News and views from Journalism students at De Montfort University in Leicester
by Joel Wood
De Montfort’s campus has received a complete revamp over the last year after £136 million has been spent on the Campus Transformation Project, making it one of the most up to date and impressive campuses in the UK.
Has the money spent on a new Arts Tower, Design Wing and Food Court paid off?
We speak to students and staff to see if the construction has had the supposed effect on the students.
By Harry Rogers
A Leicester women’s centre is to have its funding cut in half by the city council, it was announced last night.
Shama Women’s Centre, located on Sparkenhoe Street, originally had its full £30,000 grant recalled by Leicester City Council until a deal was reached before last night’s Overview Committee meeting, to have the money halved to £15,000, in a one-off payment.
A city council spokesperson said: “We have agreed to provide Shama with a six-month grant of £15,000 in order to tide it over a difficult short-term financial situation, after which it will be receiving Lottery grant funding.”
Leicester City Council was forced to half the grant due to substantial budget cuts from central government.
Councillor Jean Khote told last night’s meeting: “The £30,000 is Shama’s rent, how is it going to deliver the services if it hasn’t got any money?
“According to the information given, it says (without the grant) Shama will close down.”
The centre has other funding streams which Leicester City Council is hoping will contribute to the services provided by Shama.
Cllr Baljit Singh, who chaired the meeting, said: “The discussions and negotiations were specifically with Shama, its administrators and management board. They have accepted their position.”
By Luke Smith
Leicestershire County Cricket Club have been handed a sixteen point deduction for repeated offences.
Fast bowler Charlie Shreck was found guilty of “using obscene or offensive language and/making an obscene gesture” during a pre-season match against Loughborough in March. Shreck has been given a two match ban by the club.
This is the latest in a string of offences that have added up to five punishable offences in the last twelve months.
Mark Cosgrove, the captain for each of the past five offences, has been handed an automatic one match ban for the Championship. The club has also been fined £5,000 and given a suspended punishment of an eight point deduction for the next twelve months.
The Leicestershire Campaign is due to start on Friday at home to Nottinghamshire, but it is thought Cosgrove will not serve his suspension until the Championship match against Glamorgan, starting on 21st April.
Leicestershire finished their season seventh in division two in 2016, but will this season begin with minus sixteen points. The only other team in the division to begin on a sub-zero points tally are Durham, who were deducted forty-eight points for the club’s financial problems.
