Leicester Council Boosts Park Safety, Active Travel

0:00It's April 9th. Welcome in. This is Lester News today, where local news meets AI. I'm Cori with the story. Lester City Council just scored 1.2 million pounds from the government's active travel fund to beef up safety at Rally Park. They're rolling out accessible entrances, safer walking and cycling paths, and a newsieber crossing linking to Hingley Road. This builds on work that kicked off in summer 2024, with wider paths, protected bike lanes, and extra lights in dark spots already in place. Coming up, they'll extend footpaths from the kids' play area to Fossy Road North, swap barriers for ballards, and add a community garden on unused. Pavement. Locals have mixed feelings amid real safety gripes. Recent incidents include a robbery, leaving a guy with a head injury in August 2025, and two 15-year-old boy stabbed and robbed the next month. Some push for lights, cameras, and patrols to cut crime and anti-social vibes, while others say the park's improved and cash should hit youth clubs or struggling families instead.

1:06Council folds plan lane closures and traffic signals on two to road soon, plus a full shut down over the May 16th and 17th weekend for resurfacing. Park users hope brighter spots deter trouble, but skeptics want boots on the ground over ballards. Overall, the push aims to link neighborhoods like Newfoundpool and Frog Island for easier walks, wheels, or bikes to shops and school, making active. Travel the go-to move in this buzzing spot.