Council earmarks £4m to make city more welcoming

Leicester City Council has earmarked £4m of government funding to projects to make the city more welcoming.

The authority said it was planning to spend some of the money on improving Market Place and the Lanes area and on revitalising empty shops.

It added £1.75m would be for the future acquisition of land as part of the Midland Street regeneration scheme.

According to a report prepared by the Labour-run authority, a decision will be taken on the funding allocation - provided by the government's growing places fund - on 18 August by city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby.

The report detailed £1.3m would be provided for Market Place and the Lanes in a bid to improve shopfronts, lighting and public spaces, as well as to provide additional market stalls.

The council said £300,000 would be allocated for better lighting, signage and public spaces to improve first impressions around locations such as the railway station, bus station and car parks.

It added £250,000 would go towards tackling antisocial behaviour hotspots, including improved lighting, security measures and graffiti removal.

The authority said £200,000 would be used to improve vacant premises, and £200,000 for festivals and events infrastructure.

Soulsby said: "We have already made significant investment into the city centre in recent years, and this funding will allow us to do even more to make it an attractive and welcoming destination.

"The new funding will boost the work that goes on every day to make it a place that residents can be proud of, and that visitors choose to return to time and again."

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