Wednesday, 6.10pm: The slip road connecting the A1 southbound and the A47 near Wansford is due to remain closed until 10pm following a crash this afternoon.

A lorry carrying a trailer with 26 tonnes of compost tipped onto its side while joining the A47 at 1.20pm.

Police closed off the road and estimated that 200 litres of diesel spilled into the road.

Most of the trailer’s load needed to be removed before work to right the the vehicle could begin.

The driver was left with minor injuries, but was stuck inside the vehicle and needed to be cut out by the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.

A spokesman for the police said: “We were called at 1.20pm to reports that a lorry had gone over on itself on a slip road from the A1 onto the A47.

“The driver was initially trapped and there was a fuel spill of an estimated 200 litres of fuel.

He said: “Although he was trapped, the driver was okay and was not seriously injured.”

The fire service sent two crews from Stamford and Dogsthorpe to help the man from the vehicle at 1.25pm.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to release one male casualty, and returned to their stations by 2.40pm.”

The Highways Agency and Environment Agency were also called to the scene to help with the clear-up.

A spokeswoman from the Environment Agency said: “The fuel spill was a smaller amount than initially thought.

“It was from the lorry itself, not a tanker.

“The fire service used Environment Agency equipment to stop any leakage, and our officers went out to assist them.”

The Environment Agency also scoured nearby drains and rivers to make sure no fuel had into them.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: “We sent an incident support unit to the scene at 2.30pm, but needed to wait for the police to give us the all-clear before we started the clean up.

“Diversions were put up and we understand all the vehicles were accommodating in using other slip roads.”

Latest news from {http://www.trafficengland.com|www.trafficengland.com} reports the road is not expected to re-open until 10pm.

Saturday, 18 February: IT’S been an exciting week for PECT and all things green in Peterborough – we’ve been busy planning to plant 3,200 trees as part of the Forest for Peterborough project. We’ve also been working with the council to organise the first ever Environment Capital Conference on Monday 27th February at Peterborough’s Kingsgate Conference Centre. This is a fantastic opportunity to look back at the environmental achievements we have made as a city over the past few years and renew our commitments to take this even further. It will focus on the sustainability targets that have been set by Peterborough City Council, and partner organisations Opportunity Peterborough and PECT, and look at how we can work together as a community to hit and exceed these ambitions.

Peterborough is becoming widely recognised as a leader for innovative environmental projects and sustainable best practice and this is an ideal time to present this to industry experts. It provides the perfect opportunity to showcase our projects and gain the recognition that the city deserves. It will definitely help us to continue our drive towards becoming the UK’s Environmental Capital.

Among the guest speakers will be the thought provoking and entertaining Professor Hugh Montgomery, the director of Health and Performance at the University College, London. Not only is he internationally recognised in the field of sustainability, he has also been awarded the title of London Leader by the London Sustainable Development Commission for his work in climate change and health. I am certain that this will be one of the biggest highlights and I am looking forward to hearing about what he thinks of Peterborough’s projects.

Looking at the schedule for the day it really does bring home just how much we do in the city – much of which is now taken for granted. And it’s not just the number of projects that is most impressive, but the depth and commitment across all sectors in Peterborough that is the most astonishing. We have charity projects such as Forest for Peterborough which aims to plant 170,000 trees across the city over 20 years, and the Eco Schools project which has over 90% of the schools in Peterborough engaged in eco activities, we have the Travelchoice public transport scheme, we have committed businesses such as Queensgate Shopping Centre, we have social housing landlords, such as Cross Keys Homes, who are fitting their houses with new, energy efficient technology, we have community projects, such as Transition Peterborough, which works within the community to tackle energy consumption, and we have a local authority that are challenging our city to go far beyond the expected targets. And the best thing is – this is just the beginning.

The 27th February also marks the start of Fairtrade Fortnight and we will be waiting in anticipation to see whether our Green Festival has been shortlisted for a national award.

n For more information about the conference, or if your organisation is interested in attending, then please contact karen.gilgan@peterborough.gov.uk. But be quick as there only a few spaces left.

The Winter Warmth Project is led by Peterborough Environment City Trust in partnership with Peterborough City Council, the Salvation Army and Age UK.

The aim of the project is to help older people or those with limited mobility access to keep warm and prevent the 86 deaths which occur in the city each winter due to the cold.

With a cold snap behind us but more due next week, the Winter Warmth project has hit the road to help older shoppers save money and keep warm.

Having already held a number of successful events in local shopping centres over the last few days, the team are spreading the net wider, visiting residents in the comfort of their own home.

I went along to visit Mrs Sylvia Shugar (75) at her home in Stanground with Winter Warmth Officer, Jon Alcock.

This 10-week project is similar to the national Warm Front Scheme, except that this is based locally, making it easier to apply for and less daunting for residents.

The appointment was made for Sylvia by her daughter, who had seen a previous piece about the scheme in The ET.

Sylvia’s three-bed house has gas central heating as well as a coal fire in the living room. Her boiler has recently had a full inspection (something she pays for her herself).

Sylvia said: “Paying to heat my home during the winter is a worry. I do prefer coal because I know that whatever I use, I have paid for, and I don’t have to wait for a bill. I’ll never let myself go without heat but I do have to be very careful with what I use.”

The process was easy, with Jon taking Sylvia through a short questionnaire, asking about simple measures, such as using energy saving lightbulbs, loft insulation and shutting her thick curtains at night, as well as more complex issues such as tariffs and billing.

I would consider myself fairly competent when it comes to utility bills, but I had to agree that all the different companies, tariffs, and offers for gas and electricity can be confusing at the best of times.

Jon explained that the project is three weeks into a ten-week run, so they want to get out and see as many people as they can.

He said: “Home visits make it less daunting and they can have someone with them if they wish. We are all CRB checked and only visit by appointment.

“We only pass on details to external agencies such as Age UK and the Salvation Army with permission, and Age UK have a password system, so the caller knows it’s a genuine phonecall.

