Calls for ‘most unsafe space in the city’ underpass to be filled in
CALLS have been made for an underpass dubbed “the most unsafe space in Leicester” to be filled in.
The risks posed by the St Margaret’s underpass, in the city centre, were raised this week following the death of Sarah Everard.
City councillors said the case had thrown into focus the need to try to make Leicester’s streets safer for women.
The underpass runs below the inner ring road and connects Church Gate with St Margaret’s Way.
The dark, graffiti-covered route has a history of anti-social behaviour and crime, from drug dealing to sex assaults.
City councillor Patrick Kitterick speaking during a city council meeting, called for the underpass to be blocked off.
He said the case of Ms Everard had reinforced the importance of trying to make the streets safer.
“I clearly do not have the experience of a woman walking the streets of Leicester, but the St Margaret’s underpass is somewhere I would be extremely wary of walking through – even during the day,” Councillor Kitterick said.
“To be frank, to have such a dodgy area right next to our city centre is not great.
“It probably needed sorting out a long time ago.
“In my opinion the St Margaret’s underpass is probably the most unsafe space in the city.”
Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he agreed, adding: “We are very mindful of it being the single crossing of the inner ring road that is most unpleasant and in need of being filled in.”
He said it should be “replaced with a civilised crossing of the sort we provided in London Road (near the railway station.)
“I hope in the very near future we will bring forward some detailed timetable for doing that,” he said.
“It is on the priority list. It was even before (Sarah Everard’s death), but if anything needed to give added impetus to that scheme, it is what happened in that dreadful case.”