Latest news with #LDRS
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Leicester flats demolition plan reveals asbestos concerns
A disused block of flats in Leicester earmarked for demolition would have to be torn down by hand due to asbestos, planning documents Leys building off Upper Temple Walk in Beaumont Leys has been empty for seven years and fallen into a "state of disrepair", the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) City Council wants to demolish it to make way for 52 new homes on the site and on vacant land approved, the authority said it hoped the demolition could be completed in December. The building was bought by the city council in 2019, but two previous attempts to redevelop it came to nothing after building defects resulted in increased project application seeking demolition approval reveal concerns over asbestos in the building, which would need to be "handled carefully" and removed by a licensed company, said the building would need to be torn down by hand, while no crushing or burning of materials would be allowed on the site and no explosives can be used, the authority screening would also be installed to reduce dust impacting on the nearby school and council said it hoped a decision on whether to approve the demolition would be made by 5 September.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Council set to introduce free parking in afternoon in Ashbourne
Free parking is set to be introduced in Ashbourne after 14:00 BST in a bid to help businesses survive a summer of Dales District Council, which is responsible for the £15.9 million Ashbourne Reborn regeneration project, is set to approve the proposal at a meeting on Thursday. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said businesses and residents have been lobbying the council for months about the disruption caused by roadworks associated with the project.A report said officials have recommended charges after 14:00 ought to be scrapped from 28 July until 7 September at the district council's car parks. This matches the same campaign which the authority rolls out in December to boost Christmas trade, the LDRS said. The St John Street roadworks are due to end in September while others in Dig Street will now continue into November, the council authority previously said as part of the multi-million project the works will help to "transform the pedestrian experience" with wider footways and new and improved crossings around the town centre.A council report said concerns had been raised by businesses that some might not be able to "endure the disruption" during the main visitor season to benefit from the works in the longer added: "Some business properties have become vacant during the construction period."While this is likely to be a result of a complex combination of factors and longer-term issues, anecdotally the works have been cited by business owners as a contributing factor." 'Additional congestion' According to the council, free parking after 14:00 would cost £25,000, including £22,000 in lost revenue, but would encourage people "to stay longer and spend more" in the council added that all day free parking had been requested by some businesses and members of the public. The report said: "However, this would be significantly more costly and could be abused by workers and residents taking up prime parking spaces and leading to car park capacity issues."This could also increase the risk of creating additional congestion from visitors circulating to find alternative car parks, adding to disruption, increased journey times and related frustration for residents, businesses and visitors."
Daily Record
17-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Anger as Falkirk Council regeneration work leaves pavements 'unsafe'
Anger as Falkirk Council regeneration work leaves pavements 'unsafe' A Bonnybridge resident has hit out at the uneven pavements and multiple trip hazards that have yet to be fixed Bonnybridge resident Kris Procek says the pavements have multiple trip hazards (Image: LDRS ) A Bonnybridge parent says work by Falkirk Council to improve the road and pavements around the toll at the heart of the village has been left unfinished and unsafe for pedestrians. The work is part of a £460,000 improvement project that includes resurfacing the roads and pavements around the toll, as well as upgrades to Memorial Park. But resident Kris Procek says the pavements around the toll have been left uneven and full of trip hazards, with no work having been done for days. Read more: Falkirk councillors agree new training to promote 'respectful politics' Kris's 13-year-old son is a wheelchair user so he is acutely aware of how uneven surfaces can be particularly dangerous for disabled and elderly people as well as children. Having raised his concerns through the 'Bonnybridge Banter' page on Facebook, many locals have backed him up, agreeing that the work is unsatisfactory. But Kris says that although he has now reported his concerns to Falkirk Council, he has not yet had a response. The council has now said that some of the work in the area was affected by heavy rainfall and it will be redone. Kris Procek says the unfinished work not only looks unsightly but is also unsafe (Image: LDRS ) But Kris says the area should never have been left in such a condition without warning signs, barriers or coverings, and with no indication of when the work will be completed. He points out the irony that work to upgrade the pedestrian crossing - with a textured surface to warn blind and visually impaired people that there is a crossing - is now a trip hazard. "It's a trip hazard waiting to happen - particularly for elderly, disabled or partially sighted people," he said. "I know that if I brought my son here in his wheelchair there is a good chance that it would burst a tyre. "I would expect that anything like this to have temporary covers in place at least." Just yards away, safety barriers have been left piled up, leaving the area "in a complete state, with no sign of anybody coming back". Kris is most concerned at the stretch of road that leads from the toll towards Falkirk, where there are two drain covers sticking up an inch above the tarmac surface. "There is no barrier between the pavement and the road and if someone was to trip there is a high risk they