£20m is set to be spent on the Eyres Monsell estate in Leicester – but where should it go?
06:00, 04 Apr 2026
Doreece said she believes Eyres Monsell too often gets left out of funding schemes(Image: Leicester Mercury)
People living in a Leicester area that “often gets left in the shadows” say more needs to be done to improve the roads, tackle anti-social behaviour and help those battling drug addiction.
Eyres Monsell is one of the three Leicester areas chosen for the government’s Pride in Place Programme. The scheme will see £20 million invested in Braunstone West, Thurnby Lodge and also Eyres Monsell over the next decade.
The government says all three areas have “too often fallen through the cracks of national interventions” and therefore need funding.
Officials say residents, MPs, councils, businesses and community organisations will then help produce a clear vision for their area, with the neighbourhoods themselves set to decide how to prioritise the £20 million funding.
Leicestershire Live has spoken to people living in Eyres Monsell about how they believe the money would be best spent in their area.
After speaking to many residents, everyone seemed to agree that the funding should be spent on “helping each other out” by improving rehabilitation centres, deterring anti-social behaviour by providing young people with youth centres and improving roads.
The Eyres Monsell community centre(Image: Leicester Mercury)
Doreece Fletcher, who works at the Monsell Chippy in Sturdee Road, said: “I totally agree that we get left out of funding schemes.
“We’re a deprived area that often gets left in the shadows and never gets much attention like other rough areas of Leicester, like Saffron Lane or Braunstone.”
The 18-year-old said she believes the money would be best spent on improving services for young people, adding: “It needs to go more towards the younger generation, giving them things to do which will in turn stop them from taking part in crime.”
When asked if she believes the funding will be spent on areas that need it, Doreece said: “I have high hopes for it. You’re not going to get anywhere in life by being pessimistic, so I think the funding will be allocated well.”
During our visit to the fish and chip shop, we also spoke to the owner Andreas Andreou, who believes the funding should go to help those who need it most.
Owner of Monsell Chippy Andreas(Image: Leicester Mercury)
He said: “I’d like to see it spent on the community for people who are struggling with housing or addictions.
“There are a lot of people in the area who struggle with drug addictions or rough sleeping, so some support for them would be great, either by creating a rehab centre, or improving ones that already exist.
The 48-year-old, who grew up around Eyres Monsell, also agreed with his colleague that the funding should be used to improve youth centres or put on events for young people.
He said: “I’ve seen 14-year-olds who come into the store smelling like cannabis and they need to be put on the right path instead of continuing down the wrong one. Maybe that is where youth centres can come in and help by giving them things to do.
“I grew up around here, and I remember there was more focus on youth centres, but I feel like that has faded away now. We need to bring that back, as those centres help guide our kids to a better lifestyle instead of letting them loiter around parks.”
Litter bags left in Sturdee Road Recreation Ground(Image: Leicester Mercury)
Other funding suggestions included “much-needed” improvements to local infrastructure and roads.
Reacting to the news about the funding, April Hefford, who works in the Well Pharmacy, said: “I’m shocked, we never get any funding around here.
“We fall through the cracks here 100 per cent, as there hasn’t been a significant funding scheme in ages.
“Our roads need the money, look at the state of them. There are potholes all over the place, even the speed bumps have potholes; it’s terrible.”
April, 34, has lived in Eyres Monsell for the past 23 years, and in her opinion, the introduction of council houses in the area has not had a positive effect.
She said: “The council housing around here has led to bad eggs and drug addicts filling up our streets. It has made the area worse, so maybe some money could go to creating rehab centres or helping people find the services they need.
“Homeless shelters would be great here too, despite some people saying it could bring around more trouble but we’re already facing those issues, so I don’t think it would make a difference.”
April said there have been instances when she had to chase people who tried to steal from the pharmacy. She said: “More police patrols would be great, I think it would keep the crime lower, which takes place here.
“We’ve had it before where people steal from us, but we can’t do anything about it except maybe chase them down the road.”
Adding another suggestion for the funding, April added: “We could do with a cheaper shop too because Co-op is too expensive and people are feeling the inflation.”
For some residents, such as Devin Mosley, the success of the scheme depends on who is involved in deciding where it gets spent.
He added: “It depends on who gets their hand stuck in the pot.”
When asked where he would like to see the funding spent, the 85-year-old said: “Our roads need the funding. We have huge potholes that need filling, and we need a speed camera here too, as it’s supposed to be a 20mph road, but nobody follows the speed limit.”
Comparing Eyres Monsell to when he first moved in, Devin said: “Without a doubt, this area has become, let’s say, rundown.
“When I first moved here about 50 years ago, it wasn’t like that, but over time, it has been forgotten. Road improvements have not been made, and the whole area has gone downhill.”
To read where Braunstone West residents wanted their funding to be spent, click here and to see how Thurnby Lodge wanted their spending allocated, click here.
