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So, last week my wife and I visited the Museum & Art Gallery in Priestgate to see the Urban art exhibition. Although it cost £8 each this exhibition is just what Peterborough needed. Any good art is provocative and many of the pieces on display certainly are. The exhibitions are a riot of colour, fascinating techniques and great design.

In true BritArt style many of the artists have names that, like some fashionable craft beers, are mysteriously provocative – Bambi, West Country Prince, Hush, My Dog Sighs, Bleck le Rat and Pure Evil. Inevitable the stars of the show are British grandees who loom over the exhibition like familiar pantomime dames – Tracy Emin, Damien Hirst and Banksy. If the discerning art collector visiting the exhibition wishes to purchase something then, if you’ve got a birthday coming up, there are plenty of Banksy stuff available, prints from £500 up to £85,000 for a stencilled radiator or a whopping £2m for Heavy Weaponry Colour. All joking aside, the exhibition is well worth a visit – it’s rare that Peterborough gets such a varied collection from a range of modern art talent. I may well be tempted to splash out £7.50 on an exhibition poster by the excellent Connor Brothers. The exhibition runs until 29 May so there is no excuse for not popping to have a look. Be prepared to be surprised, angered, delighted and stimulated, that’s what art is all about!

Our eight-year-old grandson is a bright little spark. Well, I would say that, wouldn’t I! Ed. he certainly is delightful. He knows his times tables and can churn out correct answers with the speed of an old-fashioned Casio talking calculator. He has pretty neat handwriting and proudly informed my wife and I that he has been one of the few in his class to have been awarded a pen licence at school. Incidentally, while I’m at it, may I say ‘thank you’ to his teachers as well as all Peterborough teachers for their hard work during these peculiar Covid times.

Over the Christmas and New Year period I asked him, “What do you want to be when you grow up”? He replied, “a legend”. This greatly amused my wife and all other members of the family. Now this single word answer got me thinking about Peterborough’s own hopes for the future, both aspirational and realistic. I want Peterborough to be known as a ‘legend’ and I’m sure all Peterborians would agree.

The city’s MP, Paul Bristow, is often talking up the city and regularly uses the hashtag #ProudOfPeterborough on Twitter. Indeed Paul regularly applauds local businesses and has visited more local restaurants that most of us have had hot dinners. Whilst I thoroughly approve of being positive towards Peterborough, surely now is the time to ask direct and searching questions about the future of our city. By the end of 2022 there are certain crucial questions that need answers. I emphasise that I am asking these questions as a committed Peterborian. I want to be as proud of Peterborough as the next person but, as a member of the Civic Society, I feel the need to be questioning, inquisitive, enquiring and realistic as well as positive.

There is no escaping the fact that Peterborough is not in a happy financial state. By writing this I am not being negative, I’m merely being realistic. Both local and national government cannot hide away. We live in a time when local authorities have been severely restricted as to what they can provide for citizens and national government has done all it can to restrict local powers and to control from the centre. In the same way that our young grandson aspires to be a legend, I want people of the future to be able to say, “Peterborough, now there’s a legend”.

So, there are many questions that hang over our city at the start of 2022. Here’s my ‘Magnificent Seven’.

•   1. Is Peterborough still in charge of its own finances or has the city been taken over by central government?
•   2. Are the areas covered in the Council’s £22.9m Town Deal bid as part of the Towns Fund actually happening?
•   3. Is the Embankment Masterplan going to be realised?
•   4. Is the new football stadium going to be built on the Embankment?
•   5. Is the Key Theatre still open?
•   6. Is the future looking bright for Bridge Street and the city centre?
•   7. What is happening in Queensgate and is the new cinema complex open yet?

In my last column of 2022 (assuming that the PT will still have me Ed. am sure they will, lets hope your magnificent prose continues to flow.) I shall revisit these same questions and examine progress. Promise!

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Much has been written about the government’s levelling-up agenda. I suppose that, in a nutshell, levelling up must mean narrowing the gap between rich and poor, have and have-nots. Easier said than done – slogans are easy, delivery somewhat more difficult. Perhaps, most importantly, anything to do with money for local authorities these days is a financial minefield.

Ed. click image right for the government press release on its 'Levelling Up White Paper'

Peterborough is the most northerly outpost of Cambridgeshire, with the city of Cambridge in the south of the county. Using all the government’s own measures, many of the wealthy environs of Cambridge city certainly don’t require any levelling-up assistance, Cambridge situated as it is in the so-called Golden Triangle (London, Oxford and Cambridge).

But Peterborough certainly does require levelling up and indeed some parts are even being levelled e.g. The Solstice and parts of North Westgate. Peterborough itself contains huge variety and has its own particular needs. Some parts need assistance and some don’t. Burghley Road probably does but Burghley House doesn’t. (Yes, Burghley House is in Peterborough – honest!). It is fascinating that some schools in nearby leafy rural settings have been known to operate exchange visits with local inner-city schools a mere five miles away so that pupils can learn about ‘how other people live’.

I have to say that ‘levelling-up’ is a rather peculiar phrase in relation to Peterborough, living as we do at the edge of the Fens. I reckon that, in the geological sense at least, we’re pretty levelled already! However, it is certainly good news that Peterborough will be receiving money, along with Towns Fund cash, to improve our lot. We have been promised the new pedestrian bridge across the river Nene (promoted a few years ago by local broadcaster Paul Stainton with his ‘Build the bridge’ chant). The Lakeside Activity Centre at Nene Park and a Green Technology Centre have also been promised. Let’s not forget that, as part of the £22.9 million figure, there are other projects that have been promised; The Vine culture hub in the former TK Maxx building, work on the Station Quarter, Embankment Masterplan and River frontage upgrade are all in there. We must also not forget that, as part of the bid, there is supposed to be a new Bronze Age extension to the Museum to house the “globally significant” Must Farm boats from Flag Fen. It is indeed ironic that at the very time the Museum’s finances are being severely restricted, the Towns Fund Museum extension is planned. Let us hope that this money is not somehow diverted into existing basic day-to-day running costs. Towns Fund and Levelling-up money are promised to help make the city a better place to live. Promises mean nothing, delivery means everything. Politicians and administrators, make sure it happens – we shall be watching!

While on the subject will mention the Towns Fund Programme. The Towns Fund is a Government funded scheme for economic regeneration of towns through investment in

• (1) Urban regeneration, land use planning and infrastructure
• (2) Skills and enterprise infrastructure
• (3) Connectivity

In October 2020 Peterborough was awarded £22.9m from the Towns Fund for 10 projects, which are to be delivered with a mix of Towns Fund money and an undefined element of additional funding from other sources. I have collated information (click image left) on how the funding has been distributed between the 10 projects which may be of interest to readers.

Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, has announced a competition to find a new National Headquarters for Great British Railways outside London. Now quite why Mr Shapps needs a competition to decide that Peterborough is by far the best candidate I really don’t know. I feel sorry for Swindon, Doncaster and York, worthy places thought they might be. Peterborough has already demonstrated a recent reference to its railway history by converting some of the old railway buildings on the old East Station site into offices and retail units. Sand Martin House, which incorporates Council offices, is a great example of a conversion of an old building and the adjacent Bewiched coffee shop is the perfect place to enjoy a hot drink and cake before on an early Saturday afternoon before strolling to the Posh match a few hundred yards away. Gluttony for punishment?

Peterborough has had a rich railway tradition for years. When I was a nipper I would spend many a lazy summer day trainspotting near the old level crossing at Marholm Road, Walton (see photo right), where lines of two of the old railway companies, the LNER (London, North Eastern Railway) and LMS (London, Midland and Scottish) ran side by side. Hours of fun spotting A4 Pacifics, Deltics and Brushes (Ed. oh happy days). Yes, Peterborough is the perfect place for Great British railways headquarters. End of (the line)!

Where will this all end! Hopefully not on the buffers!

See below for those unfamiliar with the locomotives that Toby used to see
(all photos thanks to Peterborough Images Archive).

Gresley A4	Napier Deltic class 55	Brush type 4 class 47	Brush type 3 class 31

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New Ark Play Association

This article was first published in the 17 March 2022 edition of the Peterborough Telegraph. It was written by committee member Toby Wood.

The Civic Society is not just about buildings, planning and development matters. ‘Civic’ means relating to a town or city and ‘society’ is not just an organisation but also the promotion of people living together in an orderly community. So it is with alarm that I note the financial plight currently being experienced by New Ark, an organisation close to my heart – I was their first summer holiday playleader back in 1976.

New Ark Play Association, situated just behind Hill Close shops and near to Newark Hill Academy, is an adventure playground, city farm and eco centre, the only such place in Peterborough and indeed the only staffed adventure playground now open in the city. Peterborough’s council-run adventure playgrounds closed long ago, victims of financial stringency and the fact that facilities for children (people not old enough to vote) are too often overlooked and are non-statutory.

New Ark was the brainchild of local residents Donne and Elisabeth Buck. Donne was the Children’s Play Officer for the Development Corporation and Elisabeth had wide knowledge and expertise in the field of child development. Not only did they set up and run New Ark, they oversaw its growth until recently. In 2009 Elisabeth was awarded an MBE for services to children and families. Both still live locally and have been visionary in their thinking and formidable in their resolve to get things done.

However, the problem nowadays that we live in times of a national curriculum, health & safety guidelines and an over-emphasis on pragmatism. Flair, imagination and risk-taking are thought of as ‘woke’ (dreadful word). Yet these are the very qualities that we should be encouraging and which eventually lead to creativity and innovation. I often ask people – how does someone become a pole vaulter? Are you just given a long pole and told jump over that high bar? I think not. I’m led to believe that the first thing that a budding pole vaulter is encouraged to do is to fall properly. Once that has been mastered, the vaulter is then taught the techniques of jumping higher, safe in the knowledge that falling and making mistakes is both safe and acceptable.

New Ark encourages children to try out, experiment and learn wider than a purely school setting, in a safe and secure environment. New Ark provides activities that are central to healthy child development not, as some might think, additional inessential luxuries. To quote their own website, “We believe in the child’s right to play. Play is the child’s natural way of learning about the world, themselves and other people. Children need play opportunities that encourage exploration, adventure and enterprise. Having enough time and space for play increases children’s health and happiness. Play makes life more interesting and fun!” New Ark is a valuable local asset and supports a wide variety of young people, from preschool through school age and even older. I know that they have also supported and worked with young people who are, for a variety of reasons, out of full-time education. Should New Ark be forced to close, it would be a tragedy.

New Ark has been an independent organisation since it was set up. It is not local authority-run and relies on donations, volunteers and fund-raising. It also seeks grants and contracts from outside bodies, such as the Council. It fits entirely with the government’s philosophy of local people responding to local demand, using initiative and harnessing business expertise. It has provided services for children that have complemented what the Council has been able to offer. Sadly the Council is, as we know, strapped for cash and is unable to utilise what New Ark has to offer. Currently there are various fundraising initiatives. Laudable though these might be, it is indicative of our times that cash to keep the organisation afloat has to come from people jumping out of planes as opposed to that funding being an integral part of society’s automatic and instinctive offer to our young people. Perhaps a not-so-secret millionaire will be forthcoming.

Over the years Donne and Elisabeth Buck and the staff and volunteers at New Ark have steadfastly refused to succumb to the curse of pessimism. They are all forthright, caring and imaginative, precisely the qualities that we should be celebrating and promoting in 21st century Britain. We cannot allow their hard work and diligence to go unrewarded. Let us hope that ways are found to help New Ark to succeed well into the future. New Ark is one of those organisations that should make us proud of Peterborough. A city without New Ark is not only undesirable, it is unthinkable.

Ed. They need help in all areas to keep them going, please visit their support us page to find out more. Images thanks to New Ark Play Association.

However, in our desire to move forward and to improve the environment (lots of debate to be had there!), we must not overlook or take for granted the treasures that we already have. For example, it would be unthinkable for the West Front of the Cathedral to be allowed to deteriorate. But upkeep of our historic buildings costs money – maintaining buildings and our surroundings is a costly business. Similarly we have many other churches, nationally and locally, which are of historic importance yet which require increasing amounts of care, attention and of course cash.

The Society is alarmed (read Heritage at Risk by Henry Mansell Duckett) by the recent appearance on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register of a number of parish churches of medieval origin within Peterborough’s Unitary Authority area: Etton, Northborough, Peakirk, Maxey and Woodston (St Augustine - weirdly still in Ely Diocese!), together with the early C20th St Peter and All Souls RC Church, Park Rd and thus covered by a separate regulatory framework (Planning issues aside). The physical problems of this group are many and various, ranging from major structural failure, through struggles to keep up with general maintenance to the deleterious effects of vandalism, lead theft, etc.

