Council's appeal to save Peterborough Christmas celebrations
For a second year, a cash-strapped council is calling on businesses to help save Christmas celebrations in a city.Peterborough City Council (PCC) issued an appeal to raise £58,000 for this year's festivities, which included a Christmas tree and decorations in Cathedral Square.The local authority, which faced a predicted budget gap of more than £20m in 2025-26, said the sponsorship appeal was one "of a number of decisions to support the council's budget strategy".It came after the 2024 Christmas celebrations were nearly called off after a £22,000 shortage of funds, before city councillors, organisations and individuals chipped in to save the day.
The authority's councillors also contributed cash from the Community Leadership Fund – a pot of money they could use each year on projects that benefited residents in their ward.Earlier this year, PCC announced several budget-cutting measures, including a rise in council tax by 4.99%, reducing Peterborough Museum's opening times and changes to the Central Park toilets' cleaning schedule in a bid to make £23m of savings.Clair George, head of safer communities at PCC said: " As part of a number of decisions to support the council's budget strategy, we are again offering sponsorship packages and opportunities for Christmas 2025."It costs approximately £58,000 for the Christmas Tree, lights and switch-on event."We were pleased with the response last year, and depending on the number of enquiries we receive, we will stop the appeal as soon as we've been able to confirm all costs will be covered."
Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Powys County Times
Fears Powys planners aren't going out to visit sites
CONCERN over the lack of site visits being conducted by members of Powys County Council's Planning committee ahead of deciding applications, has been flagged up with the Auditor General for Wales. Earlier today, (Friday – June 5) Montgomeryshire's Conservative MS Russell George met with the Auditor General for Wales Adrian Crompton and a team from Audit Wales to work through a list of concerns about the council's planning service. In April, Mr Russell wrote to Mr Crompton raising continued and serious concerns regarding the performance of the planning service. This follows the publication of two reports by Audit Wales on the council's planning service in the last two years. Following today's meeting Mr George MS said: 'The auditor general took on board my concerns and examples provided and will use what I outlined as part of a wider piece of work Audit Wales are undertaking around the governance and leadership of the council.' Mr George explained that they worked through a number of points that formed the basis of the meeting agenda and gave examples of planning issues that he has come across. Mr George said: 'We did spend some time on examples around missing and inaccurate information in reports going to committee. 'I also made the point on the lack of site visits by committee.' Interest in Mr George's concerns around planning in Powys was shown by members of the council's Governance and Audit committee last month. The committee chairwoman and lay-member Lynne Hamilton said that she will be expecting an update on the issue following the meeting. In May 2023 Audit Wales published a damning report into the state of Powys council's planning service and issued a number of recommendations for the council to address. In response, the council set up an internal board to help steer improvements in the service. Last November, Audit Wales issued a follow up report which said that 'overall' they had found that Powys planners had 'responded quickly' to improve its arrangements. Audit Wales said that the planning service has: 'implemented the 2023 recommendations in full.' Mr George believes that the follow-up review did not provide a 'comprehensive examination' of planning.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
World's best beer 2025 named beating Budweiser, Guinness and Heineken
We reveal the full list of most popular beers with drinkers around the world below CHEERS TO THAT! World's best beer 2025 named beating Budweiser, Guinness and Heineken Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE world's best beer for 2025 has been named and it's beaten Budweiser, Heineken and Guinness. Corona, which originates from Mexico, has been crowned punters favourite pint. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Corona is the tipple of choice for punters across the globe Credit: Alamy That is according to data and marketing firm's Kantar's BrandZ 2025 Most Valuable Global Brands report. It comes after the crisp beer, usually served with a lime, recorded double digit sales growth outside of its home market. Its no-alcohol Corona Cero, which became the first beer to sponsor the Olympic Games in Paris last year, also saw a boom in demand. And it is the second year in a row the tipple, owned by drinks giant AB InBev, has come out on top. The light beer, celebrating its 100 year anniversary, trumped Budweiser which came second in the rankings. This was followed by Dutch giant Heineken, Mexican brew Modelo and America's Michelob Ultra, which is a hard find in the UK. Marcel Marcondes, marketing chief at global brewing giant AB InBev, said: "For Corona to be recognised as the most valuable beer brand in the world in the same year the brand is celebrating its 100-year anniversary shows the power of building brands for the long-term." Meanwhile, Kantar CEO Chris Jansen added: "With the right level of investment and strategic focus, brands have huge potential to drive growth for their owners. "Anheuser-Busch InBev is a perfect example of this in action. "Through Corona and their other brands, they have mastered the ability to cut through in the face of changing consumer behaviour." All the beers that have lowered in strength British pub classic Stella Artois came ninth in the ranks, while Guinness was at the bottom of the leader board. It comes after the Irish stout has risen in popularity in recent years. Owner Diageo was forced to ration supplies to pubs in the run-up to Christmas due to increased demand. You can see