Leamington Parade pedestrianisation plan to get £2.5m cash boost
As part of the plans, buses that currently stop at the top of Parade could be re-routed to convenient alternative stops nearby.New trees, planting, seating and cycle infrastructure are also set to be included in the design, which will also prioritise accessibility for those with disabilities.Mark Lee, the Independent Chair of the Leamington Transformation Board, told the BBC that the aim of the project is to increase the number of people using the Parade, as well as the time they spend there.He said: "The high street needs constant reinvention. Where people used to go into Leamington for afternoon shopping as their recreation, they want their shopping to be a little different now."We were lacking a little bit of the invitation of people to stay longer on the Parade. There was no seating, no trees, no features - it needs reinvigorating. A new square next to the Town Hall for community events, entertainment, and markets, could also be a part of the final designs, which will be completed now the consultation period is over. Mr Lee added: "My view - and the view of the whole board - is that the Parade is a great place as a statement to start transforming Leamington for the future."
Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 minutes ago
- The Sun
Lidl to set overtake Morrisons as Britain's fifth biggest supermarket as shoppers turn to cheaper food
LIDL is due to overtake Morrisons as Britain's fifth biggest supermarket — as shoppers turn to cheaper food to offset higher costs. The latest data shows that the discount option makes up 8.3 per cent of the grocery market against Morrisons' 8.4 per cent, analysts Worldpanel revealed yesterday. And Lidl increased its sales by 10.7 per cent in the three months to August — more than ten times that at Morrisons, whose sales rose by just 0.9 per cent in the same period. The German retailer is now the fastest-growing supermarket in the UK, alongside Ocado. Meanwhile, at Asda, sales were down 2.6 per cent on a year ago, and the Co-Op's fell by 3.2 per cent. Recent data also brought good news for shoppers as supermarket inflation fell slightly in August, down to five per cent. But Fraser McKevitt, Worldpanel's head of retail and consumer insight, warned: 'We're still well past the point at which price rises really start to bite and consumers are continuing to adapt their behaviour to make ends meet.' He said cost pressures were continuing to hit the High Street, noting a decline in eating out in casual restaurants lately. But shoppers still appear to want their treats, with branded groceries seeing more sales growth this month than cheaper own-label options. COVID BOOSTER THE economy recovered from the pandemic better than thought, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. Revised data, based on how gross domestic product is calculated, showed the economy was 2.2 per cent larger at the end of 2023 than its peak shortly before Covid. It had been reported at 1.9 per cent. The ONS added: 'The long-term pattern of growth is broadly unchanged.' THE final coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II's portrait are to enter circulation from today, The Royal Mint has announced. More than 30million new £1 coins will be released this week, including more than 23million featuring the late Queen. The release also includes 170,000 £1 coins bearing the official portrait of King Charles III. Royal Mint director Rebecca Morgan said: 'This represents a pivotal moment.' THE HEAT'S TURNING UP MILLIONS will see their energy bills rise to £1,737 in October when the price cap rises by one per cent, industry analysts predict. An annual rise of £17 has been predicted by Cornwall Insight ahead of Ofgem's official confirmation next Wednesday. The latest forecast reverses the consultants' previous forecast in July that bills would instead drop by one per cent due to easing tensions in the Middle East. It said its forecast reflected changes to schemes like the expansion of the Warm Home Discount which gives struggling homes a £150 grant towards their bill.
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Morrisons fights to stay in top five: Struggling grocer now taking in just £4m a week more than Lidl
Morrisons is now taking in just £4million a week more than Lidl – setting the scene for it to be overtaken by its discount rival. The beleaguered supermarket has already been elbowed out of the top four by Aldi and is close to being eclipsed by its other German budget rival. Industry figures yesterday revealed that Lidl is almost neck and neck with Morrisons after sales rose 10.7 per cent to just under £3billion in the 12 weeks to August 10. Sales at Morrisons were just £48million higher over the period having risen by only 0.9 per cent, according to the report by research group Worldpanel. And while Lidl's share of the market has jumped from 7.8 per cent to 8.3 per cent in the past year, Morrisons has seen its slice fall from 8.7 per cent to 8.4 per cent. Analysts said they are confident Lidl will overtake Morrisons in the coming weeks as it presses ahead with a rollout of new stores. Clive Black, retail analyst at Shore Capital, said: 'Lidl and Morrisons are neck and neck when it comes to UK market share. The German discounter will take the lead in the near future because it is opening new stores while Morrisons is not and it has stronger underlying trading momentum.' Lidl plans to open a total of 40 sites by the end of the year, and it seeks to reach 1,000 stores over the next few years. It also has a 'very strong private label that it has curated through single ownership with a long-term view for many years', Black added. Morrisons has lost sales and market share to rivals since its takeover by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in a debt-fuelled £7billion deal in October 2021. Black said the takeover 'stopped decent pre-existing trading momentum and materially burdened the supermarket with debt servicing costs that have, in reality, starved the business of the resources necessary to allow it to compete more effectively'. After Labour piled on costs for retailers at the Budget last year, Morrisons cut more than 350 jobs in March.
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Hospitality horror show: Four in five firms hike prices after Budget tax blow with 84,000 jobs lost as half axe staff
Most hospitality businesses have raised their prices and more than half have cut jobs as they reel from Rachel Reeves' tax onslaught. In a report that lays bare the impact of Labour's policies, the Chancellor was warned almost four-fifths of pubs, restaurants and bars have hiked prices to deal with extra costs. The survey by trade bodies led by UK Hospitality also found 51 per cent of venues have slashed staff with 84,000 hospitality jobs lost since Reeves' first Budget last October. The report warned businesses have been forced into 'impossible decisions' due to 'unsustainable' tax hikes. The industry is calling for radical tax changes in the upcoming autumn Budget in order to reverse a damaging wave of venue closures. The calls came as official figures showed another 307 hospitality firms collapsed in June – the highest level since November 2024 in the wake of the Budget. Saxon Moseley, a partner at consulting firm RSM UK, said: 'Insolvencies continue to creep up which is a worrying, but not unexpected trend. 'The hospitality industry has been acutely hit with higher staff costs and rising inflation, and when you overlay subdued sales, continuing to operate has become unviable for some. 'With many operators still in survival mode, the industry is struggling and as a key job creator, particularly for younger workers, a fragile hospitality industry presents an economic headache for the UK.' Hospitality, which includes hotels and cafes as well as bars and restaurants, saw costs rise by £3.4billion after the Budget as they faced higher National insurance contributions, an inflation-busting rise in the minimum wage and increases to punitive business rates. With the economy stuttering and a black hole opening up in Reeves' Budget plans, further tax hikes look likely this autumn. Experts warn this will only make matters worse, however, with figures this week showing eight pubs have closed every week so far this year. In a desperate plea, UK Hospitality has joined forces with the British Institute of Innkeeping, the British Beer & Pub Association and Hospitality Ulster to call for help in the upcoming Budget. The trade bodies together said: 'Unsustainable tax increases are squeezing businesses, stifling growth and investment, and threatening local employment, especially for young people.' Echoing calls for respite at the Budget, RSM's Moseley said: 'Taking steps to overhaul the business rates system, plus supporting the industry to respond to recent tax increases would allow operators to not only weather the storm, but invest in jobs for the future.' Business rates are a local levy based on the value of a commercial property. The hospitality industry was hit by a £500million increase in business rates in April alongside the barrage of other costs imposed by Labour. Before the Budget, small businesses had called for a Covid-era discount of 75 per cent to be extended to give them some breathing space. But Labour reduced this to a 40 per cent discount, capped at £110,000 per pub.