Churches are by no means the only ‘Heritage Assets’ in trouble. Several of these in the City centre have been a worry for some time. Laurel Court (in the Cathedral Cloister, but of course covered by ‘secular’ legislation) has long been on the Register. A clutch of others, mostly listed (or they should be), such as the Cumbergate almshouses, 8 Cathedral Square, the Sessions House in Thorpe Rd. and D’Arcy’s shopfront in Westgate (arguably the only shopfront of any real distinction in the centre), could well be amenable to appropriate intervention by the City Council, including, when appropriate, a preparedness to challenge some of the more recalcitrant building owners (perhaps with Repairs Notices and the like). But to be effective this would require some adjustment of ‘vision’ at both a political and senior officer level. Browse our Peterborough Plaques pages for other notable buildings.

A major anxiety now beginning to loom large, not least for the Civic Society, concerns the long-term future of Thorpe Hall. The Hall, and its remarkable walled garden (a walk around is recommended), have been in the possession of the Sue Ryder Hospice now for more than three decades. With its new residential accommodation more recently created within the former kitchen garden, the hospice now really seems only to use the Hall itself for storage and the occasional meeting. Of course this is not an ideal use for this Grade 1 listed building especially one as rare and distinctive as Thorpe Hall.

Clearly this great monument of the Civil War period is quite beyond the Sue Ryder organisation’s ability to maintain adequately or to provide with a beneficial use commensurate with its national importance. Though not yet on the ‘At Risk Register’ the building is clearly beginning on a slippery downward slope;

It cannot be acceptable that Sue Ryder, a charity whose essential raison d’etre is to provide an invaluable service to the community not that of maintaining a problematic major historic building, should find itself saddled with this burden alone. A solution is probably some considerable way off, but the Civic Society is independently beginning some tentative exploration of ideas.

So, should you find yourself being canvassed by aspiring candidates in the upcoming local elections, it would not be unreasonable to ask them a few pertinent questions. Do they have a view about the evolving character of the city centre? And how do they think the Council, and perhaps connected agencies, can best support recovering some real sense of place for the future. These are important questions that deserve serious consideration. But do we have candidates who are determined to fight for the city to become memorable and worthy of being a distinctive visitor destination or are they happy to let the city drift towards being bland and nondescript?

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Our top ten issues we feel the city needs to address

This article was first published in the 19 May 2022 edition of the Peterborough Telegraph. It was written by committee member Toby Wood.

Ed. Our prize asset, yet its imposing vast presence that once was visible from various approaches to Peterborough, have either gone or rapidly disappearing with developments and uncontrolled tree growth blocking the view (photo circa 2014/2015). The gaps in the tree belts along Longthorpe Parkway, deliberately left to retain the views of the cathedral, have long since gone due to far off tree growth (see drawing right for impression of the view in 1992 by Kem Mehmed for his Landmarks, Vistas and Views).

In last week’s PT I read with interest the ‘Ten best read on the web’. This was a list of those articles which were of most interest to those accessing the paper online. It made fascinating reading. Dear old Posh figured twice, with articles at numbers 2 and 9 in the hit parade. Peterborough City Council election results featured in another two stories, at numbers 3 and 7. But, wait for it, the most read feature was … drum roll … ‘Sunday roast near me: 10 of the best places in Peterborough for Sunday dinner as chosen by readers’.

Now I love a Sunday roast and clearly so do the people of Peterborough. But this is rather a statistical indictment of the fact that our citizens may be more interested in a decent meal out rather than goings-on at London Road or machinations and intrigue within the City Council. Another statistical indicator of the state of play in the city is that, in the recent city council elections, there was a turnout of 30%, indicating that 70% of those eligible to vote chose not to exercise their democratic right.

Those of us who did bother to vote will have cast our votes depending on our point of view or priorities. But perhaps therein lies part of the apathy problem, there can be a micro and macro way of looking at political issues and national and local matters can easily become conflated. On the one hand I may want the pothole outside my house fixed whilst simultaneously wanting the cost of living crisis sorted. It is also true that the Partygate/Beergate palaver may have also have contributed to a general malaise or a feeling of ‘a plague on all their houses’. You only have to look on social media to see the blue team having a pop at the red team and vice-versa, without any acknowledgement of their own team’s shortcomings.

Peterborough Civic Society is strictly non-political despite some of our esteemed political leaders suggesting otherwise. We want the best for our city (whatever that looks like) and will query, support or criticise decisions made whatever party is in charge.

However what we do want are sustainable, well-thought-out plans with a clear purpose and direction. Last week’s front-page story about the decision to save £50,000 by not planting up the city’s flowerbeds and hanging baskets was a case in point. This decision seemed to come out of the blue (both metaphorically and politically) despite Cllr Steve Allen subsequently tweeting that “the Council is looking at different ways of doing things” and that “the story was politically driven”. Cllr Allen accused PT reporter Adam Barker of it being “a no story” despite the fact that both the BBC and ITV ran features on the subject.

Too often decisions appear to be made in a piecemeal and reactive fashion. We are perfectly aware that money is tight and the government is dictating to the Council what it can and cannot spend. We have been told that the Council can only afford to fund those things that are statutory. Using that logic it can reasonably be assumed that Christmas is not statutory. If that is the case perhaps we should be talking now about how any civic tree or decorations can be funded. We don’t want to wait until the end of November before it is announced that civic Christmas has been cancelled. Ed. So we have lost our lovely flowerbeds for now while the council looks at "different ways of doing things". I am sure the flowerbeds raised spirits and gave joy for many, being a real delight to see and food for the bees and various insects and wildlife. However I have noticed that temporary arrangements often become quietly permanent, let's hope this is not the case.

Ed. Recent demolition work (above) at Northminster have revealed previously hidden views of the Cathedral. Take advantage of these views before development work again hides the cathedral.

Peterborough Civic Society prides itself on its ‘seeking the best for a fine city’ moniker and we, along with many Peterborians, tend to judge our immediate surroundings by the way they look. We shall continue to ask questions of whichever party is in control at the town hall. So, in the spirit of top ten lists, here is our own current list of areas of concern:

• 1.  The Embankment – will the area be developed sensitively and to the benefit of all?
• 2.  ARU Peterborough – our new university will surely be of great benefit to the city
• 3.  North Westgate – when will this blighted area see improvement?
• 4.  Northminster – concerns still exist about the size of this development
• 5.  Cathedral Views – will any new developments sensitively avoid blocking Cathedral views?
• 6.  Climate change – how can the city prepare itself for the future?
• 7.  City centre traffic, cycling and pedestrian management – how can the city centre be made safe and attractive?
• 8.  Smart street scene avoiding clutter – how can we, and other organisations, assist the Council to promote the city to both residents and visitors?
• 9.  Fly-tipping – how can we encourage greater pride in our environment?

