Jubilee Square plans submitted to Leicester City Council
The finalised plans for a £4 million public square have been submitted.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby wants to create a plaza in St Nicholas Place, replacing a car park and park-and-ride bus terminal.
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Sir Peter said the square would be an attractive area in the historic heart of the city, near the cathedral and where the Roman forum stood.
Opponents said the loss of the 47-space car park would have a harmful effect on shops, bars, cafes and restaurants in the area.
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The mayor has repeatedly said he intended to find replacement parking in the vicinity, but no provision has been included in the plans submitted to Leicester City Council planning officers.
"We are in discussions with neighbouring landowners and car park operators and I am confident we will be able to come up with some parking," Sir Peter said.
"There is a very significant amount of parking on the site of the former Southgates bus station so it is not as immediate an issue as it may have been, though that site will eventually come forward for redevelopment."
The council has bid for cash from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to partially pay for the scheme.
Sir Peter said the authority had not yet heard if the bid had been successful.
However, he said: "I am very confident that a significant proportion of the funding will come from ERDF."
Sir Peter said previous consultations on the designs of the square had resulted in generally positive comments, but he acknowledged concerns about the cost of the scheme and the loss of parking.
He said: "Now the application is in, there is a further opportunity to raise those concerns.
"The planners will have to look at it with a professional eye and disregard the fact that it is an application from the council."
One business owner in The Lanes area, who did not want to be named, said: "I think it's an awful idea because the loss of that car park will kill my business and many others.
"I don't know what Peter Soulsby's obsession with creating squares is, but it looks like this will happen.
"I'd be amazed if the planners say anything other than 'go ahead'."
Under the scheme, there would be an area where an ice rink or Ferris wheel could be placed or in which markets and festivals could be held.
The council's planning committee is likely to discuss the Jubilee Square plans in early April.
Anyone wishing to comment on the scheme should do so by contacting the council before March 5.
21 Comments
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by mole74
Sunday, February 10 2013, 11:01AM
“Thanks for your comments Bob491. I do know the area very well and I also know some of the local traders. They fear closing the Lanes car park will affect trade and I'm sure they are right. Some existing customers might use the Holiday Inn/NCP car park, but a fair number (elderly customers for example) will probably shop somewhere else. Trade is already marginal in the area and Soulsby's plans will just do more damage to independent retailers.”
by corrtina
Sunday, February 10 2013, 9:59AM
“SORRY GT.Thought it was your comment !”
by gtnewparks
Friday, February 08 2013, 8:54PM
“the lanes awash with parking spaces what planet does bob491 live on must be the planet soulsby”
by Bob491
Friday, February 08 2013, 8:34PM
“Quote: "The small shops in the Lanes are a major asset to the city centre - but they need parking nearby."
This can only have been written by someone who has never visited the area! The place is awash with car parking spaces!!
Quote: "Great vision Peter"
At last a sensible quote!”
by mole74
Friday, February 08 2013, 8:09PM
“The small shops in the Lanes are a major asset to the city centre - but they need parking nearby. Not only is this plan a complete waste of public money, it will kill trade in the Lanes. Soulsby clearly has no idea how difficult things are for small businesses. No doubt the outcome of the planning decision and the ERDF bid has already been decided.”
by democrat
Friday, February 08 2013, 7:51PM
“Funny how the plans and the expensive computer animations do not highlight the 'vehicle access' (a road to you and me) that runs where the road runds already.
So we have a square bordered on two sides by traffic - should be a very peaceful place as the cars queue to get into Highcross although the fumes might put you off your picnic I guess.
Laughable nonsense from Peter Soulsby but a snip at 4/5/6 million not counting the cost (2/3 million) of the car park that is to be demolished. I hope that the disabled drivers enjoy their extended walk from Southgates (before that too is demolished for student flats).
Great vision Peter”
by Happy1900
Friday, February 08 2013, 6:25PM
“The finalised plans for a £4 million public square have been submitted. Where is all this money coming from shocking amount of money.”
by sonjel
Friday, February 08 2013, 5:04PM
“by democrat
"So where can we see these 'finalised' plans?
............by looking here. http://tinyurl.com/a27ujzl
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/agjs32t
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by cjt72
Friday, February 08 2013, 4:58PM
“Keiran, I had a lovely letter from Leicester City Council. I may be paraphrasing, but if you can find a pavement wide enough that you won't obstruct it, then you can park wholly on any pavement in Leicester. This could help reduce people's parking charges, as well as provide a significantly larger number of "spaces"”
by Bob491
Friday, February 08 2013, 4:25PM
“I see the juveniles are out in force today!”