“I would encourage anyone who wants to find out more to get in touch. It’s a free service and you might be missing out on something that you’re entitled to.”

Not only can officers give advice in the home, they can also compare what residents are currently paying for their heating bills using an impartial website called greenenergyswitch.com. If they can see any savings, they contact the residents who can then decide whether to switch companies or stay as they are.

A free shopping service is also available to older shoppers, so that they don’t have to go out when there is snow and ice on the pavement.

After a thorough chat with Jon, Sylvia said that she had benefited from the advice.

She said: “I have found it really interesting, because there is no way that I could have found out about the information myself, I didn’t even know it existed.

“Energy bills are such a worry for me because I like to live within my means. Changing things can be a hassle and very frustrating, but I have enjoyed Jon’s company today and knowing that there are things I can change has made it worthwhile.”

All services are free and can be accessed by calling the Winter Warmth helpline on 01733 882 544, Monday to Friday 9am from 5pm.

A BAR manager has hit out a dark and “dangerous” alleyway near to his venue in Peterborough city centre.

Kevin Jeffery, bar manager at The Solstice, in Northminster, Peterborough, claims the alley running from Broadway to Cattle Market Road, between Tesco and O’Neills, is a hotspot for anti-social behaviour because there is no lighting to illuminate the path.

He claims the alley light has not worked for the past 18 months and despite the issue being raised with police and Peterborough City Council nothing has been done to fix it.

Mr Jeffery said: “There is constant trouble down the alley.

“Every week you see people vomiting and urinating down there. There are often broken bottles, people are generally rowdy and noisy when they are in the alley.

“It is smelly, disgusting and dangerous and something needs to be done.

“The lights have not been working down there for at least a year-and-a-half and at night, especially at this time of year, it is pitch black.

“I can’t remember the last time they were turned on. All the time we have people who come in to the bar and talk about what is going on in the alleyway.

“We have raised it in a number of meetings a number of times and spoken to police and city councillors but nothing has ever been done about it.

“If it is as simple as fitting new light bulbs that would stop the problems, I am sure it would not be very expensive to sort out.”

A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said they were working to crack down on the anti-social behaviour problems in the area.

He said: “We are aware of the issues about the lighting in the alleyway between Broadway and Cattle Market Way.

“We are working with partner agencies to try to sort the problem out as soon as possible.

“Officers have been carrying out extra patrols through the alley at weekends and evenings and these will continue.

“Since the beginning of the year we have charged six people with low-level public order offences in the city centre and five £80 fines have been issued for public order offences including urinating in public.

“We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour and anyone caught acting in such a manner will face prosecution.”

No-one from Peterborough City Council was available to comment.

An elderly woman died after spending a freezing night outside the care home in Stamford where she lived, an inquest heard yesterday (Tuesday).

Dorothy Spicer (84) was found lying outside Whitefriars Care Home in St George’s Avenue, Stamford, in the early hours of 26 November, 2009.

It is believed she wandered out from her room sometime the previous evening.

At an inquest into her death at Stamford Town Hall a jury heard that Mrs Spicer, who was known as Mick and who came from Market Deeping, was found by night staff at the home and was taken to Peterborough District Hospital.

She was diagnosed with hypothermia and was given antibiotics to deal with a possible chest infection.

On December 15 she was moved to the John Van Geest Ward at Stamford Hospital where she developed pneumonia. She died at the hospital on January 21, 2010.

Giving evidence, Mrs Spicer’s daughter, Jane Howard, described the difference in her mother’s condition before and after she was found outside the care home.

Mrs Howard said before November 26 her mother was able to walk between her room and the lounge of the care home without assistance.

She had a “wicked sense of humour” and was able to hold a conversation despite her dementia.

Mrs Howard said she had driven to Peterborough District Hospital on the morning of November 26 after learning what had happened to her mother and had noted the outside temperature displayed on her car’s dashboard as minus 1C.

She struggled to hold back tears as she described her mother’s condition when she arrived at her hospital bed.

She added: “She had the look in her eyes of a petrified animal.

“It was shocking to imagine my mother had spent a night outside.

“It is torment to imagine it.”

Mrs Howard told the jury she thought rules or guidelines had been broken and the staff at Whitefriars had let her mother down that night.

Engineer Graham Burrows of nurse call system manufacturer Courtney-Thorne, told how he made a site visit on November 30, 2009, and found no fault in the alarm system.

He explained how computer logs showed an alarm had been deactivated on one of the care home’s external doors at 8.52pm on November 25 and was not reactivated until 9.19pm that evening.

The inquest also heard from two pathologists.

Professor Guy Rutty carried out the post mortem examination on Mrs Spicer on January 25, 2012.

He told the inquest that he concluded that she died from pneumonia which was brought on by the lack of mobility caused by the night spent outside Whitefriars Care Home.

Prof Rutty also told the jury that the difference in Mrs Spicer’s clinical state before and after she was found outside had changed significantly and this was as a result of the hypothermia she suffered that morning.

But Dr Adam Coumbe, who produced a second report based on Mrs Spicer’s medical notes, said the pneumonia had nothing to do with hypothermia.

Dr Coumbe instead told the jury he thought a lack of mobility was caused by a a sudden deterioration in Mrs Spicer’s dementia.

He said this had led to her contracting the infection that killed her.

The inquest resumes today.

GENEROUS staff have raised thousands of pounds for two charities close to their hearts.

Glossy magazine distributors Frontline Ltd, in Midgate, raised much-needed funds for their charities of the year, Anna’s Hope and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Karting, cake baking and curry sales were just a few of the money-raising schemes led by the company’s Mojo committee, which presented cheques to the tune of £2,000 to each cause last week.

Frontline managing director Frank Straetmans said: “I’m really proud of what we have achieved in 2011 and voting for this year’s chosen charities is now under way.”

The company’s Christmas auction alone helped boost the donation pot by £1,000.