Readers may spot that I have only listed nine out of ten priority areas. Can you provide the tenth? What is your priority for the city? Why not write to, or email, the PT letters page with your own suggestion or contact me? Go on, I dare you!

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This is particularly relevant in Peterborough, a veritable minestrone of a city into which so many different people have migrated over the years – my own grandparents came from Yorkshire to work on the railways and from Birmingham to work at Perkins Engines. Other incomers moved to the city from the Fens to work in our engineering industries, Poles came here during WWII (see RAF Peterborough plaque) and Italians moved here after the war to work in the brick yards (see London Brick Company plaque). Afro-Caribbeans, Pakistanis from Mirpur, Indians, South Asians, Portuguese, eastern Europeans and of course refugees from Vietnam, Uganda and, most recently Ukraine, have all moved here and contribute to our ever-changing city. And that’s not counting those from London, Glasgow, Belfast and other places within the UK who moved here when the Development Corporation expanded the city in the 1970s and 1980s (read Kem Mehmed's piece about, and the work of, the Peterborough Development Corporation). Peterborough has changed, grown and developed far more than most places in the UK. So it could be argued that we need to encourage pride of place more than other, more established and settled communities.

Over the past few weeks, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee has made us all think about who we are, what we believe and how best we can contribute to the city (if at all!). Some people wholeheartedly threw themselves into celebrations by hosting street parties, adorning their houses with bunting, eating marmalade sandwiches and generally having a good time. Others may have been more reticent and some will have chosen to ignore or even avoid the whole shemozzle. The Jubilee has often divided opinion but one thing surely binds us all together – the wish to make the city a ‘better place’. Our local political leaders, whether that be Cllrs Wayne Fitzgerald, Shaz Nawaz, Nick Sandford, Nicola Day or any of the others, would all claim to be wanting the best for the city. It’s just priorities, approaches, methods and ways of looking at things that are different.

Peterborough Civic Society has decided to do its bit in 2022 and has commissioned something that will hopefully be a lasting reminder not only of the Jubilee but also 2022 itself. We have commissioned Terry Harris, a local photographer with a national reputation, to film the city centre from the air with his state-of-the-art drones. He has obliged and has produced five short films, above the Cathedral (above and below are some stills from the film) and then routes to the north, south, east and west of the city centre. Terry has painstakingly put all these together into a longer version.

As part of Civic Day we are holding the ‘world premiere’ of these drone films this Saturday on Cathedral Square. Chris Pallister of Service-AV has let us hire his LED truck and this will be on the Square from 9.00am to 4.30pm. Come along and have a look for yourself! Civic Society members will be there so why not stop by, have a chat and tell us what your priorities are for Peterborough. After Saturday we intend to make the films available on our website using the facility of YouTube, so our membership and people from all over the world can see what our city looks like from the air in 2022. Hopefully, over the next few months and years, the videos will be used to monitor changes in our city.

In fifty years’ time, in 2072, Peterborough will have continued to grow and develop. Perhaps the Embankment will be used for Nenebury, the successor to Glastonbury. Brexit may still be in the process of ‘being done’ and Posh will undoubtedly be in the Premier League, finishing just above Manchester United thus gaining a place in European competitions. Global warming may have taken hold and, together with the exorbitant cost of foreign travel, families will enjoy holidays on the Costa del Turves. I sincerely trust that YouTube (or its successor) will still exist so that people can visit the ‘Above Peterborough 2022’ page and see what our dear old city was like in ’the old days’.

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"Proud to be Posh" exhibition

This article was first published in the 21 July 2022 edition of the Peterborough Telegraph. It was written by committee member Toby Wood.

A great deal has been written about national party politics over the past few weeks and months and the last thing that readers would expect the Civic Society to do would be to express a particular view or take a stance. However, the Society is very much involved in taking an interest in what could be described as ‘civic politics’. Our aims are quite simple, we want Peterborough to be a top-class place to live in and to visit. Of course, there may be differing views as to what that might look like and how it can be achieved. The economic climate is euphemistically referred to as ‘challenging’, particularly when our Council is in such dire straits and is currently unable to do anything other than carry out statutory functions. It is sometimes hard to be positive and optimistic. Being realistic is often construed as being negative. Readers must judge for themselves.

One of the ministries of government is the wide-ranging department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. On the surface it would appear difficult to combine those four seemingly distinct areas but here in Peterborough we achieved something possibly unique with an exhibition in Peterborough Museum in Priestgate that has a damn good try to encompass all four. I am referring to the ‘Proud To Be Posh’ exhibition that has been put together by Sheena Carman, the Gallery Curator/Arts Development and Community Engagement Manager at the Museum, along with staff from Peterborough United.

The Sport element is obvious and the exhibition is a must for keen Poshies who will rejoice in the images of Ken Charlery, Norman Rigby and Jonson Clarke-Harris and others, the prototype for the statue of Chris Turner or the huge wall painting of Tommy Robson, the flying winger who, on the day of his testimonial match was unable to give a speech of thanks to fans from the stand until he had enjoyed a cigarette. Those were the days!

Digital and Media are there as well, the exhibition showcasing words, photos, pictures, sculptures, newspapers, moving images as well as a magnificent collection of shirts, tickets, scarves, mugs and other memorabilia.But it’s the Culture element that interests me most. Culture is not just something that is destined to remain in the possession of the few, the privileged, some sort of elite – our own personal culture is as unique to us as our DNA, And of course our culture may be dictated by upbringing, experiences, preferences and aspirations. I know people who look down at football as some sort of inconsequential activity, undertaken and followed by mindless morons. On the other hand there are plenty of football supporters who feel that art, drama and music are ‘not for them’.

This exhibition is a superb example of how many in this city work in a variety of ways to celebrate the city and its talents. It’s lively, interesting and informative. But most of all it showcases Peterborough people doing what Peterborough people do best – Up the Posh!

The exhibition is on until 4 September, is free and is worth visiting for the photographs alone. Resident Posh photographer Joe Dent has provided many images and, in my humble opinion, Joe is not only able to capture a sporting moment but is also able to set those sporting images within the community. His photos of supporters are just as powerful and relevant as those of players. Joe is the Chris Porsz of the football world!

