Latest news with #PeterboroughCityCouncil
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
CCTV in taxis could make a 'real difference'
CCTV in taxis would "make every journey safer" for drivers and passengers alike, according to a Peterborough councillor. Daisy Blakemore-Creedon, who represents the Fletton and Woodston ward, is calling for CCTV cameras to be installed in taxis and private hire vehicles. According to the latest government figures, only 8% of authorities in the UK have a requirement for all licensed taxis to have CCTV fitted, equating to 21 out of 266. "CCTV can make a real difference," said the Independent councillor, who resigned from the Labour Group at the beginning of May. "It deters bad behaviour, helps resolve disputes, and gives people more confidence to get home safely, especially late at night, Ms Blakemore-Creedon said. "Drivers deserve that security too - many work alone, often in vulnerable situations. "This is a simple, sensible step that would make a big impact. I believe we owe it to each other to make every journey safer." In December Peterborough City Council voted against the CCTV plan, following strong opposition from many drivers. Jake Carter, a hackney carriage driver in Peterborough, said he had mixed feelings about the proposal. "My first thoughts were that it sounds like a sensible thing to do because you're putting extra safety and security in place," he said. "But after speaking to some of the other drivers and thinking a bit more myself, I think the concerns are that the cost of this CCTV equipment has to be borne by the drivers. "You can't just install the cheapest system, you've got to go with the one recommended by the council." Mr Carter said there concerns too that the CCTV would have to remain on, even when drivers are using their taxis as their own private vehicles. As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he also said there were already safety measures in place on hackney carriages, "which mitigate the risks". "If it was to be worked a bit differently where a council took the cost and allowed drivers more flexibility about when the CCTV could be switched on or off, then it might be something the drivers would consider," he said. "It should be sold as benefiting the drivers as much as benefitting the public." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Peterborough City Council Cabbies 'ecstatic' after mandatory CCTV rejected Taxi drivers 'apprehensive' about vehicle CCTV vote CCTV to become compulsory in town's taxis
BBC News
5 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Peterborough councillor calls for CCTV to be fitted in all taxis
CCTV in taxis would "make every journey safer" for drivers and passengers alike, according to a Peterborough Blakemore-Creedon, who represents the Fletton and Woodston ward, is calling for CCTV cameras to be installed in taxis and private hire to the latest government figures, only 8% of authorities in the UK have a requirement for all licensed taxis to have CCTV fitted, equating to 21 out of 266."CCTV can make a real difference," said the Independent councillor, who resigned from the Labour Group at the beginning of May. "It deters bad behaviour, helps resolve disputes, and gives people more confidence to get home safely, especially late at night, Ms Blakemore-Creedon said. "Drivers deserve that security too - many work alone, often in vulnerable situations."This is a simple, sensible step that would make a big impact. I believe we owe it to each other to make every journey safer." In December Peterborough City Council voted against the CCTV plan, following strong opposition from many drivers. Jake Carter, a hackney carriage driver in Peterborough, said he had mixed feelings about the proposal."My first thoughts were that it sounds like a sensible thing to do because you're putting extra safety and security in place," he said."But after speaking to some of the other drivers and thinking a bit more myself, I think the concerns are that the cost of this CCTV equipment has to be borne by the drivers."You can't just install the cheapest system, you've got to go with the one recommended by the council." 'Consider' Mr Carter said there concerns too that the CCTV would have to remain on, even when drivers are using their taxis as their own private reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he also said there were already safety measures in place on hackney carriages, "which mitigate the risks"."If it was to be worked a bit differently where a council took the cost and allowed drivers more flexibility about when the CCTV could be switched on or off, then it might be something the drivers would consider," he said."It should be sold as benefiting the drivers as much as benefitting the public." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Peterborough City Council sells £50m worth of assets to pay debts
A football stadium, shopping centre and farmland were among a council's most lucrative sales as it tried to repay its City Council made £50m from asset sales over the past decade, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) authority has more than £500m of debt, which it said was the result of funding new roads, schools and regeneration sold Weston Homes Stadium back to Peterborough United in 2021 and sold land at the Hereward Cross Shopping Centre in 2023. The stadium and surrounding land was bought by the authority for £8.4m in 2010. The council sold it back to Posh for just over £ club said it was given a £1.25m discount in recognition of its "economic and social benefit to the city" and £2.8m investment into the Allia Business Centre which formed part of the leasehold at Hereward Cross, which housed Poundland and the Sir Henry Royce pub, was