Fencing around Curve theatre to remain for a year

Fencing around Curve is to stay in place for another year

Fencing around Leicester’s Curve theatre will remain in place for another year while safety work is carried out, Leicester City Council has confirmed.

In May, a panel of the sunbreaker exteriors to the venue came loose and fell into Orton Square.

A cordon was put up around the building while investigations were carried out.

Now the council has said a number of the original fixings to the panels, which date back to the mid-2000s, require replacing and work will take until “autumn 2025” to complete.

Panels will be worked on one at a time so scaffolding will not be needed, but until the work is finished the fencing will remain.

Panels will be looked at one at a time by contractors, said the council

A city council spokesman said: “Work will now take place to ensure the secure fixing of all of the remaining louvres.

“Obviously, the safety of everyone visiting Curve and Orton Square is paramount, and the cordon will need to stay in place throughout this period.

“None of the measures have impacted Curve's ability to operate as normal and we are working with the theatre while this important work is carried out.”

People are being funnelled under scaffolding to navigate in and out of the theatre

Leicester residents reacted with annoyance that the extensive fencing and narrow walkways will remain for another 12 months.

Fiona Byron, 52, said: “They need to make sure it’s safe for the people of Leicester but that’s a long time.

“How is it going to affect businesses in the area and Curve itself?

“And it’s not great for people with mobility issues, it was a bit of trek to get around it myself.”

Marc Vanrooyen, of the Exchange Bar, would like the work to be completed as soon as possible

Isa Dawud, 20, added: “I walked around one side and then realised it doesn’t go anywhere and had to walk back.

“It’s a bit of an eyesore, it’s not pretty.”

Marc Vanrooyen, company director of the nearby Exchange Bar, said: “It’s been there since May and it’s affected our ability to put out our outside seating, with the scaffolding all the way down the pavement.

“Lots of people come to enjoy Orton Square, it would be nice to get the Cultural Quarter looking as nice as it always did.”