could go straight onto the road. Work is unfinished at Bonnybridge Toll (Image: LDRS ) "I hate to think of the consequences." Kris says that leaving the area in such a condition is "disrespectful" to Bonnybridge residents who had welcomed the project, which is part of a bigger regeneration project. Kris said: "To be fair, the road is much, much better, which is great! "But what has completely tainted that is that the pavements have not been finished and people are just genuinely hacked off. "It is just not acceptable to leave this area unfinished, with the pavements in this condition. "We have no idea what the timescale is here - no-one knows when they will be coming back to finish the job." A spokesperson for Falkirk Council said: 'A further site inspection has taken place yesterday (Wednesday) and some minor patching will take place in more pronounced areas. "During recent pavement works, heavy rain affected the quality of the surface laid. This section will be removed and resurfaced to ensure a better final finish. "Work on this contract has to take place on a Sunday to reduce the disruption to retailers and looking at the weather forecast, it is expected that the area in front of the shops will see work completed later this month. "The resurfacing is part of a wider £460,000 investment in Bonnybridge this summer and includes road and pavement upgrades, new kerbs, and safety improvements. 'Once work at Bonnybridge Toll is complete, focus will shift to Memorial Park, where upgrades will improve access and appearance, including new paths, landscaping, and resurfaced areas. There is also a pump track planned for later in the year.' Article continues below For more Falkirk stories, sign up to our newsletter here.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Council rethinks 'phone only' payment at car park in Ashby
A council is to install a card payment machine in a new car park in Ashby-de-la-Zouch following 150-space Money Hill Car Park was opened by North West Leicestershire District Council in are currently required to pay for their stays with an app but concerns were raised the system excluded people without smartphones from parking authority said it had listened to feedback and would introduce a card payment option within six to eight weeks. The council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it had received any reports of users being unable to pay for parking at Money Hill since it said the pay-by-phone-only approach "removes the cost of repairing and maintaining parking machines". However, it said it had still decided to install a new ticket machine to allow for card council leader and lead member for communities, Michael Wyatt, said: "In the first few weeks since opening the Money Hill Car Park, we've listened carefully to feedback from our customers."While many have found the pay-by-phone system easy and efficient, we understand that offering more choice can make the experience even better for everyone."This reflects our commitment to continually improve our services and make parking as accessible and user-friendly as possible."
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wembley could be latest hotspot to introduce tourist tax after visitor levy proposed
Visitors staying in a hotel near Wembley Stadium following a gig or a match could find themselves paying a tourist tax, after the local council said it is exploring ways it could introduce a levy. A motion was proposed at a Brent Council meeting on Monday to seek ways to introduce a visitor levy on hotels and short-stay accommodation. Brent is home to Wembley Stadium, the largest stadium in the UK and the second largest in Europe, which attracts tens of thousands of fans to music concerts and various sports events throughout the year. As the national stadium of England and home to English football, it can fill 90,000 seats, selling out matches as well as hosting the likes of Oasis and Coldplay in upcoming gigs. The stadium brings economic benefits for Brent when fans flock to the venue, boosting the local economy by roughly £4.35m every time a non-sporting event is held. However, the large crowds also usher in increased noise, pollution, congestion and pressure on council services. To combat this, Brent Council is exploring ways of ensuring "the benefit of our world-class events are felt by all residents", according to the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). After Monday's discussion, the council ultimately passed the motion and is starting the next step of getting permission from the central government to impose a levy. Councillor Mary Mitchell added that London boroughs should take inspiration from other cities across the UK and Europe that impose visitor levies on tourists, to then reinvest in local infrastructure. She said that the money raised from such a levy could fund waste enforcement and improvements to parks and green spaces. However, the UK government at present has no law giving English local authorities the power to impose visitor levies. The LDRS said the council will write to the relevant Secretary of State requesting such powers to be bestowed. The council will also seek support from the mayor of London over a voluntary levy on stadium and arena tickets to fund cultural grassroots opportunities. While there is no official law in place in England, using legal workarounds has meant Liverpool and Manchester have introduced a form of tourism levy through initiatives run by hotels. Both Wales and Scotland's governments have passed laws allowing local authorities to introduce visitor levies, with Wales giving the go-ahead on 8 July for councils to start discussions to introduce these taxes by 2027. The Welsh levy will be set at £1.30 per person per night for visitors staying in various types of accommodation, including hotels and bed and breakfasts. If visitors are camping or staying in a hostel in Wales, councils will only be able to charge 75p per person per night. The charge will also only be applicable is the visitor is over 18 years old. Edinburgh became the first city to vote in January to add a five per cent surcharge on visitors' overnight stays by 2026. Glasgow then followed, giving the green light to introduce a tourist tax on accommodation in its city by 2027. The Independent has contacted Brent Council for further comment.