the 10 global beer brands for 2025 below: Corona Budweiser Heineken Model Michelob Ultra Brahma Bud Light Skol Stella Artois Guinness MORE BEER NEWS Punters are paying more for the price of a pint in both the supermarket and the pub. How to save money buying alcohol Alcohol can be pricey if you're planning a party or hosting an event but there are ways to cut costs. It's always important to drink responsibly, here, Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements share some tips on getting booze for the best price. Stocking up can mean big savings on drinks, especially if you want to buy wine or fizz. The big supermarkets regularly offer discounts of 25% when you buy six or more bottles of wine. The promotions typically run in the lead up to occasions such as Bank Holidays, Christmas and Easter. If you know you are going to need booze later in the year, it can be worth acting when you see offers. Before buying your preferred drink make sure you shop around to find the best price – you can use a comparison site such as or Don't forget that loyalty cards can unlock better savings so make sure you factor that in too. If you like your plonk, wine clubs can also be a good way to save money and try new varieties. You'll usually have to pay a membership fee in return for cheaper price so work out if you will be buying enough to make the one off cost worthwhile. Costs have risen steadily as manufacturers and pubs grapple with higher alcohol taxes, soaring utility bills and increased staffing costs. A new report from the The Morning Advertiser said London now tops the list for the priciest pints, with pub owners charging an average of £6.10. The cost of popular brands in the capital has also climbed, with a pint of Guinness reaching £6.45, Birra Moretti £7.17, and Camden Hells £7.05 since February. And it's not only London feeling the squeeze. The survey revealed that pint prices in the Midlands increased by 5.15% between January and April. You can see how much the cost of a pint has increased in your area here. 3 Guinness was named the 10th most popular beer in the world Credit: Getty
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Stonehouse Market gains support from windfarm operator
The popular monthly event has a host of craft stalls and is marking its first anniversary this month A popular community craft market which is now celebrating its first anniversary has been praised for supporting and showcasing local businesses and drawing crowds of shoppers to a South Lanarkshire village. Stonehouse Market, which takes place in the community graden on King Street and was first held in June 2024, is led by the area's business association and has a range of traders queuing up to take part with their products ranging from cakes and candles to pet treats and unique handcrafted items. It received a £6500 grant from South Lanarkshire's Renewable Energy Fund with support from local windfarm operator OnPath Energy, who highlighted the community project's success in helping to revive the town centre "by supporting small businesses, promoting greener shopping and attracting crowds'. The Keep It Stonehouse market runs on the second Saturday of the month from May to September, with organisers also planning an additional Christmas market – with the next event taking place on June 14 from 10am to 2pm. A total of 14 stall spaces are available under its licence, so the event is regularly oversubscribed with a waiting list for potential traders. Regular stallholders include Unique 2 U, Missy's Melts, Fab Fancies, Cakes by Rebecca, Mecoco, Made with Love by Angela, Whippet Clean, Perfect Pup Pals, Windy Wizzen's Emporium, the Auld Stanehoose Cafe, K&G Crystal Portal and Davies Laser & Engraving. Now a regular fixture in the local calendar with its colourful traditionally-striped stalls, it also includes free family entertainment such as face painting and balloon modelling to add further attraction to market day, while the events have also encouraged nearby businesses to open specially while they take place. Stonehouse Business Association secretary Peter Ramsay said: 'It's more than just a market – it's a focal point for the community, a place for neighbours to meet, support local talent, and enjoy a buzzing, family-friendly atmosphere right in the centre of the village. 'We were keen to bring something with character and colour, so we invested in old-fashioned, striped market stalls to give it that vibrant, traditional feel. The support from OnPath Energy helped us get the initiative off the ground, and it's gone from strength to strength ever since.' Picture framer Peter added: 'There are more than 100 small businesses in and around Stonehouse, many hidden from view – the market gives them a stage and helps people appreciate the diversity of local goods made on their doorstep.' The local business association was founded seven years ago to represent and promote local businesses and now has more than 40 members. Organisers say the monthly market 'reflects its core aim, to showcase Stonehouse's enterprising spirit and to bring economic benefits back to the village centre' and hope to increase the number of stalls in future years. Hamilton-based OnPath, which operates both the Kype Muir windfarm five miles south of Strathaven plus Middle Muir, near Douglas, contributed to the market through the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) administered by South Lanarkshire Council. Partnerships and community manager Aileen McCreadie said: 'We're proud to support local projects like this which demonstrate the value of community-driven regeneration – Stonehouse Market is an outstanding example of how REF can enhance everyday life through sustainable and inclusive initiatives. 'It encourages people to adopt greener shopping behaviours and give back to their local communities, and it will no doubt prove to be a popular destination over the summer. Initiatives like this help reduce travel to out-of-town retailers, cut down on packaging waste, and shine a light on the quality and creativity of local producers. 'By supporting small, independent businesses, markets like this make sustainable choices easier and more enjoyable for everyone.'
