Date set for opening of Leicester's new £16.8m Roman museum
Leicester's new multi-million pound Roman museum is to open in July, the city council has confirmed.The revamped Jewry Wall Museum will feature the remains of a Roman bath house and more than 100 Roman artefacts discovered across Leicestershire.Work on the project began in 2021 but the council said progress had been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and contractors, originally carrying out the renovation, going bust.The museum, which cost £16.8m, will officially open to visitors from 26 July, the authority said.
Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "It's fair to say that this project has faced more than its fair share of challenges, with a global pandemic and not one but two key contractors going out of business during the construction phase, so I'm delighted that we can now – finally – look forward to the opening of this brilliant new attraction for Leicester."Everything that will be on display in the new museum has been discovered right here in Leicester and Leicestershire, from the Blackfriars Mosaic that's been described as one of the finest mosaics found in Roman Britain, to a beautifully crafted bronze key handle that depicts a man grappling with a lion."The Grade II listed Jewry Wall Museum and the former Vaughan College have been refurbished with huge glass walls connecting the ancient wall, outdoor space and modern exhibition space.The new museum, in St Nicholas' Circle, will include an immersive film, interactive displays, games and projections allowing visitors to explore the 2nd Century site and Leicester's 2,000-year history.
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Press and Journal
6 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Auldearn foster family: The ups and downs of giving 20 kids a loving home
Moray and Karen Ford's first foster placement was a three-year-old girl they looked after for two weeks. They put her shoes on wrong, weren't sure they'd be 'good enough' and cried when she left. But since then, the Auldearn husband and wife have looked after about 20 children – and Moray, 62, even gave up work to be a stay-at-home dad. From emergency placements to three permanent additions to the family, they have seen a lot. Moray has two grown-up biological children from a previous marriage, James and Lesey. But while he was in the RAF, he had 'a certain male operation', as he puts it, that meant he and Karen, who married in 2008, couldn't have a family of their own. Almost two decades ago, they bought a house in Auldearn, near Nairn, and did it up. At this point, Moray was working offshore. He would be away for weeks at a time and Karen was on her own 'with all these rooms'. Karen, 56, said: 'It was something we just sat and talked about.' Moray continued: 'We didn't apply to adopt because adoption was permanent. And what happens if, after a year or so that the child doesn't actually like you? Or it wasn't for us? 'The process of adoption is really good, but sometimes it doesn't work, you know?' So several interviews later, and the Ford were ready for their first new arrival in 2011. In their case, their first child was a three-year old girl with mismatched shoes. Karen took up the story: 'Within a couple of weeks we had a a wee girl of three. She was the very first one we got.' The first hiccup they encountered was reassuringly mundane – and a little bit funny. Karen, who works at Brodie Countryfare, laughed: 'She came in the Friday, and I was working the weekend, and Moray came to my work with the wee one. 'He'd put two different shoes on her.' But just two weeks later, the little girl's stay with the Fords had come to an end. They expected it to be a short stay, but didn't anticipate the sadness it caused. Karen added: 'It was hard letting her go. We just got that wee bit attached. After the wee girl, the Fords had a break of a few months. They then had a six-year-old girl for a year and a half. But the weekend she arrived, they also had a last-minute request for an emergency placement for two more children. Moray said: 'I just said yes, of course. I didn't think about it. 'So they arrived – I think they were three and one – the wee girl was already here and Karen was working the weekend. 'I don't think we've ever said no to anybody.' Apart from a stint as a porter in Dr Grey's and then Raigmore during Covid, Moray fell into the role of stay-at-home dad. Over the years, Moray and Karen reckon they have had about 20 kids through their doors – and they obviously remember all of them. There was the wee boy Luke (more on him later) who arrived with assurances he was a vegan – but asked for a cheese and ham sandwich for lunch and a roast chicken dinner. And the six-year-old girl we already mentioned – when she finally left they admit they were 'greeting at the door'. After that, they generally had longer-term placements. Although Karen and Moray opened their homes and their hearts to every child who needed it, some of them were destined to stay for good. Dylon recently turned 21 and Moray is his legal guardian. He is at college and lives at home. They adopted Sky, now 19 and living in Wales with her boyfriend. The next step will be formally adopting Luke, 11. They have a theory, although it's probably not as simple as that – it's all down to the lucky number nine. Karen explained: 'Nine seemed to be the age for a while. We got Dylon when he was nine, and Sky too.' They have lovely stories about their kids. In April 2013, Dylon arrived. Moray said: 'He was like a wee old man when he came – he had slippers and a dressing gown and would sit cross-legged. 'I just said to my social worker, this is the only thing that's missing is a pipe. 