Latest news with #GeoffWhittle
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Leicester's park and ride fares put up by city council
Leicester City Council is set to increase fares for the city's park and ride services. The authority said it was the first rise in five years but prices would still be lower than commercial bus increase was confirmed as the council announced Roberts Travel Group will take over the full operation of the service. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said Roberts will run the park and ride from Birstall, Enderby and Meynell's Gorse from 24 August. Under the new three-year contract buses must continue to run at least every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday, from 07:00 to 19: says it plans to introduce more stops along all three park and ride routes, including locations such as Freemans Common, Redhill Circle and Braunstone Leisure Centre. 'Difficult decisions' Leicester City Council said the city and county councils would continue to fund the park and ride operation but will reduce their subsidy by half, from £422,000 a year to £211, 26 August, a day return ticket will increase from £3.50 to £4.85 and a group day ticket for up to five people will go up from £4 to £6. Meanwhile, concessionary fares will be reduced from £1 to become free after 09: Whittle, Leicester's assistant city mayor for transport and the environment, said there were plans to better link with the Hop! Service and the Hospital Hopper in the future."Like all councils we are having to make some very difficult decisions around funding, and this contractual arrangement means we can reduce our subsidy to the park and ride service, while ensuring it continues to operate," he said.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Council to end free bike parking at Leicester Town Hall
Cyclists will be required to pay a membership charge to leave their bikes in a secure parking area at Leicester Town Hall, the city council has authority made the facility free in 2020 as a part of a strategy to encourage cycling around the city during the Covid a £10 annual fee to use the 200-place bike park is to come in from 7 July. More than 30,000 bikes were left at the facility in 2024, the council said. Assistant city mayor Geoff Whittle said the fee represented "excellent" value for money."Secure and reliable bike parking is a really important element of encouraging more people to cycle into the city centre," he said."The new membership scheme will make parking quicker and easier."Users of the new scheme will be required to swipe a membership card when they deposit their bike with a member of who does not collect their bike on the same day will face a £5 charge, the council added. The authority said members of its Active Leicester leisure centre membership scheme would be able to add bike park use to their existing accounts with no further charge.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Leicester neighbourhood to get new permit parking rules
A new residents' parking scheme is to come into force in part of Leicester next City Council says the new rules will apply in certain streets in the Woodgate and Fosse Road North area from 1 will be asked to pay £35 a year for a permit to park on the streets in mainly terraced authority said the move was in response to complaints about the streets, on the outskirts of the city centre, filling up with vehicles belonging to commuters and businesses. The council said the scheme would include some short stay pay-and-display bays for customers going to local businesses. Businesses will be asked to pay £100 for annual permits to park in the streets or £150 for a transferable are more than 700 homes in the affected streets which can apply, the council city mayor Geoff Whittle said: "We've seen in other parts of the city how the introduction of residents' parking schemes can be an effective way of tackling parking problems in local neighbourhoods and freeing up spaces for the people who live there."By introducing permit only parking, we can help make it easier for residents to find available parking close to their homes, and new customer parking bays will also mean local businesses don't suffer." Streets in the scheme Balfour StreetMarshall StreetBassett StreetDunton StreetRugby Street Repton StreetCentral RoadBonchurch StreetPart of Fosse Road North, between Bonchurch Street and the Fiveways junctionWoodgate, between its junctions with Balfour Street and Dunton Street
BBC News
13-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Temporary road closures near Leicester schools to cut pollution
Streets outside a number of schools in Leicester are to be temporarily closed to traffic in an effort to cut City Council said vehicles would be excluded from several roads on Thursday 19 June to mark National Clean Air Day. Schools will use the traffic-free space for sports, games and other will be in place from 08:00 BST to 16:00 in Magnus Road, Bessingham Close, Richard III Road, Eastfield Road, Hazeldene Road and Bramble Close. The council said parking, waiting and loading will also be prohibited from 08:00 on Wednesday 18 June until 16:00 the following day on sections of Mundesley Road, Kestrel Lane, Richard III Road, Maidenwell Avenue, Foxglove Road and Laverton Road. Active travel On Thursday, pupils from Castle Mead Academy, in Richard III Road next to the River Soar, will also be ferried to school in a boat as park of a "park and paddle" council's assistant mayor for air quality, Geoff Whittle, said: "Clean Air Day is a chance for schools to take part in some fun activities on traffic-free streets, while delivering an important message about improving air quality."It's also a great chance for local workplaces to get involved by promoting the benefits of active travel."Leicester's hospitals and the University of Leicester are also planning events on the day to encourage staff to take steps to cut air pollution by walking or cycling to work.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
CCTV to target illegal parking in bus stop
Drivers who illegally park in a bus stop in Leicester are set to be caught out by CCTV cameras. Leicester City Council said the marked stop on Evington Road near the junction with Kedlestone Road is "frequently" blocked, causing congestion and slowing bus journey times. The bus stop is a clearway, which means no stopping is allowed at any time, the authority added. Camera enforcement, along with new lines and signs, will be introduced at the site from Tuesday. For the first two weeks, drivers caught parking in the clearway will be issued with warning notices. Penalty charge notices for £70 will be issued from 10 June, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. Once introduced, the new camera enforcement will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The £50,000 project will be funded through the council's transport improvement budget. Geoff Whittle, assistant mayor for environment and transport, said problems with parking were "potentially putting passengers at risk as they get on and off". He added: "Drivers parking illegally at this busy and well-used bus stop aren't just causing delays and congestion. "People need to know the buses will run on time and can be relied upon." Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. No stopping 'red route' plan for major arterial road Bus lane plan paused by council pending review City's bus lane operating hours to be reviewed Leicester City Council
