Leicester residents were out in force on Saturday morning to witness the toppling of one of Belgrave’s most distinctive landmarks, at the hands of a former factory apprentice.

Hundreds looked on as 62-year-old Tom Keville pushed the button, bringing the 115-foot disused chimney crashing to the ground at Ross Walk, making way for a brand new development of 72 properties from Westleigh New Homes.

Mr Keville, who worked at the site 47 years ago, paid £1,700 to detonate the chimney – once part of the former British United Shoe Machinery (BUSM) works – after placing the winning bid in a charity auction for local good causes.

Alongside the residents, the local media were also keen to capture the action as the chimney toppled. You can read the Leicester Mercury’s coverage and see step by step images of the demolition HERE.

You can also see and hear the exciting moment Mr Keville brought the chimney down by following these links:

bbc-1-east-midlands-210112-1727

bbc-radio-leicester-210112-0801

The former BUSM site is undergoing development in four phases as part of the Abbey Meadows regeneration area project. The project comes as the result of a partnership between Westleigh, Leicester City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and landowners Trafalgar Global Ltd, who are working together to regenerate the area.

As the dust settles on the site, the Whetstone-based housebuilder will begin work on 72 modern three-, four- and five-bedroom properties, with the first 14 expected to be ready this summer. For further information about Belgrave Riverside log on to www.westleighnewhomes.co.uk

The PR team helped client Bray and Bray to step up its campaign to regulate the will writing industry, with a live Q&A session on BBC Radio Leicester this morning.  Its second live appearance in as many days.

Bray and Bray’s wills and probate specialist, Beccy O’Malley took to the BBC’s Leicester studios for a live call in.  The session really highlighted the importance of getting specialist advice from a trained solicitor. 

Listen to the show here until 17th August 2010 and decide for yourself who you would rather have prepare your will…

(Q&A session starts at approximately 2 hours into the show)

Listeners to Leicestershire’s local radio this afternoon couldn’t have failed to have heard about client, Bray and Bray’s call for the will writing industry to be regulated.  The Unsworth Sugden PR team was successful in securing coverage on both BBC Radio Leicester and Harborough FM today during all the afternoon news bulletins and most importantly during drivetime. 

The Market Harborough’s office wills and probate department head, Martin Hill was interviewed by Harbrough FM whilst the Leicester office’s specialist Beccy O’Malley gave a three and a half minute interview with drive time presenter Martin Ballard.

Take a listen to the BBC Radio Leicester clip here BBC Radio Leicester 09.08.10 17.39.

The first phase of work has begun on a £15m project for our client Westleigh Developments, causing a media flurry on announcement. Along with Westleigh, the redevelopment of the former British Union Shoe Machinery (BUSM) works on Ross Walk, Belgrave, is the result of a collaborative partnership between Leicester City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, and two housing associations based in Leicester and Nottingham.

Featured in today’s Leicester Mercury, the low cost housing scheme for an initial 119 new properties, was herald for bringing affordable homes to the Belgrave Community, something that was in great demand.

BBC Radio Leicester also featured the story last night, which you listen to by clicking on the following link: bbc-radio-leicester-270710-1742

Westleighs Chris Beighton with land owner, Mandeep Singh, representitives of the LHA-ASRA and NCHA and Leicester City Council's Director of Planning, Andrew Smith.