Peterborough Museum is constantly under threat due to modest levels of funding and the inability to generate Towns Fund cash without the necessary local authority matched funding. One way for the Peterborough public to demonstrate our Museum’s value to the community is by visiting. So come on folks, make a pledge. Let’s see if everyone who visits the city centre can go to the Museum, even for a few minutes. Amongst the art, archaeology, Jurassic, Ice Age, Norman Cross, Wildlife galleries and football exhibits, you are guaranteed to find something to enjoy. If you are disappointed I will personally give you your money back. Incidentally, everything is free! Oh, and there’s a half decent coffee shop as well!

Meanwhile, back at Posh, the new home football kit was unveiled a week or so ago with a delightful one-minute ‘Our Home’ video featuring the new blue shirt worn by the likes of Barry Fry, Grant McCann and family, Rev Richard Longfoot, Jonson Clarke-Harris and his hairdresser, Talk Sport’s Adrian Durham, Aaron McLean, Craig Mackail-Smith, women of all ages, musicians, a wide variety of ages and ethnicities that truly represent our support base and a few dogs. Well done the team behind the video – Lewis Hargeaves, Joe Dent, Jake Baxter, Tyisha Lannon, Paolo Iantosca, Callum Stocking. Eat your heart out Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst. Peterborough has its own culture! Appreciate it! Enjoy it! Support it!

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A couple of weeks ago I visited two local statues. I hadn’t set out to deliberately visit or link the two, it was quite accidental. Nevertheless they rather neatly sit at either end of the Peterborough cultural spectrum that I wrote about last month, poetry at one end and football at the other.

The first statue I visited was that of John Clare at the Clare Cottage in Helpston. I was there, along with my friend Peter Lee, giving a presentation on Clare to members of the Civic Society. John Clare (1793-1864) is one of the country’s finest poets and, before you see the word ‘poet’ and want to move on, he is nationally and internationally known. His poems are simple, straightforward and accessible and mainly deal with nature, the countryside and the simple feelings of love, longing, desire and loss that we all experience at one time or another.

Ed. To download the presentation given by Toby and Peter, and see more photos from our visit to John Clare Cottage follow the link.

The second statue that I visited was that of Chris Turner (1951-2015) who was player, captain, manager, chairman and owner of Peterborough United from the 1970s through to the 1990s. Chris is revered by Posh supporters for his no-nonsense approach to the game as well as his leadership skills. The statue stands proudly outside the London Road ground and is a reminder to all those who visit the ground of the passion, loyalty and sense of belonging that football generates.

There are some surprising links between Clare and Turner. Their statues are both situated at places that are places of pilgrimage for their admirers. Yet these places are only open for a short period each week. Clare Cottage is open on Mondays and Thursdays and the London Road stadium is generally open when a Peterborough United team is playing at home. Both venues can be opened when there are special events, meetings, performances or concerts.

John Clare	Chris Turner

Both Clare and Turner, although much appreciated in their lifetimes, have gained considerable respect and admiration since their deaths and serve to remind us of the best aspects of being English. On a lighter note, in later life Clare was incarcerated Northampton General Lunatic Asylum. Turner, having been a Posh player, manager and owner would have also noted fans’ antipathy towards Northampton!

The epithet on Clare’s grave in Helpston churchyard reads, ‘A poet is born not made’. Perhaps a similar moniker applies to Turner, ‘A great footballer is born not made’. One final thought. Perhaps Peterborough people, as well as visitors to our city, would be far more curious about both John Clare and Chris Turner had their statues been placed on Cathedral Square. Now there’s a thought!

Cathedral Square fountains

Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head

So wrote the Lovin’ Spoonful’s John Sebastian 56 years ago, in 1966. I’m not sure if he was writing about Cathedral Square but he could have been. I have to confess that the recent 40 degrees was a little too much for me and, on a more serious note, there surely have to be serious concerns about summers and the change in climate in the future. We have been warned!

Much has been written about the malfunctioning of the fountains on Cathedral Square and Cllr Steve Allen, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communication, Culture and Communities, has been quoted as saying that he main reason for them not working has been down to a “computer fault with the control equipment”. He has also stated that, “we are prioritising certain things, adult social care, children’s care … getting bins collected”. Whatever the reasons, Cathedral Square is a metaphor for Peterborough itself – an imposing space, bounded by impressive historic buildings – the Cathedral and Guildhall. People sit around on benches surrounding the space patiently waiting for something to happen, perhaps a performance or even the reinstallation of flower beds or hanging baskets. They have heard rumours of something stirring underneath. This may even be the much-vaunted fountains although these may in fact be the stuff of legend. To quote John Clare,

“So I try to seek pleasure
But vainly I try;
Now joy’s cup is drained
And hope’s fountain is dry.”

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Our nine-year-old grandson, nicknamed TobyTwo for obvious reasons, started in Year 5 last week. His mum sent us a photograph of him proudly standing in the hallway, ready and waiting to get to school on the first day of a new school year. Naturally he was wearing brand new school clothes! Nine-year-olds you can be thrilled by the thought of new clothes, a new school year and all the new learning opportunities that brings and Toby is no different.
Ed. No photo of TobyTwo but I did ask for one of Toby Prima at that age....lol!

Ever since the days of the Development Corporation Peterborough has had the smell of newness about it. There continue to be many changes and those returning to the city will find some parts unrecognisable. Our new university is a case in point. The Civic Society is delighted that ARU Peterborough has just opened. This new university, long in the planning, is taking in its first students and those who have had a sneak preview of the facilities are impressed by what they see. The university’s location, in the middle of the city and adjacent to the Embankment, is testament to its importance in the city’s thinking, that educating its population is vital for continued growth and success.

Fletton Quays, with its new housing, offices and hotel, is also a welcome addition to the city. In my opinion the new development looks modern and fresh and blends in well with some of the old industrial buildings. Work still needs to be dome to develop a thriving, vibrant community feel to the area and in my view the next phase is to make the whole Embankment area, both north and south of the river, a place where ALL Peterborians can relax and enjoy clean, new surroundings.

There are a number of initiatives and plans for the city, many of which that are new, for which the phrase ‘the jury’s out’ is pertinent. For example, the long-awaited relocation of the market to Bridge Street has just happened but, at the time of writing, only fruit and veg man Steve Wetherill has started trading. We shall have to wait to see if other traders soon join him. Incidentally, Peterborough still has no visitor information centre from which tourists and locals alike can collect up-to-date leaflets about what is happening in the city. Perhaps one of the Bridge Street market units could be adapted for the purpose. Just a thought, Cllr Allen!