A FULL dress rehearsal for the Olympic torch relay will take place between Leicester and Peterborough, the organisers of the London 2012 Games have announced.

It was revealed yesterday that the stretch of the relay route, which cuts through both rural and city locations, will be used for a trial run on April 20.

This is so that the London 2012 Organising Committee (Locog) can check out their convoy, crew and communications procedures ahead of the 8,000-mile full event taking place later in the year.

People are being encouraged to line the streets as the test convoy travels through Quorn, Loughborough, Hoton, Wymeswold, Asfordby, Melton Mowbray, Langham, Oakham, Uppingham and Stamford to make the test realistic.

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: “Test events are a vital part of our operations in preparing for all of the events that are part of the 2012 Games.

“We are also looking forward to working with the 100 inspirational people who will play an essential role in helping us to test how we will operate during the relay.”

Procedures to be tested during the rehearsal will include timings, convoy movement, radio communications, the collection and drop-off of torchbearers, route markings, traffic management and security operations.

The torches used during the dress rehearsal will not be lit as the Olympic Flame is not officially ignited until May 10.

Representatives from the Royal College of the Blind, Loughborough College and Leicester, De Montfort, Loughborough and Northampton universities will be putting on their running shoes as torchbearers for the rehearsal.

The Olympic torch relay will start for real at Land’s End, Cornwall, on the morning of May 19.

During its 70-day relay journey around the UK the torch will fly by zip wire from the Tyne Bridge, ascend Snowdon by rail, and cross Loch Ness.

Locog say the torch will come within 10 miles of 95 per cent of the country’s population before the tour brings the Olympic Flame to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London on July 27.

A PROSTITUTE has been jailed for breaching a court order that banned her from the city’s red light district.

Yasmin Khan (36) was given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) by magistrates on Wednesday last week, stopping her from going to the Burghley Road area of the city.

The order was made after Khan was branded one of the most prolific prostitutes in the city by police.

At the time she was given the order, Khan was serving a jail term for a theft, and was released on Friday – but just hours later she was arrested when police found her on Burghley Road.

On Monday, Khan, who gave her address to the court as Kesteven Walk, Peterborough, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court, where she pleaded guilty to breaching the anti-social behaviour order, and was locked up for another 24 days. Jackie Knight, prosecuting, told the court: “She was issued with an ASBO on February 15 at this court.

“She was serving a four week sentence for theft, which was issued on February 1, at the time and was released from prison on Friday, February 18.

She added: “At 8.10pm she was seen walking along Burghley Road, heading towards Park Road.

“She was arrested and taken to the police station, where she gave a positive drugs test for both cocaine and opiates.

“She admitted that she understood the terms of the ASBO.

“She said she had gone to her sister’s address in Chaucer Road when she was released, but had been unable to stay at the address, and had walked to a hostel in Towler Street.

Rebecca Keogh, defending, said: “She had issues with accommodation, and had gone to her sister’s home, but she was away for the weekend.

“She had also gone to the hostel, but was unable to stay there.

“She was making her way to a friend’s house in Kesteven Walk, when she was arrested.

“She had attended an appointment with Peterborough Nene Drug Interventions Programme (PNDIP), and is committed to dealing with her drug problems.

“She has the support of her family, and she was simply traversing the area to find accommodation, and get back on her feet.

“It was not the most flagrant breach of an order.”

However, District Judge Ken Sheraton said: “This offence was committed on the day you were released from custody.

“The fact you tested positive for cocaine and opiates tells me a great deal about your character.

“It is clear you were aware of the conditions of the ASBO, and you chose to ignore it.”

He sentenced her to 14 days in prison for breaching her ASBO, and recalled her to prison for 10 days for the theft, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

PUPILS from Sir Harry Smith Community College have reached the regional final in a share dealing competition.

A team from the Whittlesey college made up of Jack Bates, Alexander Mason, Matthew King and Samuel Booth took part in the ifs Student Investor Challenge, making a virtual £23,000 in three months.

The ifs Student Investor Challenge is a competition based on real FTSE 100 data, with each team starting with £100,000.

Over the last three months the Whittlesey team, called Seagull Lovers Everywhere, made £22,988, out-performing the FTSE 100 average by 17 per cent.

The Sir Harry Smith pupils are now only one step away from the national final taking place in London on April 25, where the ultimate prize is an all expenses paid educational trip to New York.

The competition for 14 to 19-year-olds is aimed at improving financial literacy and understanding of financial risk.

Vice principal of the ifs school of finance, Rod McKee, said: “Getting this far in the competition is a real achievement and many congratulations go to the Sir Harry Smith College team.”

A GROUP of travellers were moved off an industrial estate in Peterborough yesterday morning.

A police spokesman said: “We were called to assist bailiffs in dealing with an unauthorised travellers’ encampment in Papyrus Road, Werrington, at about 10.45am. Officers attended and the travellers have since moved from the site.”

REGIONAL security solutions company GSL Dardan has appointed Renato Notarianni as managing director of the group’s Gardwell Secure Systems business.

While the company, based locally in Fengate, Peterborough, is now a separate limited company, it remains a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSL Dardan Limited.

Renato, known as Ren to his colleagues and clients, joined the Gardline group in 1997 travelling the world in his engineering support related role.

In 2002 he joined a division of GSL as an engineer where he was responsible for installing the company’s security systems. His responsibilities grew in this time to include surveying, specifying and business development. In 2007 he became divisional manager.

Upon his appointment, Ren (42) said: “I am looking forward to this new role and the challenges it presents, in particular helping develop the skills and knowledge of the team to drive the business forward.

I want to be able to utilise all the technology currently available which is not currently used to its full potential, and provide our clients with exceptional security solutions”.

A key part of the company’s strategy was to focus on growth by managing key business objectives which resulted in a turnover of £500,000 for the first time in 2011.

