Latest news with #MohammedFarooq
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Peterborough businesses struggling during 'cafe culture' works
Businesses along a busy city road have said they are struggling while a "cafe culture" redevelopment project takes place. Shops and cafés on Lincoln Road in Peterborough reported a sharp reduction in customers after part of the pavement was fenced off and a one-way traffic system introduced. The improvement works in the heart of Millfield will result in wider walkways and a new pedestrian crossing but Mohammed Farooq, owner of Chicken Palace on Lincoln Road, said "about 65% of our business is gone."Peterborough City Council said it was "trying to put in as much mitigation as possible" for businesses. Mr Farooq told the BBC: "People can hardly walk along the path."Metal gates were erected around the work site between the junctions with Windmill Street and Searjeant Street while the pavements were Mahmood, manager of Nafees, said his South Asian sweets and bakery business was "totally dead".He said businesses which could deliver food to customers were less affected, but his goods must be kept refrigerated."We are suffering right now," he added. The £3.5m works to Lincoln Road were funded in part by the government's Towns Fund designed to encourage economic growth in struggling areas. Peterborough City Council has said the changes aim to encourage people to walk and cycle in the area and bring a boost to the local economy. The work is due to continue until spring Aziz, owner of dessert restaurant Chocoberry on Lincoln Road, said the redevelopments were a "positive" for his business."Hopefully it'll bring new people and people will be excited to come to this road rather than thinking about it in a negative way," he said. "It's a positive thing for us. It's just that we need to make sure that things progress faster. It's a bit too slow."But overall I think it's a good thing and a good development for the area," he Ellis, both a ward councillor for Millfield and Peterborough's cabinet member for environment and transport, said he understood there would be "some disruption" while the works took place. "There was a concern about deliveries to the businesses," he said. "We've put in some mitigations to make sure there's some parking spaces for the deliveries they need."Ellis said businesses were also being sent newsletters updating them about the works, adding the council was "actively promoting the area" on social media."This is a catalyst for regeneration. Once this is done, in the future we can look at what else is possible," he added. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Peterborough city councillor returns as group leader
A councillor who stood down as group leader of Peterborough First earlier this year has returned to the role. Mohammed Farooq took over leadership from Chris Harper in October 2024 after Harper spent two years in Farooq has now decided to step down, with Harper reselected by his colleagues to become their leader after the group's AGM, he said he was "delighted and truly honoured" to reassume the position. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I take over from Cllr Farooq who did a great job and will stay within the group to support us."What I would say to people is watch this space, as there are big things coming for Peterborough First."We've established ourselves as opposition but we don't just want to remain as opposition. "We are willing to stand up and be counted, but to do that we need new people."One of our major goals is to start the recruitment process for, if it happens, the 2026 elections. We will be looking to recruit the right type of people to push our numbers up."Our goal is to run this council. It's as simple as that."City council elections are scheduled for May 2026, however there is uncertainty about whether they will go ahead due to the re-organisation of local is a possibility Peterborough City Council may have to combine with other neighbouring authorities. Farooq, a former leader of the city council, took over as group leader last October due to Harper's other said it was "absolutely great news" he was back in charge of the group."Chris has always been our leader," he said."He came off because his work commitments were very busy last year so I came in and covered for him. We are all very great friends in the group."Now his work commitments have reduced a bit so I asked him to come and take over."Farooq said it was a "privilege" to lead the group and wished Harper the best for the future. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