Peterborough continues to plan for new things to happen. The Towns Fund promises much and plans are well advanced for much-needed regeneration. In particular an application for £48m has been put together by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, along with Peterborough City Council, which would see the Station Quarter and surrounding area benefit significantly. This is an initial bid and much work needs to be done to prepare the business case and attract further funding. Other aspects of the Towns Fund bid have not been taken forward so, for example, it looks as though the Museum will not be having any new extension. Nevertheless let’s hope that nearly all of these new proposals achieve fruition.

And talking of new, last month I wrote of the John Clare and Chris Turner statues. Well there’s hopefully another new statue in the making. Two weeks ago saw the launch of the Tommy Robson Statue Appeal (TR11), a second statue to keep Chris Turner company at Posh’s London Road ground. Tommy was Posh’s record appearance holder (559) and went on to be an ambassador at the club. Visit www.thetommyrobsonstatue.co.uk for further details on how to contribute.

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I was brought up, and still live, in Dogsthorpe, an estate dating from 1946 that is proud of its wide verges and green spaces. Dogsthorpe is also proud to display its wide variety of trees, many of which still exist. When the estate was planned and built many of the streets were given names of trees – Acacia, Almond, Ash, Beechwood, Birchtree, Cedar, Cerris, Cherrytree, Chestnut, Figtree, Hawthorne, Larch, Lilac, Maple, Myrtle, Oakleaf, Olive, Pinetree, Poplar, Rowan, Sycamore and Willow. I may have missed some! Trees have played an important part in Peterborough’s recent history.

In the past the Development Corporation planted many thousands of trees along the parkways and there are now established attractive green corridors for much of the year and they are currently producing the annual glorious show of autumn colours.

Street trees have a long history in Peterborough. Many were planted early in the 20th century and they contribute significantly to the green feel of many Peterborough streets and areas. It is important that older street trees are replaced when they need to be removed because of old age or disease.

The Queen’s Green Canopy Project is a tree planting initiative created to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee earlier this year. According to the City Council website, “the Queen's Green Canopy will create a network of individual trees, avenues, copses and whole woodlands in honour of The Queen's service and the legacy she has built. This will create a green legacy of its own, with every tree planted bringing benefits for people, wildlife and climate, now and for the future. Following the death of Her Majesty, it has been announced that the initiative is to be extended to the end of March 2023 to give people the opportunity to plant trees in memoriam to honour Her Majesty.

In one of his recent PT articles the leader of Peterborough City Council, Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald, stated that “the council is fully committed to reduce carbon emissions across Peterborough but it’s a big task and we need everyone to play a part”. He went on to ask us all to recommend sites for tree planting this winter. The City Council expresses its commitment to reducing carbon emissions across Peterborough. Setting itself the (to put it mildly) ‘ambitious target....a big task’ of ensuring Peterborough becomes carbon neutral by 2030 at the same time as trying to develop ‘the right services’... ‘and long-term growth’ through two new plans: ‘The Sustainable Future City Council Strategy, 2022-2025’ and ‘City Priorities’, both apparently already endorsed by Cabinet. The Council seems set to launch yet another consultation (a ‘widespread public engagement programme to help develop the plans needed to decarbonise the City’) which, when finished, will be used to develop a city-wide climate change action plan.

More information on the call for proposals for sites for tree planting this winter can be found on the Peterborough City Council website under the heading ‘Recommendations are needed for Winter 2022/23 tree planting sites’. In addition readers are reminded that trees with a TPO (Tree Preservation Order) or those in a conservation area are protected and residents need permission to prune. As the PCC website states, “Protected trees include those covered by a tree preservation order (TPO) or those which grow in a conservation area. You will need consent from the Council even if you wish to prune branches overhanging from a neighbour's protected tree.”

There is also a proposed new policy on management of trees in the City, also see the Council website. We can all play our part by watering young trees. As the PCC website states, "Key to successful establishment is to ensure newly planted trees receive regular watering, especially during prolonged dry spells. However, even with a watering programme in place we may struggle at times to keep up with the demands of the young trees. This is where we would welcome any help from interested residents and would actively encourage people to assist with some watering where they can."

Much has been written recently about something rather abstract called ‘The Anti-Growth Alliance’ a group created by our new prime minister to encompass those who she perceives not to agree with her. In the context of further greening Peterborough, it will be interesting to see how any new ‘Growth’ policies or other initiatives such as the possible bid for a new Investment Zone fit into any future thinking as the city ‘adapts to meet the new challenges’. Reconciling such with the challenging climate change action plan will be interesting. We may be sure that the in itself wholly laudable ambition of extensive tree planting will loom large in the climate change action plan.

The Civic Society is increasingly becoming aware of green issues and how we must all play our part to ensure that our city remains green and attractive. Currently there may be many financial stresses and strains but surely we owe it to future generations of Peterborians to provide them with a local version of a ‘green and pleasant land’. So, dear reader, please take time to look at the Peterborough City Council website covering conservation of trees and hedges and tree and hedge management (follow links) and offer your opinions.

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I was born at Thorpe Hall, was educated in Peterborough and spent my entire working life in schools and education in Peterborough. When we retired, my wife and I had a discussion and decided to stay, to show faith in Peterborough, to contribute to the city and to enjoy city life. Peterborough is easy to get round, has a variety of attractions, has plenty of countryside nearby and is only just over an hour away from sunny Hunny! What could be better? We love walking in and around the city, enjoying a coffee or beer in the centre, supporting dear old Posh, meeting friends, being involved in various groups, and of course, in my case, volunteering with the Civic Society.

When it comes to living in Peterborough I have a simple mantra – I want to open my front door in the morning and see that the world has improved or, at the very least, not got any worse.

Our city, along with any other town, city or village, can be judged by the quality of its cultural life. Civic life isn’t all about keeping streets clean and emptying bins, vital (and indeed statutory) though they are. It’s about celebrating our history, sense of place, diversity and individual and collective imagination. It’s about promoting the good and planning for a bright future.

To this end it has been widely publicised that there is to be a new Culture hub called The Vine, located in the old Woolworths/TK Maxx building in Bridge Street. This certainly sounds exciting. According to the Towns Fund website The Vine “will be a thriving hub, blending space for artists’ studios, galleries and exhibitions with a library and community café”. Sounds great!

One of our most recently successful assets has been the Museum in Priestgate. Whenever I visit I find the place bright, welcoming and well used. The recent ‘Proud to be Posh’ exhibition was brilliant and brought people into the Museum who hitherto had never been. Apparently 2023 will see an exhibition about Peterborough and its railways. I’m sure this will prove very popular with old and new Peterborians as well as railway buffs. Well done to all concerned. The Museum is one of our organisations that goes from strength to strength. I’m sure that, despite all the current financial pressures, its future is assured.