sold for a "mutually acceptable price", the council said. The council's most recent documents said it faced a £23m budget gap for said asset disposals cannot be used to fund day-to-day services and were instead used to "repay its debt balances, therefore reducing the cost of borrowing (interest)".It said the cost of servicing external borrowing was about £38m per to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the other assets which fetched the best prices were: Newborough Rural EstateAvenue Farm in NewboroughTurves Farm in Newborough Land at NorthminsterEardley Grange Farm and Hill FarmLand at Bishops RoadFletton Mills (lots seven and eight) at Fletton QuaysWhitworth Mill The council's budget document said its "debt levels compare high to other unitary authorities, whilst at the same time our reserves levels compare low".It said it could be left with as little as £5m at the end of 2024/25 in its general reserve fund and just more than £14m overall in its savings. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New 50-metre pool vital for young athletes
The head of a swimming club said a city council's plan to build a 50-metre swimming pool was "vital" to support the athletes of the future. Peterborough's Regional Pool has begun to be bulldozed after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was discovered in the building, which left City of Peterborough Swimming Club (Cops) without a home. Ben Negus, from Cops, said plans to build a replacement facility "would mean Peterborough can do what it deserves [for] its swimming community". Peterborough City Council said "plans for a new leisure centre continue to be explored" and it was "working to bring a business case forward to cabinet soon". "We continue to seek investors interested in supporting a new pool development," the authority added. Raac was discovered in September 2023 at the Bishop's Road site, which also had issues with asbestos and out-of-date mechanical installations. The building's demolition will take until July, the authority said. It was hoped that a replacement pool, which would be built at an estimated cost of £30m, would be open by 2028. Previously, Mr Negus said the pool's closure had forced the club's athletes to find alternative locations to train. Lily, 17, who has been part of the club since she was six, said training without a dedicated pool is "hard". Bell Cameron, 18, who is part of Cops, said the sport has given her "life skills". "It has even allowed me to go to university in the US. Marshall University in West Virginia reached out to me, I will be going this summer." Mr Negus said a plan for an Olympic-sized 50-metre swimming pool was first floated about 18 years ago and he was "still waiting". Andrew Pakes, the Labour MP for Peterborough, said he believed a new 50 metre pool could be built in the city within five years. "The council has a plot of land in the city centre at the regional pool site. And it is important to keep it in the city centre," Pakes said. "The council will be available to put some money into it, we can get some money from the regeneration funds from the mayor, some money from additional partners and we have a good chance to get this going." He said the council now "needs to focus" on things that matter to the public. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Demolition of Raac-affected pool begins What is next for the Regional Pool? Coach of swimming club without a pool scoops award City of Peterborough Swimming Club Peterborough City Council
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Rough sleeper feels 'lucky' to have new home in Peterborough
A housing facility that provides accommodation to homeless people with complex needs has been praised by one of its first residents. Off the Streets Accommodation, on Eastfield Road, Peterborough, can support 17 people for whom hotels and B&Bs may not be site opened in April and has been providing eight people with temporary of the residents called Paul, who has previously suffered with addiction, said the project had helped him quit drinking and "become a better person". "In temporary accommodation, such as guest houses, I didn't really have the stability to conquer personal problems," he said."Being vulnerable and having mental health problems I don't think I'd have done it on my own, so I feel lucky to be looked after here."I feel lucky in my current situation – so far so good." 'The best intervention' The scheme is a collaboration between Peterborough City Council and My Housing Options Community Interest is being funded for 12 months by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the rough sleeping initiative properties are designed to ensure those living in them are given intensive support to help them gain a pathway into permanent Wright, from My Housing Options, said: "The outreach team could find someone at 07:00 BST and the room could be provided by 09:00."Some people are here for weeks, some people with complex needs might be here for longer. But we can get them the best intervention to see where they can go." Alison Jones, a cabinet member for housing and communities at Peterborough City Council, described the programme as "unique", adding that those who use it received "the wraparound support they need"."Sometimes that's life skills that we take for granted such as cooking or budget skills, or perhaps it's visits from health specialists," she said."I can only see it as a positive for people in the city who might need that extra care - and we have to treat them as individuals."We believe that bringing them into this safe space will help them breathe and develop. Although this is not 'their home' we want them to feel like it is one." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
