EAST LEICESTER PLAN (FROM OCT/NOV ECHO FOR 1982)

Every household in East Leicester will shortly be receiving a 4 page news sheet highlighting some of the main policies and proposals to be put forward by the City Planning Department in respect of the East Leicester District Local Plan. The Plan itself will be the subject of a 6 week 'public participation' period, commencing 18th October, and exhibitions are scheduled for both Evington Library and Crown Hills Community College. Planning Dept staff will be in attendance at these exhibitions to answer questions and copies of the Issues Report will be available for inspection. Summary leaflets will also be published in Urdu, Punjabi, Gujerati and Bengali.

Aspects of the draft Plan which are likely to be of interest to ECHO readers are as follows:-

New sites for housing are identified at Goodwood Road (up to 60 units) and the former Whitehall infants School site (up to 30 units), and there are allocations for approximately 50 dwellings on smaller sites within the Plan area.

A particular need is identified for further community provision in the eastern (outer) parts of the Plan area.

The site at Balderstone Close (Rowlatts Hill) allocated for a new neighbourhood centre to be retained for this purpose.

A site on Downing Drive to be allocated for a sports facility.

The former Evington Cinema to be allocated for sports centre/community use.

A site at Wakerley Road is allocated for the provision of community facilities. It is suggested that this site might be suited for a place of worship serving a city-wide need.

Areas of land north of Gartree Road and East of of Shady Lane should remain as open space should their agricultural and golf course use cease.

Further conservation areas are suggested covering Evington village and parts of Spinney Hill/North Evington.

Landscape protection and recreation objectives for privately owned land between Stoughton Drive and Shady Lane if, in the plan period, it should no longer be required for agricultural/golf course purposes.

Additional proposals covering Employment & Industry, Shopping facilities, and Transport will be featured in the Issues Report and further details can be obtained at the exhibitions.

This public participation period is for YOU to find out the facts and let the City Planning Officer know what you think about these proposals. DON'T HESITATE - PARTICIPATE - OR IT MAY BE TOO LATE!

RESIDENTS' REACTIONS

'Sacrilege'. That's how one Evington resident summed up the proposals of the East Leicester Plan which the ECHO revealed in September. And everywhere the reaction is much the same. This comment was made by council tenant, Mr Joseph Powell of Aldgate Avenue and his views are echoed by fellow tenants and owner occupiers in Gifford Close, Spencefield Drive and St. Denys Road, whose homes over-look the strip of land that the Council is proposing for development. Mr Powell has lived in his present home for 32 years and the trees opposite have given him pleasure through many seasons. "They are some of the original trees of Evington Hall estate and you can see the cottages where some of the retainers lived just across the green".

One of the reasons why Mr Pywell, also of Aldgate Avenue, recently purchased his Council home was because he was so happy with the delightful outlook form his house. "I''ve written to the Council to protest" and he's grateful to the ECHO for making details of the proposals public. "Without your newspaper we'd have know nothing until later." He confirmed that tenants in Harwin Road and the Ethel Road flats are also shocked at the proposed loss of their open aspect.

Mr Kenneth Oldershaw of Gifford Close has had reason to be outraged at the Council's handling of this area in the past. "Before buying my house in 1964, I made sure that no road would be built from Ethel Road to Spencefield Lane. I was assured that the Council could not afford to do this, and had no plans to build a road. Yet within a month, work had commenced!"

Miss Kay Corrigan who has also lived in Gifford Close since her bungalow was built, has the history of the area at her fingertips. In her preliminary objection to the Planning Dept. she had reminded them that after this greensaward was landscaped and the trees planted - residents having contributed towards their cost - it was stated that at no time would this land be built upon.

Other residents have pointed out the problems that would arise from increased traffic and parking congestion, particularly in Gifford Close which is now only just wide enough for two cars.

Four local residents, Mr Ellis of Gifford Close, Mr Goodacre of Spencefield Drive, Mrs Lacey of Cordery Road and Mrs Hughes of Angela Drive, have joined forces and sent a circular letter to every house surrounding this land, urging those who are concerned by these proposals to send their objections in writing to the Planning Department.

Residents who do not wish to see further housing development in Evington must make their views know to the Council whilst these proposals are still at the 'public participation' stage. Find out the facts by visiting the exhibition at the Library and talking to the Planning staff who will be in attendance. Above all, be sure to attend the public meeting at Judgemeadow on WEDNESDAY 17th NOVEMBER 1982.