Last Monday the speaker at the Civic Society’s monthly meeting was Matt Gladstone, the City Council’s chief executive. Mr Gladstone was very upfront about the Council’s financial woes but was also most reassuring about not selling off assets. Not only did he speak positively about the future of the Museum but he also assured us about the Central Library in Broadway – certainly good news for that part of town. What struck me most was that everyone in the room - Matt Gladstone, Adrian Chapman and those who asked questions from the floor – all have a shared love of Peterborough. We all know the destination, it’s just the potential routes that differ.

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David Well, here we are – right at the end of 2022, so much has happened, not just in the country but in our city as well.

Toby That’s true. My beloved Peterborough United were demoted from the championship to League One – I suppose that was the most important thing that happened this year.

David That wasn’t actually what I was thinking of, There are been a number of things, both large are small, that have happened in our city this year. Let’s start with some of the small things, those things that people can actually see, those things that have started to make an improvement.

Toby Give me some examples,

David Well that’s the relocation of the market for one. Although that wasn’t a popular move, it has to be said the addition of the market stalls in Bridge Street are certainly improve the look and feel of one of our city’s main thoroughfares. The new market stalls, although they’ve got a rather temporary look, seem reasonably fit for purpose. And let’s not forget that the fish and meat market has been relocated into a couple of the shop units in Bridge Street. Surely that is a good move?

Toby Let’s hope that more Peterborians actually use this new facility. The proof of the pudding is in the eating so to speak. It’s a matter of ‘use it or lose it’!

David I notice that D’Arcys in Westgate, one of the city’s oldest shops, closed down earlier in the year. Thankfully it seems to have reopened as a café. It certainly has a marvellous old frontage. Thank goodness that’s been kept.

Toby Yes, earlier this year David D’Arcy, the last owner of the famous Peterborough jewellers, give a history of the shop and his family. He told us that records show that the building itself dates from 1791. It’s had quite an interesting history. In 1844 the shop was purchased by Dr William Gaches for £300. Then, in 1855, it was bought by William Sawyers and soon afterwards James D’Arcy, David’s great-great grandfather first leased then bought the shop. Apparently the jeweller’s business passed down through the family, including John (known as Jack) D’Arcy who married Lena Zimmerman in 1923. They had two children, Michael (David’s father) and Ray. The successful business expanded and a branch in Whittlesey was opened in 1949.

David It’s amazing that the business stayed in family hands for so long. I suppose that’s why we know so much about it.

Toby You can still see the lovely original shop front as well as the iconic clock that stands on the wall above the shop window. It’s a Longine clock and was installed in 1960. In the 1980s the family won a legal battle with the Development Corporation, preventing compulsory purchase of the shop.

David How fascinating. So how come the shop is no longer in existence?

Toby In 2001 Michael D’Arcy died and gradually, mainly due to the change of shopping habits, the business became unviable. In 2016 the business was closed and the property sold, sadly seven years short of its centenary.

David How sad. D’Arcys shop was unique in Peterborough and its passing certainly marks the end of an era in city centre locally-owned shops. Thanks to the new owners for retaining the impressive frontage now that the shop itself has reopened as a café. Let’s wish the new business the best of luck!

Toby Of course we are living through the most difficult economic time. There really isn’t much expansion happening in the city at the moment.

David Well you say that but just look at he area around the river Nene bridge. We have the new government offices and of course that large new Hilton Garden hotel that towers over the bridge. Apparently that’s going to have a rooftop bar with superb views over the city.

Toby An ideal opportunity for photographers to look out over the city.

David I thought you might say that! Anyway it’s a great opportunity for the city to look at that whole Embankment area.

Toby You’re right. There’s such a lot that could happen there. It’s a much-underused resource. I was down there just the other day and, apart from loads of geese and the occasional dog walker, there wasn’t anyone down there. Now that Fletton Quays has been built there are surely hundreds of new city centre residents just waiting for improved city centre facilities. Those people living in te new flats and apartments would surely benefit from a range of new leisure facilities.

David That’s right. Just think of how lively and vibrant the Embankment area could be if there was a proper new walkway complete with cafes, restaurants and other smaller outlets.

Toby Not only that – Peterborough people would be more likely to visit, have a walk and soak up the atmosphere next to the river.

David And let’s not forget the new ARU Peterborough university. Just think how attractive that whole riverside area could be for the students and visitors alike.

Toby So developing the Embankment and riverside area is a ‘no brainer’?

David Exactly that. We in Peterborough Civic Society have been saying for years that the area is ripe for smartening up. All it would take is political will, a few ideas, people with the courage of their convictions and, of course, some money!

Of course the proposed improvements as a result of the Towns Fund could make some difference as well. Funding has already been approved for the new pedestrian/cycle bridge over the river Nene. It looks as if that will be built fairly close to the Key Theatre and will link the existing north side of the river to the new Fletton Quays development. Hopefully that will make the area seem more of a whole.

Toby I’m really surprised that Peterborough people don’t use parts of Fletton Quays already. When there’s a Peterborough United home match my wife and I park in the new multi-storey car park at Fletton Quays. It’s new, bright, clean, close to the London Road ground yet hardly used. We park there, walk to the nearly Bewiched café for a coffee and cake then go to watch Posh win yet again! I’m really surprised that more home supporters haven’t discovered it.

David Perhaps they will now that you’ve told them in The Moment magazine! And talking of football that brings us to the discussion around the proposal to relocate the football stadium to the Embankment.

Toby The Civic Society has thought about this long and hard and, after much consideration, has decided that a new stadium on the Embankments is just not appropriate.

David That’s right. There are a number of reasons for this. First, there’s just not enough space. A new stadium would be far too close to the ARU Peterborough and the two are not compatible. Secondly there’s not adequate access to the site. Just imagine people trying to get to, and park at, that part of the Embankment. Thirdly the stadium would dominate the city centre skyline and seriously affect Cathedral views. And this doesn’t take into account the business arguments. Can the city really sustain a football club that only attracts an average attendance of well under 10,000? We know that the club’s current owners have plans for the stadium facility to be used for up to 200 days a year as and entertainment venue but we’re not convinced of the feasibility of this.

Toby There are many supporters that feel that the way forward for the club could be to redevelop the current ground and to improves facilities by building and developing the existing area between the London Road end and London Road itself. There is actually little wrong with the club’s current location. Posh are in League One and until such time that support improves significantly there really isn’t a pressing need to move.

