Category: Leicester

Steve Reed, former Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has been replaced by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham since making the announcement.However, before he was sacked, he wrote to Leicestershire council leaders, saying: “I judge that there is a strong public services and financial sustainability-related justification for the boundary change. “It strengthens alignment with the functional economic area and geography, improves the city’s ability to support housing delivery at scale, and provides a clearer governance footprint for strategic growth and devolution.”Leicester’s Labour mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said expanding the city made sense and was a move that was long overdue.The consultation results further revealed a proposal to keep the city’s current boundary in place and surround it with two unitary councils, one in the north of the county and one to the south, was the most popular choice, with 70% of respondents saying they were positive about the idea, compared with 21% who were against it.A third proposal, from the Reform-led Leicestershire County Council, saw 54% of respondents say they were negative about it and 35% positive.

Thousands of people turned out to celebrate Leicester’s Caribbean Carnival. The theme for this year’s edition was Crowned by Culture – Caribbean Queens and Kings.The annual event – held at Victoria Park on Saturday – involved a colourful carnival parade starting at the park, before heading into the city centre and back again.Meldin Thomas, High Sheriff of Leicestershire, told the BBC the event “celebrates everything about the Caribbean”, and was “open to all communities”.

Four teenage boys from Northampton have been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of Mason Miller.Mason Miller, 20, died after he was stabbed at Briar Hill Skate Park on Wednesday, February 18. A 17-year-old boy also suffered life-threatening injuries in the incident.According to Northamptonshire Police, two 15-year-olds, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old have each been charged with perverting the course of justice and possession of an offensive weapon.The four were originally arrested in February and, following the charges, are due to appear at Wellingborough Youth Court on August 18.Tributes left at Briar Hill park in the days following the death of Mason MillerThree other boys have already been charged with murder in connection with the incident, with two of them also facing attempted murder charges.A police spokeswoman said: “Detectives investigating Mr Miller’s death continue to appeal for anyone with information about the incident to contact them.“If you have any information about this incident, you can call us on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.“Information can also be submitted online at www.northants.police.uk/RO and Giving information | Crimestoppers.“Alternatively, information can be submitted via the online portal.“Please quote incident number 26000098294 when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible.”Continue Reading

A Northampton man is taking his passion for padel international by mixing his love of travel and the sport.Tom BeachIt was here he realised he wanted to follow his two passions in life – mental health and padel.The 47-year-old, who splits his time between living in Walgrave and Barcelona, has since launched a wellbeing business to provide mental health advice and support to large corporations.Following the success of his company, he is now looking to his second passion, padel, which is a mix of tennis and squash.Tom said: “After a stint in the Ukraine for the humanitarian effort I realised life is too short and I needed to follow my passions in life.“My wellbeing business is working wonderfully well and it’s great to know I’m making a difference in people’s lives.“However, this summer I wanted to take things one step further and embrace my love of Barcelona and padel, with my new business launching at the end of this month.”Tom’s new company, Padel by Beach, provides planned breaks in the Spanish city, mixing exploring the Catalan capital with beachfront padel sessions.He says after seeing a huge explosion in padel across Northampton, he hopes locals who also love the sport or want to learn how to play will sign up for his four-day long trips.Tom added: “I’ve played tennis for more than 30 years, but it’s not that social. Padel has much more interaction, keeps you fitter and most of all, is fun.“Northampton has seen a huge surge in people taking up the sport. In the past year we have had seven padel centres launch in Northampton. It’s a sport for any age group and an amazing way to meet new people through all the events they put on, like singles nights or ‘pizza and padel’.“Now there is so much choice of which courts to go to, and all of them offer different things, from ice baths and saunas to bars and competition.“The explosion of padel in the town is great, and I’m hoping to help the community of Northampton explore a new sport and the world through my trips.”Tom is offering members of Padel Social House in Brackmills a 15 per cent discount on booking, and is launching the business at the venue this Friday July 31.Visit www.padelbybeach.com for more information.Continue Reading