'It wasn't like other boys, he'd never played football and stuff like that. He went to coffee mornings.' Dylon has ADHD and finds it hard to remember things – but he's now thriving at college. Moray became Dylon's legal guardian. He wasn't up for adoption, but he took the family name. Luke (who was the reluctant vegan I mentioned earlier) also came along at the age of nine. To prepare for his arrival, Moray found out what the schoolboy was into – it was dinosaurs. So he went out and got a sticker for his door that read 'Luke's room' illustrated with dinosaurs. He and Karen also added dino bedding and curtains. Luke has recently made an important decision. Moray said: 'There is a social worker MairiAnna Birse who did life stories with Luke. 'We came to the very last session and Luke said I want Moray and Karen to be my mum and dad.' As Karen and Moray talk me through the list of children they have helped, cared for and made feel safe, even if only for the odd weekend, one thing is clear. The tone of their voices and the look in their eyes as they count children off on their fingers – all named – shows how much love is in this house. They are calm and easy going, nothing fazes them – perfect people for being foster carers. But if it reassures anyone, they weren't at all confident when they started out. Moray said: 'At the beginning we worried if we were good enough for this.' Karen added: 'Every child has their challenges, but we always seem to cope.' Moray said: 'We very quickly realised that giving them reassurance as soon as they came in the door was the key. 'It's so important to have patience and understanding. The children are scared, they've been passed from pillar to post.' Moray urges anyone who feels they can to come forward and help. He added: 'It's so rewarding to see them succeed. 'I'm so glad we did it – it's been great.'
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
£125k of public money to go up in smoke of beacons in Belfast this Eleventh Night
Details have emerged from City Hall that show exactly £124,500 from the council's beacon programme will go up in smoke this summer. The most recently confirmed beacon placement will be at Annadale Embankment, a first for the site, which has seen controversy over the years. Last year the Eleventh Night bonfire there was lit early after a vote was taken in secret at Belfast City Council to remove it. Elected members of the council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee took a decision during restricted business to remove the bonfire from the bank facing the Lagan. Contractors were expected to remove the pyre but the bonfire was lit before they moved in. It was the first bonfire there since before Covid. Again, in another secret Strategic Policy and Resources Committee meeting on May 30 this year, a beacon was approved for the site. The minutes of the meeting later published state: 'It was reported that engagement had been undertaken with the community in relation to a potential bonfire located at Annadale Embankment and it would now be replaced with a beacon. 'The committee agreed that the council would work with the contractor to remove bonfire material which had accumulated on the site.' Beacons are seen to provide a safe, environmentally-clean alternative to traditional bonfires. Each beacon is designed to be reusable, with a two-part steel structure that is usually 5m tall and is pre-filled with carbon-neutral willow wood. The beacon stands on a bed of sand, which protects the underlying surface and avoids damage to roads, car parks or grass when lit. Beacons come with lighting equipment, a safety kit and signage, and a fire safety assessment. This year could see the highest number of beacons across the city, with 17 already confirmed. Belfast City Council said it 'has worked hard alongside elected members and community representatives to engage with communities on the issue of bonfires, and to encourage the use of beacons as a safer and more environmentally responsible alternative'. " The council has currently approved the provision of 17 beacons for 2025,' the statement continued. 'The Beacon Programme has been in place for over 15 years and continues to support constituted community and voluntary organisations in replacing traditional bonfires with beacons. Beacons can be requested by eligible groups, and their allocation is subject to agreement by elected members. 'Before a beacon is provided, a site engineer report must confirm the suitability of the proposed location from a health and safety perspective. Groups must also sign a beacon agreement, outlining their responsibilities in managing the beacon safely. 'The budget for the beacon programme is £124,500, which includes a contribution of £30,000 from the (Stormont) Executive Office.' At the same meeting on May 30 elected representatives decided to 'secure' another bonfire site in south Belfast known to have asbestos for it to be cleared out by the NI Environment Agency. The controversial bonfire site at Meridi Street/Maldon Street in the Village area of South Belfast will be subject of a legal undertaking by Belfast City Council to close off the site for removal of the asbestos. The council said: 'The council continues to engage with NIEA and the landowner to ensure that the materials are removed as soon as possible. Elected members have also agreed that this may include pursuing legal action against the NIEA and/or the landowner, if the necessary steps are not taken to remove the materials and secure the wider site. 'Council officers are also continuing to liaise with the local community to ensure that these materials remain fenced off.'
