I took a walk around the city centre of Leicester today and I have to say I found the whole experience depressing. There has been a lot of government money spent trying to make the place look better but it hasn't worked. I know the city council are trying their hardest but it just has the feel of some place slowly dying.
Take for example the new flag ship of the 'cultural quarter' the Curve. A magnificent building shoe horned into the city centre. From whichever angle you approach the building you get a favourable impression. It sits on Orton Square, which was named after Joe Orton, a nicely proportioned space. However directly opposite the building on the other side of the square is a club called 'G Spot' . The website leaves you with little doubt what this club is. This does nothing for the up market atmosphere that is trying to be engendered.
The rest of the cutural quarter is a mixture of empty premisies waiting to be redeveloped and expensivly renovated shops and offices, many appear to be vacant. I really, really hope that this impression is wrong but I just felt that for something that is supposed to be a vibrant creative place there was no life at all. This is so sad.
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