoc
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 9:12PM
“who wrote this load of tosh article?
The Chuckle Brothers?”
by jimbob6163
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 7:31PM
“Spending money on Estates will not get in the queens good books and give him a jolly and a boozy day out if she comes up here to open the square”
by democrat
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 11:09PM
“Don
Walk the talk then”
by DonHenson
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 11:04PM
“Same old suspects and subjects. Boring, moving on...”
by LewisC109
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 9:12PM
“i throught we where skint so where does sir pete get the money from or is some one telling porkys”
by democrat
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 8:22PM
“Er - Leicester Mercury - which major businesses are located in the City Centre?
Retail - how does a successful John Lewis or Fred's Chippy help the wider City please? How does this help the unemployed that cannot get a job as a shop assistant selling goods that were not made in Leicester anyway.
Businesses - name me one major employer that is based in the City Centre please and how does Jubilee Square attract them if they are not in the City Centre already?
With the greatest respect (before you delete this) how many LM employess are based in the City Centre compared to say 10 or 15 years ago? If the number is now lower why is that? Will Jubilee Square encourage you to relocate to the City Centre from wherever you are based now? If the answer is no - you have disproved your own argument.”
by gtnewparks
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 8:09PM
“what do you expect from a labour run council they get in power and the rest of us pay”
by KulganCrydee
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 5:37PM
“bruno1,
I realise where the Exchange Bar is but was talking about the overall plans regarding footfall.”
by bruno1
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 5:22PM
“I think that Peter is doing the right thing. For too long our city centre has been neglected by the council and it is showing the signs. The city centre is the heart of the city and needs this investment. This will in turn create a better impression of Leicester and in turn lead to private finance being invested and job creation in the city. This is what people in Leicester need, not more community centres.
By the way the Exchange Bar is near the Curve. Jubilee Square is going to be where St Nicholas car park is. I am not sure how this will benefit the Exchange bar with it being on the opposite side of the city.”
by 63428
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 3:01PM
“Soulsby's and his councils top down economic plan isn't very logical and outdated.
As a side note out of curiosity - Does anybody know which side of the labour party Soulsby sits, old or new?”