David Of course in time there may be opportunities for the Club to move to a more out-of-city location, Middleholme has been mentioned in the past, that’s the area to the east of the Frank Perkins Parkway but it may well be used for housing instead. We mustn’t forget that there is an Embankment Masterplan that is a framework for possible future growth and development. The problem is that there’s no money!

Toby That’s true but there are other elements of the Towns Fund that may well happen. The Towns Fund is a Government funded scheme for economic regeneration of towns through investment in urban regeneration, land use planning and infrastructure, skills and enterprise and connectivity.

David Sounds a bit of a mouthful!

Toby Certainly does but basically it means that local authorities can bid for government funds as long as they are able to a) justify any suggested projects and b) attract additional funding from other sources. In short, just because a local authority suggests something that doesn’t mean it will actually happen.

David As far as I am aware £1.5m has been agreed for the new climbing wall/Activity Centre at Ferry Meadows. This should attract people from all over the region, not just Peterborough.

Toby And another of the projects that been approved is the pedestrian/cycle bridge over the Nene that we’ve already mentioned.

David There are still quite a few Towns Fund projects that have either not been allocated funds or have been shelved for the moment. There was supposed to be an extension to Peterborough Museum to house some of the city’s valuable Bronze Age assets but that is currently unlikely to go ahead. There is also a major plan to transform the old Woolworths/TK Maxx building in Bridge Street into a new library, culture and community hub. However this project is described as “ongoing” and the Council is submitting a business case to the Government in January 2023 to secure funding. In short it may not happen.

However one of the Towns Fund elements that is going to happen is the Lincoln Road upgrade. This element will focus on the Millfield area of Lincoln Road, between Searjeant Street and Windmill Street. £2.5m has been allocated for this project although in truth you don’t get a lot for the money so the public won’t see huge changes, just a few changes and alterations.

One of the largest elements of the Towns Fund Bids is the Station Quarter. In the online Ask The Leader session back in October I asked Cllr Fitzgerald all about this and he told me that the £1.5m monies from the Towns Fund Bid re for improving links from the station to the city centre. The larger Levelling Up Fund Bid of £48m which was recently signed off by Paul Bristow as Peterborough MP is for the redevelopment of the station quarter itself. So if we manage to get those finds for the city expect lots of work to improve the station capacity and access - it could be a great scheme for the city.

Toby So things are happening in Peterborough, even though there is very little money and the immediate future economic prospects don’t look too rosy.

David Despite everything we must stay positive for our city – we both know that we want the best for our city and we’ve got to work together to make sure the new proposals are the best we can achieve.

Toby Agreed. We’ve talked about the city’s economic situation before – and no doubt we’ll do so again! So what else is on your mind, David?

David Well I have to say that there are some significant improvements in the city centre, particularly in the southern part. I’ve already mentioned the new Bridge Street market stalls but the café culture is certainly improving and seeing the street more vibrant again with “pop-up” stalls is fantastic. The relocated fish and meat market stalls into one of the Bridge Street shop units seems to have worked well.

Toby Yes, there are signs that Peterborough is recovering from the those dreadful Covid-19 pandemic years. I also note that there have been significant attempts to ensure that the city centre is once again an attractive place to wander round. Enforcement officers have had a higher profile recently and the Police have been taking more action on anti-social behaviour and street drinkers. Those efforts need to be maintained over the coming months.

David Let’s hope that the winter is not too severe and that people still have cash to spend in the city centre. And let’s also hope that, when you and I sit down to discuss our dear Peterborough again, there’s much to be cheerful about.

Toby I’ll drink to that. Cheers!  

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On the Peterborough City Council website there’s a useful page where residents can ‘Report problems with a bin’. In April this year I reported that my ‘black bin lid is damaged’. Sexy stuff huh! When you get to my age it’s these little things that become increasingly important. Sad but true! A few weeks later I went back onto the website and noted that apparently my bin had been repaired. No it hadn’t! I complained and reported the broken lid again. At the time of writing nothing has happened.

The Civic Society is in favour of easy ways to report issues, as long as these same issues are resolved, otherwise any reporting systems may merely be seen as box ticking. In the same way the Council launched a 2023/24 budget consultation tool, which runs until 8 January. Residents are being asked what they would do and responses “will inform decisions that councillors make in February on the overall Council budget”. Let’s hope that the good folk who bother to respond have their views taken into consideration and that the whole exercise is not merely a way of demonstrating how difficult it is to be a local politician these days.

So what of the future – 2023 and beyond? In November Matt Gladstone, the City Council’s new chief executive, spoke to Civic Society members at our November public meeting and was impressive in his realism, common sense and pragmatic optimism. He is what the city has needed for a while – an experienced professional coming from outside with fresh eyes. Mr Gladstone was keen to reassure us about the future of some of our existing facilities, Museum and Library to name but two. He was also realistic about the financial position. Perhaps Peterborough is a bed of roses, complete with some rather sharp thorns!

So what would I like to see happening in 2023?

In 2022 our new university had a brilliant start. The building is impressive, its leaders keen and optimistic and it’s lovely to see new students in town wearing their ARU Peterborough lanyards. That part of Peterborough is certainly being looking up and is being sensitively developed. Let’s hope that next year brings definite proposals for ensuring that the area adjacent to the river is closer to becoming the recreational magnet it deserves to be.

As part of any future developments on the Embankment the Civic Society is against a stadium. I remain unconvinced by the idea – a subtle but important difference. The stadium proposal looks doomed to fail, the need is dubious and the club’s ownership appears to be becoming more realistic and indeed lukewarm. The pedestrian bridge over the Nene is almost a certainty and the time is right to plan for a better-used north bank of the river Nene.

Peterborough City Council doesn’t build any houses but housing associations do. Let’s hope that, in 2023, many more affordable homes are built. Much has been written about where and how people live and indeed who should (and do) come here. The fact remains that suitable housing continues to be a key part of a successful city.

Oh, and all I want for 2023 is for my black bin lid to be repaired. And when it is, dear reader, I shall let you know. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Peterborians, whatever your faith and beliefs/non-beliefs! May your streets be clean, your families warm and content and, most importantly, may your black bin lids be fixed!

Update - pleased to say on 20 December Dave and Bev from Peterborough City Council fixed my bin with a new lid, and in return a thank you letter from me to the Council appeared in the Peterborough Telegraph.

Editor's prerogative, with the Embankment mentioned above I could not resist including these lovely photos taken by Toby in 2020, to finish off 2022.

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