Key clients include the East of England Co-operative Society, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Budgens retail outlets, Claxton Engineering, Gardline Shipping and Aquaterra, to name but a few. In addition, Gardwell Secure Systems (GSS) works in partnership with Norfolk Constabulary, and Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council.

Mark Duffy, chairman of GSL Dardan, said: “We have made tremendous strides to grow the business and our profile within the industry, and this development is another milestone in GSL’s history.

“Ren brings experience, dedication and an abundance of renewed energy to the company. His promotion to the position of managing director is a reflection of his hard work and dedication and therefore thoroughly well-deserved.”

Gardwell Secure Systems has provided electronic security solutions for more than 15 years, including CCTV, access control systems and intruder alarms and launched its new website in January 2012.

NEW Peterborough-based business VA Office Solutions is offering administrative and business support services remotely to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the UK.

Local business owners can delegate time-consuming tasks to a team of virtual assistants who are able to offer their clients a variety of services at a high professional level.

They can also provide their clients with total flexibility as the local virtual assistants are available to work outside normal office hours, seven days a week.

Businesses no longer have to worry about office space or equipment as the virtual assistants at VA Office Solutions are equipped to undertake their tasks and use their own facilities.

Clients will be able to choose to work on an hourly rate or discounted monthly retainer packages depending on their business requirements. Business owners only pay for the hours they need, so all hours worked will be 100 per cent productive.

Director of VA Office Solutions Marlise Rodrigues said: “When you set up in business you want to do something you’re good at, but as a small business you are most likely to be doing more than what you have planned, including the time-consuming office tasks which are important to do.

“Our aim is to help businesses focus on planning and developing their businesses by delegating to us their time-consuming tasks and doing what they are actually in business to do. This will save them time and it will be cost effective.”

VA Office Solutions offers a taster package for new clients interested in trying out its services with no commitments. It also offers additional services such as the Rush Job Service and the Speedy Weekend Service.

n For more details, visit www.vaoffice solutions.co.uk

CASH was stolen in a burglary in March.

Burglars broke into the Ship Inn, in Nene Parade, between 11.30pm on Sunday, February 12, and 8.15am the following day. The cellar was broken into and an estimated £70 was stolen.

Det Con Tade Toseland said: “I urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to call me on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

]]> 1.3546075 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:56:40 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/popular_peterborough_singer_loses_battle_with_cancer_1_3546053

TRIBUTES have been paid to talented Peterborough musician Danny Welsh, who has died after a five-year battle with a brain tumour.

Danny, from Paston, was a well-known face on the city music scene as the singer for bands Quarto And, Lucifer Blues and Riot TV.

He had to bring a halt to the gigs when he was diagnosed with the tumour after falling ill in 2007.

The 30-year-old lost his ongoing fight with the tumour while at his family home last Thursday. This followed a short stay at the Sue Ryder Care Thorpe Hall Hospice.

His sister Nicky said Danny, her younger brother, “was the nicest person you could ever meet” and he “would be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him”.

Nicky, mother to Danny’s two nieces Danielle and Alex, added: “He was a very outgoing, bubbly, cheeky chap. He had a lust for life and wanted to live it to the full.

“Never once in the five years he had the tumour did he complain or say, why me? He never gave up, nor did it cross his mind that the tumour would beat him.”

Parents Bernie and Terry called their son “a wonderful, courageous man whose smile would light up any room.”

After his initial diagnosis, Danny, a former pupil at Walton Community School, had an operation to remove the tumour at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge. This helped alleviate the pain but doctors informed Danny the cancer was terminal but could be controlled.

He continued to live his life as he wanted to, going to festivals, seeing friends, writing songs and working at Travelex, in Peterborough, until his health deteriorated last year.

Nicky added Danny had always loved his music.

She said: “He modelled himself on Liam Gallagher when he was younger. He had the green parka, the glasses, the swagger and the attitude.”

Quarto And guitarist Michael Meadows said it was Danny who inspired him to become a musician.

Now playing with city band Whisky Jax, Michael spoke fondly of his early gigging days with his friend.

He said: “I owe the fact I started and still do music to Danny.

“I was only 14 when I first met him but he was the most rock ‘n’ roll guy I’ve ever met.

“He loved having a good time but if you ever needed someone then he would be there.”

One of Quarto And’s first accolades was to win a battle of the bands competition supported by The Evening Telegraph at The Fiddlers Elbow in 2004.

They went on to play a number of shows at the Met Lounge including support slots for The Kooks, We Are Scientists, Sparta and Nine Black Alps.

Danny’s funeral is at St Peter and All Souls Roman Catholic Church, in Geneva Street, Peterborough at noon on March 1. Donations to Sue Ryder Care Thorpe Hall Hospice.

A former Peterborough United boss and fans have voiced their hopes that troubled ex-Peterborough United footballer Leon McKenzie quickly gets his life back on track after the star was jailed yesterday (Tuesday).

Leon McKenzie (33), who first joined Posh as a striker in 1998, was sentenced to six months behind bars after falsely telling the DVLA his car was being worked on by mechanics each of the six times he was caught speeding.

The retired player, of Rectory Farm, Northampton, admitted forging invoices from fake mechanics ‘Penbar Automotives’ to persuade the DVLA he had not been behind the wheel for the offences in 2008 and 2009, aware he was set to lose his licence

But when police visited the site they found an empty business premises and realised the garage was “a wholly fictitious business”, Northampton Crown Court heard.

Judge Richard Bray told McKenzie: “I give you credit for your guilty plea but this is six counts of repeated fraud committed over a period of time and in quite a sophisticated manner.

“This matter strikes right at the heart of justice and for you to avoid a custodial sentence would send quite the wrong message.”

McKenzie admitted six counts of perverting the course of justice in relation to six speeding offences between February 25, 2008, and December 9, 2009.

Sean Hammond, defending, told the court McKenzie’s friend had sent the false documents after he told him he could ‘sort out’ any motoring offences.

In the past McKenzie, the son of former British light-welterweight boxing champion Clinton McKenzie, has spoken publicly of his battle with depression.

