Connect with us

News

LETTER: Halt or withdraw leisure changes NOW Cabinet urged

Avatar photo

Published

on

Cllr Dennis Jones, Labour group leader on Peterborough City Council, and Andrew Pakes Labour Parliamentary candidate for Peterborough, have written to city council leader Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald, calling on the Cabinet to withdraw or pause the proposal it is discussing on heritage.

The Cabinet is meeting this afternoon (Monday).

Cllr Jones and Mr Pakes are also calling for a Heritage Commission so that the Cabinet can work with councillors and other stakeholders to find a consensus way forward to protect our cultural assets.

HERE IS THE LETTER FROM CLLR JONES AND MR PAKES

We are writing to urge the Cabinet to withdraw or pause plans to change the leisure,
heritage and library services contract pending further consultation.

Our heritage and culture represent the best of Peterborough providing a unique link with our past, present, and future for the city. Whilst there have been challenges following the collapse of Vivacity, these latest proposals come alongside a wider decline in the provision and support for culture in the city.

This is too important to either rush or get wrong. In recent days, we have seen heartfelt pleas by the Peterborough Civic Society and Peterborough Museum Society expressing serious concerns about the proposal being considered by the council. We have also been contacted by residents concerned by the proposals.

LETTER: ‘Profound misgivings’ over leisure services in Peterborough

We are calling on the Cabinet to withdraw the paper to give time for further consideration of the options available to the city. The scale of change proposed and risks to our heritage assets requires wider discussion to ensure we don’t get this wrong.

Advertisements
canopyuk.com in-article

Our concern is that these changes say more about the council’s dire financial situation and desire to make cuts than it does about protecting and enhancing the future of heritage provision in the city.

Firstly, we would ask you to pause the decision proposed for Monday 18 September. This cannot be rushed through. The public, heritage organisations and councillors deserve to be part of this discussion before a final decision is made.

Secondly, we propose a Heritage Commission to bring together the main stakeholders involved in protecting our culture and heritage assets so that they can consider the options alongside councillors and officers.

We should be bringing people together to form a consensus position on the future of our heritage assets rather than dividing people.

The serious points raised by the Civic Society and Museum Society have not been addressed by the Cabinet’s proposal.

Peterborough: City council ‘failing in support of culture, arts and heritage’

For the future of our city, we need to work together to get this right.

We trust this meets with your approval and look forward to your reply.

Your sincerely,
Dennis Jones Labour Group leader PCC,
Andrew Pakes
Parliamentary candidate for Peterborough.

 

Facebook

Read More

News1 month ago

Ely ‘hit and run’ driver sought after cyclist left with serious injuries

Cyclist injured in crash with a grey car in Lynn Road, Ely

News1 month ago

WATCH: Police retrieve machete and cannabis from Peterborough drug dealer

Offender caught again whilst on bail for first offence

News1 month ago

BREAKING: Cambridgeshire County Council ‘truly sorry’ after it admits liability for 3 fatalities on Guided Busway

Council 'fully acknowledges the serious historic failings'

News1 month ago

WATCH: ‘You got me fair and square’ Wisbech burglar tells police in Peterborough

He was arrested in Peterborough city centre on 26 April

News1 month ago

WATCH: Police raid cannabis ‘factory’ inside Alconbury Weston house

Cannabis arrest followed a tip off from members of the public

News1 month ago

3 things to do while in the queue for an Oasis ticket – and it’s not what you might think

Tongue in cheek post has a serious message

News1 month ago

Cambs transport charity launches scathing attack after losing subsidised bus route to Stagecoach

FACT operated the 68 Wisbech service for a number of years

News1 month ago

Mayor attacks ‘cheap theatre of negativity’ over £48m Peterborough station facelift

Labour hopes Great Northern Hotel will be in future phase of re-development

News1 month ago

Opposition to 8am to 11pm pavement wining and dining in Wisbech by Wetherspoon

In Whittlesey Wetherspoon hope to use Market Place for outdoor drinkers

News1 month ago

Cambridge ‘drug lord’ caught with loaded gun, cash, and £500,000 worth of drugs

Rahman ran a criminal enterprise across Cambridge