Thank you to everyone who has so far supported our campaign. As of today there are almost 250 likes on our Facebook page and over 320 people have signed our petition. We held a meeting last Friday, which more than 50 people attended, including Westcotes Labour Councillors Sarah Russell and Andy Connelley, Green party candidates and Friends of Bede Park/ Leicester West End creators Ian and Val Smalley, Former chairman of the planning committee and Councillor Patrick Kitterick, Green Party Stoneygate candidate and Transition Leicester member (who stored in the western outbuilding) Simon Bates, TUSC candidate Damon Gibbons, Members of Leicester Civic Society, Local Residents and pub users. The time was used to explain the extension plans to the Code site as we understand them, to discuss the concerns raised by this and possible strategies to object to the development. Kind donations were received towards printing costs to the sum of £65.85 including generous donations of £20 and £10’s from some. This will go towards the printing of the initial flyers and some future flyers and/or posters to raise awareness of the plans for more student housing in Westcotes. Application numbers for the proposal are 20151144 and 20151143. These applications describe 5 storey buildings similar to those already built on the street façade by Code on the site of 36 and 52 Western Road. A 9 storey extension to the smaller of the two tall white buildings currently on the complex onto 36 Western Road. A new 14 storey building on the rear of the 52 Western Road site and the workshops to the rear of the Western Pub, featuring a digital clock and a new entrance into the site from Briton Street. These plans will bring the number of students on the previously non-residential site to 1100. It was acknowledged that there is a conditional planning permission on 52 Western Road for demolition of the warehouse (App No: 20150857) and that there is prior conditional planning permission for a 9 flat development on the land to the rear of the Western Pub (App No: 20130149). As of yet residents would be unwise to object to plans before they are fully made public. Therefore we have decided to let those interested know when and how to formally object to the plans with guidance on objection points. I hope volunteers will be able to go door-to-door to dispense this information to those not on the social network or our contact lists at this time. It was decided that a committee would be formed to go through policies and planning documents etc. and find evidence to support our objections. I will be emailing those who said they wished to be involved and trying to set up a committee meeting date. We are hoping to work alongside other groups in the city with similar concerns. At this point I welcome anyone who really wishes to get stuck in to the campaign and/or has any specialisms for example with planning, archaeology, engineering etc. who wishes to join this committee to get in touch as soon as possible. Once the committee has met and has a progress report we will be publicising our next public meeting and will ask for any agenda point’s people wish to bring to be sent in advance. For those who wish to be involved but with less commitment, we are looking for people happy to volunteer to raise awareness by going door-to-door, or peddle the ad-bike kindly lent to us by Transition Leicester around the Park and Ward. (The bike may need a bit of love so anyone good with DIY, bike maintenance and/or crafts feel free to contact ASAP). In the short term we wish to object to the current application for extensions to the site of Code in the west end and to try to protect the Western hotel coach house from demolition. In the long term we wish to maintain a healthy balance of all types of community members including students in the ward by working with De Montfort University and the Council and find a way to protect the historic character of the West End. If you wish to volunteer, join the committee or have any questions please email me at emmal.jennings@gmail.com You can find us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Say-NO-to-14-storey-code-building/753620638094818