In a statement posted on Twitter before the sentence Mckenzie said: “A few years ago, I was not in a good place and couldn’t always make sense of what was going on.”

After the hearing, Posh director of football Barry Fry, who was club manager when he signed McKenzie in 2000, said: “He was a star on and off the field in his time with us. He was a terrific player, but he was also outstanding in the community.

“He was forever in the schools and doing presentations. He was always the first one to put his hands up for that sort of work.

“He was one of our best signings on and off the pitch. The work he did behind the scenes was second to none.

“He was a great family man when he played for us. He was always devoted to his kids so it’s really sad what’s happened.

“Lots of footballers are ‘little boys lost’ when they stop playing, but he was a legend at our club, a real good guy.”

Life-long Posh fan Adi Mowles said: “This is a real shame. He was a superb player for us and has left us with some wonderful memories.

“I wish him well for the future and hope he will take the chance to get his life back on the straight and narrow.”

Barry Bennett, chairman of the Posh Supporters’ Trust, said: “He was a good servant to the club and was a player we would like to have kept. I’m sorry to hear about his court appearance and hope that he can quickly move on.”

McKenzie joined Posh in 1998 on loan and scored nine goals in 15 games. Two years later he joined Posh permanently and in three years scored 49 goals in 103 games.

McKenzie’s statement

FALLEN star Leon McKenzie prepared a statement to share his feelings and to explain what happened.

McKenzie said he had fallen into a deep depression and could not always make sense of what was going on.

“Around that period I wasn’t thinking straight, and got caught up with the wrong people around me. I’m truly sorry for these offences. I have been in a better place recently and I have really turned my life around. I ask anyone with depression to speak out to someone before you start making any mistakes like I did.”

AMBITIOUS plans for a multi-million pound retail and offices complex at a gateway to Peterborough were given the green light yesterday (Tuesday).

The £50 million development that is expected to create up to 630 jobs, will be built on the former Royal Mail sorting office site in Bourges Boulevard and will play a key role in the creation of the city’s long awaited Station Quarter development.

The Station Quarter is a £500 million blueprint drawn up by Peterborough City Council and city regeneration company Operation Peterborough to develop a cluster of offices, shops and accommodation on a huge swathe of land around the rail station, creating an impressive entrance way for visitors to the city and attracting investment and jobs.

Members of the council’s planning and environment protection committee approved the outline development for the Royal Mail by seven votes to two.

They were told it would help create a pedestrian route from the train station into the city centre, as well as provide jobs and investment in Peterborough.

The site will contain 6,000 square metres of office space, a 4,300 square metre supermarket and other stores, and it is hoped could create up to 630 jobs when finished.

Councillors said the project would be a ‘new chapter’ for Peterborough in its efforts to attract new business and visitors to the city.

Councillor Peter Hiller said: “I think this will be great for the city. It joins up with the expansion of the Great Northern Hotel and the station expansion. It is a new chapter for Peterborough.”

Cllr Marion Todd said: “Anything that improves the Station Quarter is a good thing.

“It looks an utter mess at the moment, and people think it is a dump.”

Council leader Cllr Marco Cereste said: “In this difficult economic climate many cities have put their growth plans on hold.

He added: “However, in Peterborough we are pressing ahead with our plans as we realise how important growth is to the city’s future.”

Tim Webb from developers ING Real Estate, said the firm was already in discussions with supermarket chains about the possibility of filling the building.”

Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson said: “I’m glad the developers have listened to the concerns about the size of the supermarket and that the retail unit will be a lot smaller than originally planned and that we have a number of offices and car park spaces.

“With a remodelled railway station and the plans for the Great Northern Hotel, the Station Quarter is looking to be quite a strong asset for the city.”

Station Quarter developments

THE approval for the new development comes hot on the heals of a planning application to expand the Great Northern Hotel, opposite the train station.

The plans include a seven storey expansion, creating 13,000 square feet of new office space, coffee shops and even roof top gardens.

And works are currently underway to improve Peterborough Railway Station.

The works at the station will see new and improved platforms, a new foot bridge and a £3 million upgrade on the station concourse.

What do you think?

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MEMBERS of the public are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Board of directors.

The meeting will be held in the Meeting Hall at Stamford Hospital on February 28 at 10am to 12.45pm.

There will be the opportunity for members of the public to ask questions at the end.

]]> 1.3546017 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:41:00 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/man_given_18_years_in_jail_for_attack_1_3546010

A FARM worker who tried to rip the heart from a woman after stabbing her in the chest with a pair of scissors has been jailed for 18 years.

Andrzej Chranowski (34), of Green Lane, Spalding, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday for the attempted murder of night shift worker Christine Seymour (59).

He was found guilty following a trial and during the case the court heard how Ms Seymour was talking to a friend on her mobile outside her home in Spalding when Chranowski stabbed her and pushed his hands inside her chest in an apparent attempt to tear out her heart.

He then carried her into her house and dumped her on her bed shouting “just lie there and die”.

Police, alerted by other residents in the shared property, arrested him inside her room.

Michael Cranmer-Brown, prosecuting, said that when officers entered Chranowski calmly asked for a cigarette and confessed “I’ve just killed a woman with this,” still holding the scissors.

Ms Seymour was conscious throughout her ordeal and suffered a two-inch deep cut to her chest, a collapsed lung and is now undergoing trauma counselling.

She said “It was like a living nightmare.

“I got the impression, as he worked with pigs that he thought I was one. It just felt like he was trying to rip through to my heart, I just thought he was trying to rip my heart out.”

Chranowski was also convicted of wounding another resident with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.

Judge John Milmo QC, passing sentence, said “This was a wholly unprovoked attack with a potentially lethal weapon.”

During the trial Chranowski claimed that Ms Seymour was stabbed by a mystery man and he claimed he was innocent. He had no previous convictions in either England or his native Poland although he had “petty theft” offences committed while working in Germany.

