Controversial bus route reviewed

Community groups said it was important to protect the road

Plans to re-route buses down a historic pedestrianised street in Leicester are being reconsidered.

The city council had wanted to open up Applegate as part of a scheme to turn St Nicholas Place into a hub for park and ride services.

But the Civic Society and community groups claim this would ruin a quiet street and damage old buildings.

Now the city council has put forward three other options which would bypass the controversial route.

The new options include building a road to link Carey's Close to St Nicholas Place but the council has insisted it has not completely rejected the Applegate plan.

Applegate is partly cobbled and has a number of Georgian and part-timbered buildings on it.

The engineers did not realise the strength of public feeling Patrick Kitterick, Leicester City Council

It has previously carried traffic but was pedestrianised in the 1980s.

Jenny Westmoreland from the Civic Society said the older buildings were at risk.

"We really fear they will be shaken to pieces, that is what is troubling us.

"This is wood and lathe and plaster, it is not solid brick. It is building materials from the medieval age. These are little jewels these buildings, they are Leicester's treasures."

Councillor Patrick Kitterick said the council has now looked at the issue again.

"The engineers did not realise the strength of public feeling there was about Applegate and I have talked to the leader of the council Ross Wilmot and we have decided that it is worth us giving alternatives to the public."

The council has invited feedback on the new options.