Leicester Square: Disagreement reigns supreme among residents over new plans

Shoppers in the city said they were “disgusted” that the plan for Leicester Square had been scrapped – but some were also wary of the alternative ideas being considered. They spoke to LeicestershireLive following news that the regeneration of the historic attraction had been halted and that the market itself could be moved to a yet-to-be-created space near Cank Street.

The city’s mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, announced yesterday (Wednesday, May 22) that he had put the regeneration on hold to give the council time to “consider other options”. He said that in addition to possibly permanently moving the stalls from their traditional home, the old Market Square could be left as an open market to host festivals and specialty markets. Sir Peter said he was “more than half convinced” that the area in front of the building should become an open space that could host festivals, specialist markets and celebrations such as Leicester City’s recent promotion parade and generally , to serve as “an important meeting place in the heart of the city centre”.

I spoke to people in the Green Dragon Square, where the square was temporarily relocated while regeneration work was carried out, now on hold. Some said they doubted the scheme would ever happen. Some said they did not want the market to be relocated. And others said they supported the mayor’s suggestions and liked the idea of ​​opening up the area in question to create more “space” downtown.

READ MORE: Leicester market traders feel betrayed by ‘broken promises’ after news they may never return to historic home

It’s fair to say it appears to be an issue on which residents are very divided.

Jacqueline Wilton, 65, from Aylestone, said she believed the town’s mayor was “playing with people’s livelihoods” by announcing the halt to the regeneration. “I’d like to know his big picture, what his intentions are for the city,” she said. “They are playing with people’s livelihoods. Some of these (stalls) have been there for 20, 30 years and he doesn’t seem to think about it.”

The move to Green Dragon Square was itself controversial for stallholders, who feared they would lose customers as a result. Mrs Wilton said: “A lady who moved here (to Green Dragon Square), a friend of mine, is doing something else because she can’t afford it. They didn’t subsidize the rent, they just took them here and threw them away.

“There are several businesses that have gone and it’s almost like they want to get rid of them. (I think) his goal is just to “demolish people’s morale to make a smaller market”.

However, Ms Wilton was positive about the potential changes. “I actually like his view of the city,” she said. “In my opinion, he does it in a very dishonest and thinly veiled way.”

Approval was given earlier this year to go through 14 and 16 Market Place North to create a footbridge between Green Dragon Square and Cank Street, using the car park on the Cank Street side as a new retail area, although not specifically for the market. Their neighbors at numbers 12, 18 and 20 were to be renovated with the intention of renting them out. However, early ideas for reworking the plans now suggest that each of 12 to 20 Market Place could be demolished and the open space there be the market’s new home.

Another possibility being considered by the council is to let traders into Green Dragon Square, Sir Peter said.

Raven Nelson, 27, from Leicester, questioned how often the proposed new Market Place area would host “outdoor events”. She said: “I don’t really know why I’m doing it, if it’s just going to become an empty space here. It’s just that there’s going to be crap that rises up. In the Green Dragon Square (before the square moved), the benches were full of homeless people and crazy people. There will only be (these people and) people who will shout religious things. It’s just a waste of money.”

John Williamson, 52, from the city’s West End, said he thought it was “obvious” that ultimately the council would not keep the market in the same place. He added: “It’s a shame. I always used the market on the way home. In a way, it’s the heart of the city.” However, he said he believed the proposed new space idea would “open up the buildings”.

Paddy Mccullough, originally from Belfast, has lived in Leicester for 20 years. He said he thinks the change could be a good thing for the area. I think the whole notion of having more open spaces and views of the beauty that we have is pretty important,” he said.

“I think a market here on Cank Street could work. But I’m an optimist, I want everything to work. However, I’m not going to speak for anyone. I think change is hard for a lot of people, but at some point it is going to happen anyway.

“I’ve read figures that (Leicester) is attracting more tourists and if you want a city to thrive, make it as beautiful as you can.”

However, Adam Law, 47, from Newbold Verdon, said: “Personally I don’t think it’s a good idea (to make the square an open space) because that area is definitely not big enough. I kind of like it, but unlike putting the market here, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Tammy, 59, of Tudor Road, Leicester, said: “I grew up with the market they pulled, with all the fruit and veg. I don’t like the changes (Sir Peter is making) in the city’.

A 64-year-old man from Mountsorrel, who did not want to be named, said he thought the break was “disgusting”. He said: “It has been here for 800 years now. You can not do that. The idea of ​​tearing it down is that they will rebuild it. That’s what we were told.”

He said the city already has open areas such as Jubilee Square, Abbey Park and Victoria Park to host large events. He said, “We need a change as far as Mr. Soulsby is concerned.”

Sir Peter added in his announcement yesterday that for most of its centuries the square has served as a meeting place in the city, featuring events from suffragette rallies to coronation celebrations. By pausing the regeneration, Leicester City Council could now take time to fully explore its future potential, he said.

“I’m sure I’m not the only one who watched the old market roof come down and was stunned by what was revealed,” he told a news conference. “As the demolition team cleared the site, I was impressed by the size of the space and the quality of the surrounding architecture. It made me wonder if I missed an opportunity to do something really special.

“If we install new permanent infrastructure on the site – with stalls that would only be used eight hours a day, six days a week – we won’t be able to use this great space for anything else. And once these new stalls are in place, they will likely be there for the next 30 years.

“So we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do something quite bold – and that is to rethink our plans and create the impressive and flexible space for large-scale public events that we currently don’t have in Leicester city center . ”