Inside Britain's most segregated city: Areas where nearly half the adults can't speak English, restaurants with women eating behind curtains and deprived streets where imported religious warfare threatens to break-out... DAVID PATRIKARAKOS
His kofia, the flat cylindrical hat favoured by Somali Muslims, gleams white as he picks me up at the station. A flowing kameez tunic gathers in his lap beneath the steering wheel.
'Welcome to Leicester, sharif [Sir]!' says 'Ahmed' with a grin.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
Exhibition shines light on River Wye pollution
A group of artists are raising awareness of the "catastrophic problem" of pollution in the River Wye with an from the Save the Wye group have created a display of 16 glass panels which trace the journey of the river and the build-up of pollution as it flows towards the is on display at the Forest of Dean District Council offices in Coleford, Gloucestershire until 30 June."The new exhibition looks incredible and really helps to spread the message about the deterioration of our waterways in the Forest of Dean," said the council's river water quality champion Andrew McDermid. "After the council unanimously supported the Rivers and Oceans Motion last year, it's essential to keep this conversation alive and push for real change," he said tackling pollution would require cooperation from the community, local groups and government."This is a problem of such scale it cannot be tackled alone," he said."We want everyone to be able to enjoy our rivers long into the future, and working together we can make that a reality."The council's Water Improvement Group said it was working to identify pollution sources, monitor water quality and involve local people in caring for the district's exhibition comes after a £1m fund to investigate the sources of pollution in the River Wye was announced by the Welsh and UK governments. Artist and Save the Wye member Mollie Meager said exhibiting at the council offices was a great opportunity to highlight the campaign."We hope that all residents and visitors will take the opportunity to explore the artwork further and to put their voice behind the campaign," she said."The river should be something that is enjoyed by all. "Together we can make the change."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
People in Guernsey trimming hedges urged to protect wildlife
Islanders with roadside hedges on their properties have been urged to protect wildlife when cutting them and tenants have until 15 June to trim hedges bordering public roads under Guernsey law, so they do not block road signs, traffic lights and visibility for States said cutting a hedge "too severely and frequently" could have a detrimental effect on the vegetation and the wildlife it Countryside and Land Management Services said people should check for "nesting birds or other wildlife" and use secateurs for "minimal cutting" around nests if they find them. It said internal hedges should be left until after bird breeding season between March and July to law requires roadside verges to be cut between 1 and 15 June and then again between 15 and 30 September each year to remove overhanging people with "rare or uncommon plants" in their earth banks and hedges should avoid cutting them until September if possible, said officials. 'Living threads' Officials said: "Guernsey's beautiful landscape is defined by its distinctive roadside hedge banks which form an important part of our island's heritage. "They form living threads which run through and connect the parishes and can be a haven for both plants and animals, adding much to the island's natural living diversity."Anyone finding injured wildlife should contact the GSPCA, the organisation and Highways said people should make sure cuttings are cleared away immediately to avoid the need to clear blocked drains.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
We live in Britain's 'most depressing' council estate - there's no pub or GP surgery and two-thirds of the homes have been demolished... but here's why it's not as bad as you might think
It was once an important Christian pilgrimage site where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared. But now, on a hillside overlooking the stunning Rhondda Valley in Wales, 1,100ft above sea level, sits a neglected council estate: Penrhys. Homes built in the late 1960s as part of a 'modern council housing development' have been left to rot and are black-stained. In its heyday, 951 two and three-storey terraced homes were at the centre of a thriving community. A lonely shop, Woody's newsagents, and a concrete basketball court is all that remains of any form of amenities. The pub and doctor's surgery have all been closed down, and restaurants and takeaways where a Just Eat sign still hangs are boarded up in what has been branded as one of Britain's most depressing place to live. Two-thirds of the homes deemed uninhabitable have been bulldozed in the troubled estate since the 1990s. Today, the foundations are still visible in the hillside, and steps that once led to people's front doors now lead to nothing but rubble and an empty space. Green waste bins with the motto 'strong heritage, strong future' sit toppled on pavements, surrounded by empty paint tins, discarded energy drinks and nitrous oxide canisters. One empty home is infested with blue bottle flies, which crawl all over the grimy windows, and chilly winds blast locals. Former shoplifter and heroin addict Cullain Mais described it as a 'real eye-opener' when he took his cameras inside the dilapidated estate for his successful podcast The Central Club. 'I feel like i'm in a warzone here. Just rubble. Literally, you feel like you are in the West Bank,' he said as he stood among the remains of one demolished home. But despite its ramshackled appearance, people who live in the neighbourhood are fiercely protective of their community who say 'it's an amazing place to live'. Resident Michelle, who did not give her surname, has lived in Penrhys for 11 years and vowed to stay living there 'until I'm moved off'. She told The Central Club: 'It's such a tight-knit community, it's brilliant up here.' However, not everyone was as complimentary about the place. One bald-headed tattooed man had returned to live in the area six years ago having moved out in the 1990s. He said the difference between the two eras was clear: 'In the '80s it was full of people and everybody was happy. Now it's a f***ing s***hole. 'But there are some good people up here. It's a ghost town now.' Jan Griffiths, 72, told The Sun in February that they did have a problem with people setting cars on fire and guns but those days have since gone. A resident since the 1970s, she said: 'It might be a bit run down, but there are lots of run-down places. Anybody who wants to criticise should come and visit and see what a welcome they get – we welcome anybody.' Others though spoke of having leaky homes, and their rubbish bags that are only collected every four weeks are being torn open by cats and foxes. For 18 months, locals had to battle against a plague of giant rats that roamed the estate. A series of horror photographs showed the enormous rodents in gardens, food waste bins and rats caught in traps. On Reddit, former inhabitants and other commenters have come out in defence of the village. An abandoned home sits on the hillside of the Penrhys estate where locals have in the past had to contend with a plague of rats 'As an English person who lived there for a few years South Wales has a unique feel,' one person wrote. 'Largely impoverished valley towns built to sustain previous population growth bang in the midst of dramatic rural landscapes. 'These places may "look" somewhat depressing to a lot of people in the UK but you will struggle to find friendlier, more welcoming and homely places in the country. I can think of and know of far far far more depressing places to live.' Others think the area would be desirable with 'a nice trash pick up and some tree and plants'. 'Architecture is nice and the natural area is pretty, lots of open space,' they said. Former Plaid AM for Rhondda, Leanne Wood, said in 2017 that the village had been 'neglected by the powers that be'. She told Wales Online: 'It is a community that has been left behind. I see Penrhys as one of the victims of austerity. 'It is a place with so many good people with good attitudes and ideas, but with little support from statutory services.' Views from the top of the Penrhys Community Centre in December 1971 United Reform minister Patricia Parrish looks at some of the graffiti on the walls at her chapel on the Penrhys Estate -- March, 1986 Housing association Trivallis has some grand plans for Penrhys and hope building 1,000 new homes, a school and a community centre will breathe some much needed new life into the estate. Duncan Forbes, chief executive at Trivallis, told The Sun: 'Penrhys is far from forgotten — when you take time to get to know people there you can see that it's a strong, caring community where people look out for each other. Local volunteers have worked with us and other partners to support people and make a positive difference. 'We're proud to work with residents to build a better future and excited for what we'll achieve together.' Mr Mais agreed that the area needed some work, but commended those who lived in the village. 'If i was giving this a rating I'd have to give Penrhys five out of ten and the five is just because of the community and the people here,' he said. 'Maybe I'll give it a six for the view. The view is stunning.'