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Frustrated residents have four years for new flats and now they are nearly ready
Frustrated residents have four years for new flats and now they are nearly ready Councillors and council officials celebrated the topping out of a block of flats in Grangetown that residents have been waiting years to move into The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, said he understood the frustration of residents (Image: Ted Peskett ) Key decision makers at Cardiff Council said they understand the frustrations of tenants in a council housing estate who have been waiting years for their new flats to be built. Cardiff Council's cabinet member for housing and communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, and the leader of the council, Cllr Huw Thomas, made their comments at the topping out ceremony of a block of independent living flats at Channel View. The flats are part of the first phase of a wider scheme to completely redevelop the Grangetown estate. Residents living in the 13-storey block opposite were first told in 2016 that their flats would be demolished and that they would be rehoused, with many claiming they have been living in poor conditions since then. Never miss a Cardiff story and sign up to our newsletter here. Cllr Thorne, who is also a ward councillor for Grangetown, said: "I was doing monthly surgeries and I felt as frustrated as they did. "I guess we forget that we had Covid in between which delayed it all and then unfortunately we had issues with the... regulations, particularly to do with fire safety which delayed it further. "Yes, I understand their frustration and I felt [it] too because I want to see it [the new building] coming out of the ground as well." Article continues below Residents living in the old block claimed they experienced issues with mould, damp and leaks as they waited to see progress on the new flats. It was reported in March 2024 that some residents had experienced plumbing issues that saw sewage appear in their toilets and baths. Cardiff Council's cabinet member for housing, Cllr Lynda Thorne (Image: Cardiff Council ) Cllr Thorne said she was "over the moon" to see the new building, block B, at its highest point in the construction process. She added: "This is actually a replacement for the high rise and of course, since we took the cladding off they have been a bit colder and sometimes [there has been] a little bit of condensation in the flats which means they are all keen to move into their new flats. "Although it doesn't address the housing crisis, it does address getting... particularly older people, in really good accommodation." Cardiff Council has partnered with Wates Residential on the Channel View project. Residents living in the 13-storey building opposite the new structure have been waiting years for progress on the Channel View project (Image: Ted Peskett ) Block B will deliver 24 new energy efficient council homes for older people and the apartments in the six storey building are expected to be ready for residents next year. The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, was also present at the topping out ceremony. The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas (left) at the topping out ceremony with regional managing director of Wates Residential, Edwards Rees (Image: Ted Peskett ) When asked about delays to the project, he said: "Rome wasn't built in a day and I am really concious of how long it's taken to make a reality of this project. "We first started talking about it and the need for it shortly after I became leader eight years ago, so it's a frustrating thing for everyone how long these things take to come to fruition. "You've obviously in that period had issues like Covid, you had the disastrous mini budget that in turn affected interest rates and that has had a knock on impact on costs as well. Block b of the Channel View redevelopment scheme is nearing completion (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) "There are good reasons why it has taken so long, but I absolutely understand the frustration from residents. "The council has tried to do what it can to support them... during that period and obviously for the residents living across there will be payments in terms of a relocation payment as well and disruption. "We all acknowledge that it has not happened as quick as we would like, but it has also delivered some really good learning of how we take these processes through quicker and the irony is, and this is a UK challenge, the actual building bit doesn't take as long as the financial assembly and the planning process." A second block of flats that's also part of the first phase of development at Channel View is scheduled for completion in 2027. This building, called block A, will consist of 102 community living apartments, community facilities, a rooftop terrace and a cafe. The whole Channel View scheme will eventually see the 180 existing properties there, originally built in the 1970s, replaced with 400 new homes. Article continues below It will also seek to deliver improved connectivity for the estate, improvements to the public open space at The Marl, and the creation of a new public realm using green infrastructure and sustainable drainage systems (SUDS).