His barrister Paul Mytton said it appeared Chranowski was suffering from a “short term psychotic episode” when he carried out the attack.

A WOMAN had to be cut out of her car after the vehicle rolled into a ditch.

The accident happened at about 7.40am yesterday on Heath Road in Warboys, near Ramsey.

One woman, aged in her 30s, was the only person in the car when it left the road and crashed into the ditch.

An ambulance spokeswoman said the woman suffered an arm injury in the accident, and was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

BURGLARS got away with a haul of sentimental jewellery from a raid on a house.

The burglary happened at a house in Broadway near Peterborough city centre at some point between 11am and 10pm on Tuesday, February 14.

A white sapphire solitaire ring, a rose gold gate bracelet, a platinum wedding ring, a pearl necklace, a ladies Seiko watch and a Breitling automatic watch were taken, along with a number of gold items.

Many of the items were family heirlooms, and the victims of the burglary have offered a reward for any information leading to the recovery of the items.

DC Lee Crane, investigating, said: “This burglary has really upset the victim as a number of the items are of high sentimental value.”

Anyone with information should call DC Crane on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

]]> 1.3545999 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:39:10 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/tia_thrilled_by_dragon_theo_s_twitter_choice_1_3545120

LOCAL business Who Ate My Crayons will be joining TV Dragon Theo Paphitis at a conference in Birmingham next month after being selected as one of his six favourite small businesses in a weekly Twitter event.

Mr Paphitis selected the graphic and website design agency last January in his Small Business Sunday (SBS) and tweeted his selection to his 223,000 followers.

“I was thrilled when I saw the tweets coming in congratulating me on being chosen,” said Tia Lush, owner of the business in Crowland, near Peterborough.

“It was a complete surprise, as it was only my second attempt in the contest. The website visit statistics went through the roof. I couldn’t believe it.”

After the contest, Tia created an SBS “badge” for her website to celebrate the win. Other people saw it and asked if she could design them a similar badge for their own websites. She soon became the unofficial badge designer for SBS, through word of mouth and recommendation from other SBS winners.

“I have been delighted to have helped each winner, and have donated all the proceeds from the badge work to charity,” added Tia. “So far, we have raised more than £500, which has been donated to charities such as the Japan Tsunami Appeal and NewLife Charity.”

She added: “I think it’s wonderful that such a successful businessman can show his support to UK-based businesses by taking time out of his Sunday evening to organise this event. Through my win, I have connected with other SBS winners and have gained valuable new clients and leads, all through the power of Twitter. I’m looking forward to attending the conference on March 30, and meeting the other members of this unique club.”

Tia has more than 12 years in the media and advertising industry, predominately in London. She comes from a fine arts background, so has always been drawn to the creative side of business. Her clients range from large corporations to individuals starting their own businesses.

DO you know of any local pioneering women in business?

The 2012 First Women Awards celebrate trailblazing women from the business, entrepreneurial, manufacturing, science and technology, and media sectors who are leading the way for the next generation.

The awards launch event will take place on March 5, and the closing date for entries is April 13, 2012.

For more information, visit http://fwa.realbusiness.co.uk/home

]]> 1.3545117 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:37:56 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/export_drive_prompts_staff_travel_warning_1_3545113

BUSINESSES in Peterborough are being urged to remember their duty of care to employees travelling abroad as more companies prepare to expand into overseas markets as part of the Government’s export drive.

Insurance broker Bluefin highlights as many as 86 per cent of companies demonstrating a significant lack of awareness of the legal requirement to undertake pre-travel risk assessments.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers have a duty to undertake pre-travel risk assessments which should identify the reasonably foreseeable risks that may arise due to the travel.

THE Cartridge World store in Peterborough is aiming to help local job seekers find employment by offering to print up to 10 copies of each customer’s CV free of charge until Saturday, March 31, 2012.

It is part of the company’s national CV Sorted campaign to help the country’s growing number of unemployed find work.

Customers can either email or visit the store in Lincoln Road with their CV on a CD, and have up to 10 A4 sheets printed free.

]]> 1.3545112 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:36:12 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/siblings_are_the_new_generation_1_3545105

WHEN Liz Clare set up a new business venture with her brother, Charles, it was to continue the family line promoting a new innovation in physiotherapy, MBST.

Liz and Charles have opened up a clinic, Cell Regeneration, based in the village of Tinwell, near Stamford, which has taken over the MBST magnetic resonance therapy practice from their mother, Ann Clare, who had enjoyed much success over the past four years.

Ann, a local physiotherapist of more than 30 years, is still the assessor for the clinic and always assesses patients before they begin treatment.

Charles, a sports development graduate, was keen to specialise in sports injury-related complaints following his university days, and for ex-media professional Liz, the new business was an ideal opportunity to do something different in a family setting.

The pair both undertook intensive training at MedTec, in Germany, from whom they rent the MBST machines, prior to opening the business in November 2011. Four of the machines are for medical use and one for cosmetic use.

Their self-financed enterprise is the first dedicated MBST centre in the UK and has already started to attract patients from across the globe.

MBST devices and procedures are used for the management of arthritic conditions; sports injuries of the back, knee, foot, elbow and ankle joints; degeneration of intervertebral discs; osteoporosis and other complaints. The treatment is non-invasive and pain free.

The therapy has been proven to repair and regenerate cartilage, increase bone density as well as a host of other treatments.

MBST is based on the same principles of MRI, with the magnetic fields and magnetic resonance frequency much lower than in MRI.

Liz said: “We have a dedicated treatment centre. The treatment is controlled by chip-card technology which gives the correct resonance to the specific area requiring physiotherapy treatment.”

Cell Regeneration can provide strong supporting testimonials from various clients on the degree of success of the treatments, including one client who had treatment for osteoporosis and already his bone density has increased by 10 per cent.

The clinic currently has people coming from as far afield as Australia to be treated.

