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Evington Park House to be community owned through a Community Asset Transfer
by Amina Ali
The historic Evington Park House, which overlooks Evington Park, is now in the process of becoming community owned.
Leicester City Council have called for organisations to put forward business plans for a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) for the House. The opportunity was published in response to community interest in the building back in 2022.
CATs are where the ownership and management of publicly owned buildings or land is transferred to community-based organisations, like local charities, community interest companies, oe co-operatives.
Head of neighbourhood services at the council, Lee Warner said “the council views the building as one of community benefit and has received interest from the community to run it. Where this is evident the council has a duty under the localism act which promoted a community ‘Right to Bid’, hence this approach.”
The Localism Act (2011) allows community groups time to develop bids and raise money to buy listed assets that come on the open market. This helps local communities keep these sites part of local life, ensuring they are used to meet their needs, and should stop private enterprises bidding against them. Despite this, the national membership network Locality found that more than 4,000 publicly owned buildings and spaces in England are still being sold off to private ownerships every year.
Research from Power to Change has also found that CATs can grant communities economic power. England’s 6,300 community-owned assets pump nearly £150m into local economies.
Warner said: “Previous community asset transfers have provided a range of community benefits, including community room hire, investment in facilities, and provision of services for local people. The benefit to the community will be determined by the quality of the bidding organisations and their ability to deliver services, but our experience shows that these can be extremely successful.”
Recent CAT successes include Leicester’s African Caribbean Centre in Highfields. The centre, which has been a hub for the black community for many years, transferred management from the city council to the African Heritage Alliance in January this year. It was deemed ‘a historic moment’ by the Alliance.
Over the years, Evington Park House has gone from a private family home, an auxiliary hospital and a base for the Home Guard Platoon until it was bought by the Corporation of Leicester — the city council's predecessor — in 1948.
Since then, the space has mainly been used by the council as offices and for community hires.
Two community organisations with an interest in the House include Friends of Evington and Best Community Charity. Their shared vision will be to turn Evington Park House into a hub for the community of Evington, including educational workshops, courses, cultural activities and green spaces for sport and community use.
A spokesperson for Friends of Evington said their application: “will show how we can benefit the local people. It would be a place where people in the Evington area and surrounding areas could come and find out information and benefit from services they might want, including community managed group activities.”
Raj Sharma from the Best Community Charity said they: “would like to host some dance and entertainment classes to help members of the community better express themselves, the facilities would also benefit as a headquarters for our existing sport opportunities for the youth and lunch club activities for the elderly.”
He said they would: “continue to listen to the local community and be good communicators to ultimately provide something that can align with our own aims and objectives and also be something that the community itself will be interested in.”
The leased areas of Evington Park House include all three floors, the front and back gardens as well as a small car park.
Other organisations that are interested must put forward a CAT Expression of Interest, an application and a business case. The business case should include details of the organisation, impacts on neighbourhoods, sustainability and more.
Warner also reiterated that organisations should be able: “to take on the full running of the building including its repairs and maintenance. Community organisations must be legally constituted to be considered, and should demonstrate a sound financial footing.”
Further details on the business case can be found in the Evington Park House Information Pack.
Submissions must be put forward to the council by Friday, 30 August at 12pm. Those successful will then be granted a lease of up to five years.
For more information about Evington Park House and the CAT, visit the Leicester City Council website here.
by Phil Morrish
🌦️ Monday: A bright start with some morning sunshine with temperatures rising to 20C by early afternoon. Cloud will then build to bring us some rain later afternoon into the evening. A mild damp night 12C.
⛈️🌦️ Tuesday-Friday: A very showery day on Tuesday with some heavy and thundery showers around with a max of 20C. Wedsnedat and Thursday will see more sunshine and just the odd shower. Temperatures will max at 22C. Friday will be dry and bright with some sunshine max 21C.
🌧️ Weekend: It looks like more rain heading in from the West on Saturday with cooler temperatures at 19C with showers again on Sunday. A max temperature of 20C.