An event highlighting Warwickshire’s gaming sector, creativity and digital innovation will be returning to Leamington later this year.Delivered by Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council alongside industry partners, Interactive Futures highlights the region’s internationally recognised games cluster, often referred to as ‘Silicon Spa’, while creating opportunities for collaboration, learning, innovation and public engagement.The event will take place in the Pump Rooms on November 13 and 14. UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) will join as programming partner and Leamington-based HCR Law will deliver a workshop, sharing expertise on legal issues affecting games businesses and the wider interactive entertainment sector as well as facilitating a panel discussion on horizon scanning.Interactive Futures will be returning to Leamington later this year. Photo by Warwickshire County CouncilLeamington-based SAE Institute joins as an education partner, creating activities designed to showcase opportunities for the next generation of games professionals.Organisers are continuing to invite studios, businesses, educators, community organisations and sector specialists to contribute ideas, activities and expertise to help shape the final programme.The full programme will be announced over the coming months and will explore themes including funding opportunities, routes to market, international markets, legal and regulatory developments, online safety, emerging commercial opportunities, skills development and business growth. Councillor Ella Billiald, portfolio holder for arts, culture and economy at Warwick District Council, said: “We are excited to see the event return this year and to be working alongside partners from across the sector to develop another engaging programme that supports businesses, inspires future talent, encourages young people to see their passion for games and digital creativity as a potential future career, and showcases everything that makes Leamington Spa, also known as Silicon Spa, such a unique place.”Councillor Rob Howard, Warwickshire County Council portfolio holder for economy, added: “By delivering this event, we are helping to connect businesses, educators, industry professionals, and future talent, creating new opportunities for learning, collaboration, and growth. We are proud to work with Warwick District Council and industry partners to highlight the importance of this sector to our economy and inspire the next generation of digital and creative professionals.”Organisers said the current expression of interest is to gather ideas, identify opportunities and explore potential partnerships. The information received will help shape the programme, although submitting an idea does not guarantee inclusion.Continue Reading

A former Leicestershire sports reporter has published his second book in a trilogy about an ageing rock band.Dennis Coath, 78, who worked as a sports presenter for regional news programmes on both BBC and ITV for more than 40 years, has released The Band That Time Forgave, the second in a series of books about a rock band that outsells The Beatles.The first book in the series entitled The Band That Time Forgot came out in 2014 and will be followed by The Band That Turned Back Time later this year.The books are the fictional story of a band called The Dogs from Derby, who miss out on stardom due to the presence of The Beatles.Dennis Coath with two of his books about fictional band The DogsHowever, 50 years later an impromptu reunion propels them into the spotlight as septuagenarians and octogenarians, where they face up to the rigours of sex, drugs and rock and roll.Explaining his inspiration for the series of books, Dennis told the Harborough Mail: “My trilogy about the aged ‘crock and roll band’ came from watching bands and acts like the Rolling Stones, The Who and Rod Stewart in London clubs.“It gave me an idea about how they worked and they provided inspiration by their longevity.“When he first saw The Stones on TV my father famously remarked ’Look at that horrible lot. They’ll only last a few weeks.’”The books have been described by BBC Films as ‘a dynamic project’ and are the latest in a series of writing projects for Dennis.After achieving a master’s degree in history from Bristol University while in his seventies, Dennis is set to publish a history novel entitled The Boys of 66, featuring a long account of the Battle of Hastings, in 2027.Reflecting on his career covering sport, Dennis said a personal highlight was interviewing one of his sporting idols, West Indian cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, who died earlier this month aged 89.Dennis said some of his favourite memories from his career included when things did not go quite as planned while he was broadcasting live on TV.Recalling one such instance on ITV from a stables near Market Harborough, Dennis said: “I was patting this huge horse on the head, and it leant forward and bit through my left bicep.“There was a terrible crunch. I gasped in pain and managed to carry on.“I didn’t realise a horse could bite so hard. It was a cold day, and I was wearing a thick jacket and anorak.“When I took them off my left arm was soaked in blood with a large purple and blue swelling.”The Band That Time Forgave is published by Olympia Publishers and is available now on platforms including Amazon.Have you got a story you want to share with our readers? You can now send it to us online via YourWorld at https://www.yourworld.net/submit/ It’s free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.Continue Reading

Fire crews were assisted by farmers and specialist equipment to help tackle a large field fire in Northamptonshire.Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) was called shortly after 4pm on Sunday July 26 to reports of a fire in a field between Bugbrooke and Pattishall.Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was called shortly after 4pm on Sunday July 26 to reports of a fire in a field between Bugbrooke and PattishallThree fire crews attended the fire, which had started in stubble and spread into the hedge, and used jets, wildfire backpacks and beaters to put it out.Farmers also assisted with the efforts by providing a water bowser.A spokesperson for NFRS said: “By 5.50pm crews were dampening down hotspots and using thermal imaging cameras to monitor temperatures before leaving shortly before 6.30pm.“Firefighters returned to the scene later in the evening and the following morning (July 27) to complete final checks.“Approximately 200m x 200m of land was damaged by the fire, which had started accidentally.”Continue Reading