So far, it has built up a fair clientele just from word-of-mouth recommendation.

For more details, call Charles or Liz on 01780 238084.

]]> 1.3545105 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:34:34 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/accountants_launch_trainee_scheme_1_3545097

A SCHEME to find the next wave of trainee accountants has been launched by Peterborough firm Rawlinsons.

There are up to three vacancies for post A-level students at the firm’s offices in Lincoln Road, starting in September. As well as learning on the job, the trainees will be supported while studying for their accountancy qualifications.

If successful, after three years, the trainees will receive their Association of Accountancy Technician qualification – the equivalent of a degree.

Following that, they will begin working towards the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) qualifications which will, ultimately, lead to them becoming fully-fledged accountants.

Rawlinsons’ trainee scheme is well-established. A number of the firm’s current partners started their career as trainees and have worked their way up the ranks.

Mark Jackson, the partner who oversees the scheme, said: “This is an ideal opportunity for someone with the ambition to become an accountant who prefers not to go to university.

“It is certainly not an easy option. The trainees earn as they work and receive first class mentoring and on-the-job training.

“In return we ask for a commitment from them to study for the industry recognised qualifications.”

Last year, two trainees were taken into the Rawlinsons fold. James Keith and Harry Fort achieved seven A-levels between them but avoided the scramble for university places by accepting trainee positions with Rawlinsons.

n Anyone interested in finding out more about the scheme or applying for a place should contact Mark at Rawlinsons, Ruthlyn House, 90 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 2SP or email mark.jackson@rawlinsons.co.uk

]]> 1.3545097 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:33:15 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/focus_on_new_key_account_manager_1_3545096

PROJECT management and IT training specialist Focus has appointed Darryl Childs as a key account manager, based at its office in Werrington, Peterborough.

Darryl has a sales, training and account management background in the healthcare sector.

Focus managing director Steve Twine said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to enhance skills in organisations as prominent and diverse as HSBC, SABMiller and the Lawn Tennis Association.

“Each month we have more clients who come to appreciate the quality, flexibility and value we offer. We now need to expand our account management team in order to further develop the high level of service for which we have become so well known.”

Focus also has a record 13,000 courses available online for booking by individuals and learning and development specialists. All of them can now be explored using the new search tool on the Focus website at www.focus-on-training.co.uk

LOCAL audio-visual and automation provider RS AV Solutions has completed its latest bespoke Meridian audio installation project for The Jet Business, in the world’s first-ever, street level corporate aviation showroom.

Rob Sullivan, owner of RS AV Solutions, based in Conington, near Huntingdon, said: “It was a really exciting opportunity for our team to demonstrate their wide experience of designing and installing bespoke Meridian audio systems.”

“We’re proud to have played our part in delivering such a great customer experience for the valued clients of The Jet Business,” added Rob.

The Jet Business, located at 1 Grosvenor Place, London, provides a one-stop-shop for buyers to check out a wide range of business jet options from all the main aviation manufacturers.

Company founder and director Steve Varsano said: “As our showroom’s a world first in every way, it was crucial to provide the very best experience for our corporate and private clients who visit from all over the world. We were particularly impressed with the attention to detail in the Meridian design and installation project undertaken for us by RS AV Solutions.”

For the music solution in the main showroom, RS AV Solutions selected a Control 15 Digital Media System and powerful DSP5200 Digital Loudspeakers, and for the secondary showroom, an Audio Core 200 and Media Core 200 are combined with compact, elegant DSP3200 Digital Loudspeakers.

The client uses Meridian Control PC to import audio content from a wide variety of sources, and everything can be controlled effortlessly using the Meridian Control app on their existing iPads. To complete the project, RS AV Solutions also installed five Meridian ceiling loudspeakers and an AV receiver to allow playback of the jet configurator and other presentation material, all programmed using the client’s AMX controller.

RS AV Solutions recently established a presence in the capital when it joined forces with fellow British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) industry partner Muralto UK to create a “unique Central London interior design showroom experience”, in Seymour Place, London W1, combining Muralto’s cutting edge furniture and accessories with the latest in Meridian home entertainment systems.

Rob’s business has introduced brand new elements of sight and sound to the showroom, which will allow customers to see and hear for themselves how well they fit into any modern living space, enhancing the overall contemporary look and feel. Customers can even slot their own iPod into the i80 iPod dock to experience their own favourite tracks like they’ve never heard them before.

“We’re proud to be industry partners of BIID, and we’re excited for this new collaboration with Muralto UK,” said Rob. “Muralto’s W1 showroom is the perfect environment to showcase the beautiful looks and fantastic sound and vision quality of the Meridian range.”

]]> 1.3545095 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:33:06 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/seminar_aims_to_inspire_1_3545091

A FORTHCOMING seminar will aim to show that to create and run a truly inspiring business is quite simple.

Internationally-renowned inspirational thinker and speaker Paul Dunn will show the way at the Inspire event on, February 28 at the Holiday Inn, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, from 9am to 12.30pm.

The seminar is subtitled Really Growing Your Business, Adding Speed, Adding Purpose, Changing Lives! Among the many strategies to be revealed are:

How to set your business apart in simple ways so you become the “go-to” business.

Why most businesses miss the “wow” and the “remarkable”.

The six “must-communicate” things now in this financial climate.

The seminar, hosted by AA Accountants, is the second in a series of seminars to be offered by the city firm following the Beat the Recession event held in December 2011.

Tickets are £67 but a discount of £40 is available for early booking and further discount for group booking.

To book, contact Hilary Gallup at Hilary@aa-accountants.co.uk or call any team member on 01733 555667. Alternatively, bookings can be made online through http://aaaccs.eventbrite.com/?discount=AAC

As usual, AA Accountants is offering free tickets to the first five ET readers who contact the firm direct.

HEALTH and safety in the workplace have become words that many local businesses are not too keen on.