by Emma Guy
Data breach letter after cyber attack leaves Leicester resident 'extremely concerned': A resident was reported to have been left “extremely concerned” after receiving a letter from Leicester City Council saying their data had been “published” following a cyber attack on the authority's systems, but giving no guidance on how it might be used nor specific action they should take to protect themselves - Leicester Mercury
Park improvements to begin thanks to £1.8m fund: Leicester City Council has secured £1.8m in active travel funding to create new walking routes and cycle tracks through Rally Park. The money will also be used to improve park entrances, more street furniture, new lighting, and additional planting. The city council said the overall programme of improvements at the park are expected to take about 10 months. The new fund is intended to improve access to the park, particularly for those going to and from the Castle Mead Academy - BBC Leicester
‘Heartbreak’ as UK Caribbean carnival axed due to expense: Organisers for Leicester Caribbean Carnival have announced the “heartbreaking” decision that the Carnival will not take place this year. Organisers cited “significant financial risk” as the reason for the move. The celebration had been one of Britain’s biggest Caribbean carnivals. The news was met with disappointment from members of the local community - The Independent
20 largest local authority landlords call for new government to save council homes: Leicester City Council has joined with England’s other largest council landlords – including Southwark, Bristol, Sheffield, Leeds, Birmingham and Dudley – to jointly publish five solutions for the new government to ‘secure the future of England’s council housing.’ The report warns that England’s council housing system is broken and its future is in danger. An unsustainable financial model and erratic national policy changes have squeezed their budgets and sent costs soaring - Leicester City Council
Thousands of struggling Leicestershire families impacted by two-child benefit cap: Thousands of families in Leicestershire are impacted by the two-child benefit cap, data reveals. The cap, which restricts parents from claiming Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit for more than two children, was introduced by the Government in 2017. More than half of the local families affected by the cap — 4,300 — lived in Leicester. Charnwood borough had the next highest figure, at 870, followed by 530 in North West Leicestershire district - Leicester Mercury
City's bus lane operating hours to be reviewed: A review is to be carried out into the operating hours of Leicester's bus lanes. Leicester City Council said most of the devices were permanently active although four — in London Road, Saffron Lane, Loughborough Road, and Welford Road — issue fines only in the morning rush hour. The council has previously said it believes 24/7 enforcement of bus lanes was prefered because it was the simplest rule for motorists to understand - BBC Leicester
Jonathan Ashworth calls on new Leicester South MP to explain 'dealings' with man charged with terror offences: Leicestershire Police confirmed last Wednesday that Majid Novsarka — known as Majid Freeman — was facing allegations of encouragement of terrorism and supporting a proscribed organisation, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later this month. There is no suggestion of a direct relationship between the individual and the new Leicester South MP - Sky News
Plans to expand city centre pub into shop next door: The High Cross, owned by Wetherspoon, would undergo a £650,000 refurbishment if its application to Leicester City Council is successful. The proposal would see the pub expanded into the empty shop next door in High Street, which Wetherspoon owns. The refurbishment would require the venue to shut its doors to customers for part of the work - BBC Leicester
Leicester united against cancer in Race for Life at Victoria Park - People across Leicestershire united against cancer by taking part in Race for Life at Victoria Park to raise money for Cancer Research. More than 1,600 people ran, jogged and walked either the 10k, 5k or 3k courses in the city. Money raised has helped develop radiotherapy which benefits more than 130,000 people with cancer in the UK every year - Leicester Mercury
The Leicester suffragettes who turn to arson: Ellen Sherriff and Elizabeth Rowley Frisby were at the heart of an arson attack on Blaby railway station in 1914. The arson attack remained on Leicestershire Police’s unsolved crimes list for well over half a century until Ellen Sherriff’s death, aged 89, in early 1966. In a scoop for the Leicester Mercury, her nephew, Henry Murby, then revealed her to have been one of the two mystery arsonists - Great Central Gazette
A throwback to a much sunnier Victoria Park as we face a week of more rain! See our weather section for more on this week's weather forecast.
Got a photo? Send it to news@greatcentralgazette.org to feature in this newsletter.
Key:
🚨 – Last chance
💷 – Entry fee
🆓 – Free of charge
🚨 💷 Singin' in the Rain - Now until 28 July 2024
Do not miss out on your chance to see one the world’s best loved movies. You will not want to miss this light-hearted spoof of frantic Hollywood!
🆓 LIGHTWERK – Now until 25 August 2024
Are you a fan of graffiti? Visit the Phoenix for a colourful, interactive exhibition of graffiti art.
🆓 Popping to the Shops - Now until 1 September 2024
This is an exciting project dedicated to the people of the Narborough Road. It aims to tell their stories of living and working in the area.
🆓 Snakes – Now until 1 September 2024
Slither over to Leicester Museum and Art Gallery for a fantastic, free, family-friendly exhibition all about snakes. Ssssssensational!
💷 Meet the bees! - Now until 15 September 2024
Have you ever wondered what's inside the beehive? What the honeybees do and what's so special about them? Take part in the exclusive bee-keeping experience with Honey Craft's Beekeeper every Sunday until 15 September.
💷 Curious About Leicester - Now until 26 October 2024
Have fun re-discovering Leicester, spotting things you’ve never noticed before, with two quirky treasure hunt style heritage walks.
by Mark Pearson
An impressive detached victorian villa close to Queens Road shops and restaurants. The property features three reception rooms, three bathrooms and six bedrooms over three floors as well as a cellar. The driveway can accommodate six cars with a large garage that has potential to be a workshop or studio. There is also a well established garden at the rear.
Price £795,000
by Emma Guy
Calling all foodies: Get ready for Leicester's very own food festival! The Leicester Food Festival will take place at Abbey Park on 10-11 August. The event will host an impressive 50+ food vendors and 100 Midland makers, craft and artisan stalls. It sounds like there will be something for everyone from wine tasting to workshops, cheese tasting and much more! You can plan your day and book tickets here.
Women’s Football: As LCFC Women’s look for a new manager following the release of Willie Kirk, Amandine Miquel (Reims manager) is being very seriously considered. Read more
Men’s Cricket: Leicestershire CCC take victory against Northamptonshire on Friday with New Zealand’s Jimmy Neesham going 67 from 34 balls to give Leicestershire a victory with five balls to spare. Read more
Men’s Football: In Late May, Coalville Town FC announced they were resigning from the Southern League, and Chairman Glyn Rennocks would be stepping down. Since then CTFC have had their proposal to enter the United Counties League Division One for the 2024/25 season approved by the FA. Since then, the club have gone on to make a number of signings including new manager Ash Brown. Read more
by Megan Lupton
A look back at the Leicester Market, which was first mentioned in 1298 and allegedly included in the 1086 Domesday Book. Read more here.
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