Northants Fire and Rescue Service was called to a barn fire in Banbury Lane near TowcesterA 600 metre cordon has been put in place as 35 firefighters from across Northamptonshire tackle a fire at a rural barn thought to be storing fertilisers near Towcester.Northants Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) was called just after 5.15pm on Tuesday, July 28 and a 600m cordon is now in place at the site in Banbury Lane.A spokesperson for NFRS said: “Members of the public are being asked to avoid the “area and close windows this evening in the immediate vicinity.”Thank you for your support.Continue Reading

Pubs were selected by a panel of pub experts looking for a welcoming, lively atmosphere, high-quality drinks and a strong sense of community.Will Hawkes, pub expert for England and The Telegraph’s beer, food and travel journalist, said: “Despite desperate operating conditions, Britain still has hundreds of magnificent pubs, offering warmth, atmosphere, characterand fantastic drinks. You’ll find the best of the best in our guide.”This year, we have expanded the guide to cover all of the UK, meaning there are now great pubs to discover from Shetland all the way down to Lands End. My colleagues and I have spent the first part of the year scouring the nation to find these magnificent pubs – a truly joyous experience. We’re sure that readers will enjoy discovering these amazing pubs as much as we did.”The online guide enables users to search by postcode or county, and includes filters like ‘pet-friendly’, ‘beer garden’ and ‘overnight stay’.Take a look at The Telegraph’s top pub picks in Northamptonshire… 1. .The Alexandra Arms, Victoria St, Kettering Photo: Google2. .The Cross Keys, West Street, King’s Cliffe Photo: Google3. .The Locomotive, Finedon Road, Wellingborough Photo: Google4. .The New Inn, Silver St, Abthorpe, Towcester Photo: Google

