Leicester Forest East
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2008) |
Leicester Forest East (LFE) is a large suburban village in
Leicester Forest East is a popular location among commuters and young families. It was developed primarily between 1920 and 1985, seeing major developments constructed along the Hinckley Road (A47) and to the south-east of the M1 throughout the 1930s. Large-scale housing developments took place in the 1960s, to the north-east and west of the M1 motorway. In the 1980s, a large housing project was constructed at the western edge of the settlement. The village takes its name from the ancient Leicester Forest. The streets through the housing developments to the north-east of the M1 take their names from Ann Packer and Robbie Brightwell, Olympic medalists in the 1964 Tokyo games.
Amenities
There are local shopping facilities at the eastern end of the community, including a newsagent, a post office and a
There are two
The Parish Hall is situated on King's Drive, by the playing field/park. A new playpark was installed in early 2009. Recently the Parish Hall have played hosts to Clubszone, a local children's activity provider running in the school holidays. They also host a community cinema which is on the first Thursday evening at 7.30 of every month (except July/August).
There are three places of Christian worship – St Andrews, an
Transport
- There are bus services to Leicester, Hinckley, Nuneaton and other local destinations. Bus services are operated by Stagecoach Midlands[1] and Arriva Midlands East.[2] There is also a park and ride service from Meynells Gorse on the eastern edge of Leicester Forest East to the city centre. An additional service (route 51) runs from Braunstone Cross Roads into the city centre, provided by Arriva.
- Leicester Forest East does not have a railway station but provision has been made for one at Meynell's Gorse. The Ivanhoe Line were to go ahead. This would connect Leicester Forest East to Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Coalville, Burton upon Trent and Leicester railway station.
- Road links are excellent, but heavily congested, with the A47 bisecting the community – running to Hinckley, Birmingham and Leicester. There is good access to the A46 road where it bypasses Leicester, and from there to the M1 and M69. Congestion on the A47 particularly in the mornings, for city bound traffic, is a major issue for commuters in Leicester Forest East, and for those using this road. Equally, there is congestion on Ratby Lane in the late afternoons for traffic leaving the A46 and M1 wishing to join the A47 from this direction.
- Facilities for cyclists are made with on-road cycle lanes having been put in along the greater part of Hinckley Road during 2009.[3] The main routes to and from the city, and to major shopping areas are indirect and on busy roads. There are no secure cycle parking facilities at the local shops, the community centre or the churches.
- There is a reasonably well-maintained network of local footpaths giving pleasant walks towards Enderby, Thorpe Astley and Kirby Muxloe.
Schools
Stafford Leys Primary School opened in 1966 under the headship of
Secondary education will typically continue at South Charnwood High School in Markfield.
Holmfield Primary School, on the eastern boundary of Leicester Forest East, was closed permanently by Leicestershire County Council on 16 July 2010.
A new £4m school was built on the former site of Holmfield Primary School. Fossebrook Primary School[8] opened for its first intake in September 2016, it provides primary years education to pupils living in Leicester Forest East and Braunstone Town. The school opened with 210 places, with the potential to expand as demand increases. The Discovery Schools Academy Trust [9] has been selected to sponsor the school. The school has extensive parking for staff, parents, visitors and local residents.
Motorway service area
Most people know Leicester Forest East for the
There are long term plans to widen the M1 motorway, which if given the go-ahead would have transformed the stretch of the M1 that bisects Leicester Forest East from the current eight lanes to ten lanes. Many local residents have campaigned against such schemes. Any developments would result in the closure of Leicester Forest East service station.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Stagecoach bus routes
- ^ Arriva
- ^ "Leicester Forest East, A47 Hinckley Road", Leicestershire County Council
- ISBN 0-285-62187-4
- ^ "New library gets roar of approval". Leicester Mercury. 14 April 2003.
- ^ "A healthy school". Leicester Mercury. 4 February 2006.
- ^ Ofsted. Retrieved 8 June 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Work has started on Fossebrook Primary | Leicestershire County Council".
- ^ "Our Schools". Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ISBN 0-7509-4068-9