Time to rethink the city centre's layout
After seeing all the closures of shops in the town centre, and now that lots of people use the internet for shopping, wouldn't it be a good time to reassess the whole city centre?
The entire Haymarket development could be demolished and a Jubilee Square made where the big screen is now situated. (The Peace Gardens in Sheffield are a lovely oasis from the bustle of the town centre).
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Also, a complete bus station could be built alongside it in a triangle with Belgrave Gate and Charles Street. The shops in the Haymarket could easily be re-sited in the empty shops along the High Street, Gallowtree Gate, Granby Street and Belvoir Street, with financial assistance from the council.
Also, the new Silver Arcade needs to be fully occupied with established shops for it to be a success.
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The council offices in New Walk need to be demolished, so why not move staff into the older, unused buildings around the Town Hall? The old post office and HSBC bank are lovely old buildings that need to be brought back into use.
Also in Charles Street are the old municipal offices, which could also be used.
When the old council offices have been demolished, this area could be rebuilt as flats or houses and also any old buildings that have no architectural or historical interest, could be demolished and replaced by housing.
Bringing unused properties back into use would allow for the delay of building on the outskirts of town on fields and greenbelt land.
Come on, Sir Peter, take the bull by the horns and redesign the whole centre in line with current shopping trends. You never know, we could have "The Soulsby City Centre", which would be a lasting memorial to your time as mayor.
Linda Greenwood, Leicester Forest East.
2 Comments
by anobserver
Sunday, January 27 2013, 11:25AM
“Just a further comment on using or demolishing existing buildings.The picture that prefaces this article includes,in the background,the telecom building.Now mostly void of equipment.That could be used for the council as it has parking,close to the city centre and easy access to public transport.It is 40 years old,but it could be tarted up with new cladding,just like Lego Brick Tower near the railway station.Surely the "planning committee" could not object to that!There is the now derelict former Magnum Hotel opposite that could be used.There is planning permission for it to be student accommodation{oh surely not more !}.But once again a sound building in the City centre not in use.”
by anobserver
Saturday, January 26 2013, 8:45AM
“A nice idea,although flawed .One of the reasons for the empty shops in the High Street is the high cost of rent and council rates,so I do not see anyone from the Haymarket,moving from an established base that is paying to an area that is obviosly not.We are commited to paying for the rent ofTheatre for dozens of years to come.The original facades of Humberstone Gate and Belgrave Gate if they had been kept would have left the City with a welcome feature similar to Chester[Leicester planning !].The former post office is unable to take weight of building services required for a modern office block and not able to accomodate an upper floor.The former bank is to be a temple.The former information office is possible,but why leave it empty and take on a new lease in Gallowtree Gate for a new one?The former bank on the corner of town hall square,part listed,would make a nice place as it is able to cope with current building requirements,but it would be a lease and this council are not good at leases.The empty former energy advice building in the Market is also not used.Humberstone Gate needs the paving relaying[it was laid on sand that has /is washing away and used for the continental and farmers market that is a success.The Municipal building is already earmarked for the council to renovate and move into.The council offices are falling down anyway but when demolition finally takes place it will be slow due to it being stuffed with asbestos.They were built as a speculative developement for British Rail,with a life span of 20 years.They changed their minds and the city bought them.If Ego park is to be formed anywhere this would be the best site to use[do we NEED Ego park?].The idea that it could be flats is probably in the running as demented uni could say it is in walking distance of the uni and as we all know,what demented want,they get with a good nod from pete.Silver Arcade is also to be part student accomodation!The proposed Ego Park should be left more or less "as is" as it is fit for pupose and a few quid could be then spent on Castle Gardens which is a gem in the City.As for bringing buildings into use maybe Town Hall could be a prime start as nobody seems to know what it does.
We do not need anything named after pete as his legasy we will remember,and be paying for ,for years.”