Delapré Abbey has promised residents they will have a ‘voice’ in a full review after parking chaos during Zimfest left Far Cotton and surrounding streets gridlocked over the weekend.Zimfest – described as the UK’s largest celebration of African culture, music and heritage – took place at Delapré Abbey, in Far Cotton, from 1pm until 10.30pm on Saturday, July 25, with around 11,000 revellers attending.However, the event led to widespread complaints from residents after surrounding streets became gridlocked with cars, with some attendees parking in residential areas instead of using designated parking or the park-and-ride service from Edgar Mobbs Way.Far Cotton ward councillor Julie Davenport said she had been “inundated” with complaints from residents following the event.Pictures of traffic chaos throughout the course of the day and night in Far CottonShe said: “The evidence I have seen includes antisocial behaviour, persistent horn sounding long after the event had finished, shouting and abuse, people urinating in residents’ gardens, one incident of defecation in a front garden, dangerous parking, and vehicles blocking or parking across residents’ driveways.”For many local people, it was an absolute nightmare.”My thoughts are with the residents who had to endure this and with the team at Delapré Abbey. They work incredibly hard to deliver events that our community enjoys and values, and I know they are devastated by what has happened.”I will now be seeking answers as to whether proper due diligence was carried out before this event took place, or whether the process became little more than a tick-box exercise.”Residents deserve to know what planning took place, what mitigation measures were put in place, and why they proved so ineffective.”I want to be clear that this is not a criticism of Delapré Abbey or its dedicated team. We all want the Abbey to continue hosting successful events that bring people together and benefit Northampton.”However, in my view, the organisation of Zimfest was an unmitigated failure from the perspective of local residents, and it is vital that lessons are learned to ensure this never happens again.”Delapré Abbey has apologised for the disruption and said residents will have a say in a review into what went wrong.Amanda Nichols, of Delapré Abbey, said: “All residents will get a voice in the review.”We’ll be doing a sort of town halls kind of meeting, where we’ll liaise with the local elected councillors, ward councillors and the community council, who will support us.”There will be, in the next couple of weeks, something where the community can have a voice on this.”We are currently investigating all the various different elements of the event and we’ll be reviewing going forward what happens with this event. Part of that will be fed from the conversations we have with the residents.”The organisers will equally be working with me to go through and review all of this. And we are listening to the community.”Ms Nichols said organisers had put traffic management measures in place, including a park-and-ride service from the Saints ground, but said many people chose not to use it.She said: “We had booked the Saints ground to do park and ride. The instructions to ticket holders was not to come to Delapré. It was to use the park and ride.”However, people tried their luck.”All the plans, we worked with SAG and the local authority to support us on the traffic management plans, and all of them are modelled on ensuring cars don’t come this way.”So despite all the mitigations and plans for parking to be removed from the site and push people away, we were not pushing people to park in the resident streets by any means.”There was other parking implemented across the town. However, people did not use it.”Despite plans and all the measures that were put in place, it didn’t go to plan.”Asked about responsibility for what happened, Ms Nichols said the Abbey would not seek to blame others.She said: “I’m not going to sit there and blame others. I want to take some ownership for it.”We allowed this to happen and we let this event take place. There were traffic management plans in place. There were lots of conversations with the SAG and the council about this.”But I can’t take back what’s happened. I can apologise for it, but I can’t undo it.”So we will just have to take the learnings.”It was a team of people working together to deliver all of these events and I am not going to wash our hands of our part in it. So we will own that with this as much as everybody else involved.”Ms Nichols said the impact on staff had been “soul destroying”.She said: “We’ve done a lot of work to rebuild and work with our community. So it is soul destroying what we’ve done and the impact it has had on the community.”What we do at Delapré and what we try and do is to support our local community, to support the preservation of the heritage site so that the community can enjoy it and bring in new audiences and break down barriers. That’s what we’re trying to achieve.”So it really does matter to us that it has impacted on our community and Far Cotton shouldn’t have had to deal with what they did.”Ms Nichols said staff had already started speaking with residents.She said: “We’ve been going out door to door today, talking to the community and listening to their feedback.”We are listening. We are not just going to roll forward and say, ‘It’ll happen again next year,’ with no changes.”There’ll be a review and, as we listen to everyone, we won’t make any final decisions or make any changes until we have heard from everybody.”Then we will publish and share what the next steps are.”We’re talking with the local authority at the moment. We’re talking with everyone we can.”Ms Nichols said Delapré Abbey had carried out checks before agreeing to host Zimfest.Ms Nichols said the problem was not the number of people attending, but the number of vehicles arriving.She said attendance was estimated at between 11,000 and 11,500 people.She said: “I don’t think it’s really down to the volume of people coming. It was more to do with the volume of vehicles coming.”Summertime Live the week before was around 10,000 to 10,500.”So I don’t think it’s really down to the volume of people coming. It was more to do with the volume of vehicles coming.”Summertime Live had predominantly taxis and people coming in hotels and things like that, whereas this was a lot more people driving.”She said: “Before this festival got contracted, we did quite a lot of due diligence.”We spoke with the previous venue (which hosted Zimfest) and had positive reviews. We had references and things like that.”It’s in our process before we contract or work with anyone that we do all of our reference checks and due diligence.”Ms Nichols also addressed criticism over the £30 charge to park at Delapré Abbey during the event, saying the fee was intended to encourage visitors to use the cheaper park-and-ride service rather than drive to the venue.“There’s probably a perspective of that being about greed and it wasn’t. It was more because we want people to use the park and ride. The park and ride was cheaper.”Residents also questioned event information which directed motorists to the Grosvenor Centre and Mayorhold car parks. The Grosvenor Centre car park closes at 6pm, while Mayorhold was closed by West Northamptonshire Council last week over safety concerns.Ms Nichols said: “That only closed after the marketing had happened. We’d already issued the proposed parking.”People did use St John’s and there was various other car parks that were used but nobody was keen on the park and ride.”A West Northants Council spokesperson said: “The reports of anti-social behaviour linked to this privately-run event at Delapré Abbey are disappointing and unacceptable. “While the event was organised and managed independently of the council, we recognise the impact it had on residents in Far Cotton and Delapré, particularly in relation to inconsiderate parking, blocked driveways and disruption within the local community. “Our officers will be meeting with Delapré Abbey staff and other partner organisations next week to listen to residents’ concerns, review what happened and consider what measures organisers can put in place to help prevent similar problems in the future.”Zimfest has been contacted for comment. Northamptonshire Police said officers were called to one incident at the event.A force spokeswoman said: “We did respond to one incident at the event, which happened at about 7.30pm and involved a man allegedly punching a woman. We are investigating and anyone with any information should call us quoting incident number 26000442357.”Continue Reading