With endless paperwork and ever-changing regulations, smaller companies in particular can often find themselves vulnerable to prosecution. It seems like almost every other day there are news reports and articles detailing a business being taken to court for not providing enough training for their staff, often resulting in serious injuries, or even in the worst case scenario, fatalities.

This month I thought I’d take the opportunity to tell you about some of the ways the Chamber is helping local businesses keep up to date with their responsibilities and legal duties. The latest addition to our benefits portfolio is our new online health and safety training courses which offer members a variety of different online modules to keep staff well trained. Courses range from basic inductions to fire safety and manual handling, and there are also specialist modules available for employees in housing associations, care homes, estate agents and even schools. If this interests you and you’d like to sign up for a free trial, call us on 01733 370809 or visit our website to find out more.

But, of course, health and safety isn’t the only area that offers businesses of all sizes a multitude of hoops to jump through on a regular basis. Employment law is a complicated and ever-changing field, and one which can be costly for businesses that don’t quite get it right. This is why Chamber membership also provides unlimited access to hundreds of HR documents through our Chamber HR service. Members can build up all the documents they require, including contracts of employment and employee handbooks, and can download template forms to use again and again. This is particularly helpful for those businesses that do not have an HR person specifically employed with their workforce, and members have the added protection of expert advice from the Chamber HR helpline, which is available 24/7.

The benefits package also includes a 24/7 legal helpline and protection against the cost of tax investigations and employment tribunals. This peace of mind, particularly for our smaller member businesses, allows them to get on with the day-to-day running of the company safe in the knowledge that they are covered, with no need to pay out for a second policy commonly acquired through accountants.

Becoming a member of the Chamber brings with it a whole package of benefits designed to aid businesses in many different ways, and it’s not just the company that benefits from membership.

Two well–known Peterborough companies that have recently taken advantage of some of the employee benefits available through the Chamber are Anne Corder Recruitment and Media Matters, with both companies signing up to the Chamber Primary Health Plan from Westfield Health. With stress quickly becoming one of the biggest health issues in the workplace, plus increasing regulation surrounding the health and well-being of staff, the plan is a great way to deliver peace of mind for companies and their staff. It is also a very cost-effective and simple way to reward and motivate hardworking employees while boosting your employee benefits package to attract the very best talent while recruiting. For an employer contribution of just £1.10 per employee, per week, staff can claim back the cost of everyday medical expenses such as dental treatments, optical costs and therapy treatments.

Chamber membership is about more than just building your business by networking to bring in new clients. It’s about protecting your business, enhancing profitability and developing your workforce so that they can work to their best ability. To find out more about what we can do to help your company, whatever size or sector you operate in, why not join us at one of our informal networking evenings? We meet twice a month at the Ramada Hotel in Peterborough for a free, drop-in session that, above all else, gives you the opportunity to meet other Chamber members and discover what we’re already doing for them.

Find full details at www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk. We would love to meet you.

PHIL Cox is on a mission to help companies shake up their working practices and grab hidden opportunities for growth.

Positive Business Development, the enterprise he has launched, sees him go inside small and medium-sized businesses to assess their operational performance and deliver straight-talking advice.

“Most businesses have the scope to improve processes, increase efficiency and reduce operational costs,” said Phil. “But this can be difficult to identify when you’re so wrapped up in the day-to-day running.

“Positive Business Development is about examining processes from the inside, and having the industry experience to know when – and how – things could be done more effectively.

“One of the key aspects of my work is to identify how performance could be raised and to deliver better management information to the board and the management team.”

Based in Peterborough but working throughout the UK, Positive Business Development draws on Phil’s 30 years of working “inside and alongside” manufacturing firms, and focuses on helping those that have the vision to invest in growth.

By going in to the workplace, talking with directors, managers and staff, and identifying areas in which improvement and change can be made, Phil offers a hands-on, collaborative approach to identifying the individual needs of a business. He then produces an action plan for the company and follows this up with health checks to ensure the actions are being implemented effectively to produce results.

“Those firms that are content to put low performance down to the ‘big wide world’ need to look internally at their systems, processes, employees and management information,” said Phil. “This way, they can get more out of what they already have, and be in a strong position to reap the harvest as the economy improves. Otherwise these companies will be left behind.”

Phil is spreading the word about Positive Business Development through local networking events and speaking on subjects such as How to Enhance Business Performance.

He also writes a blog on his website, positivebusinessdevelopment.co.uk, offering free tips and advice.

His enthusiastic and honest approach to business is respected by company directors he has worked with, including Judith Fox, managing director of Horner Brothers Print Group.

She said: “We chose Phil because he brings to business the enthusiasm, positive action and tenacity to achieve the right results.

“He spent time with all areas of the Horner’s business, finding out exactly what was needed, and understanding how to adapt our processes. We have started to see real benefits from the new system and it has had the desired effect – of freeing up our internal resources. Phil’s work keeps on producing improvements and cost reductions for us.”

For Phil, ensuring the client shares his confidence in their ability to grow is all-important. Those that know where they want to be in the next financial year have a far greater chance of success.

“Having spent lots of time out and about meeting business leaders, small and medium-sized enterprises do seem to be enjoying buoyancy and optimism compared with the bigger players and public sector,” he said.

“This is about them having the right attitude to business. The bosses that do best are those that look to the future and plan for growth.

“A constructive spirit and a confident approach are the greatest investment you can make – and they don’t cost a thing.”

n Further information is available at www.positivebusiness development.co.uk

BUSINESSES developers and community groups from across the city are set to pledge their commitment towards Peterborough’s aim to become the UK’s Environment Capital at the first Environment Capital Conference later this month.

The conference, which will celebrate the environmental achievements of Peterborough in recent years, will focus on the sustainability targets set down by Peterborough City Council and partner organisations, Opportunity Peterborough and green charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), in the city’s continued drive towards becoming the UK’s Environment Capital.

Businesses will come together on the day to look at how they can make changes to their working practices and pledge to achieve tangible targets. The conference is expected to see ambitious targets announced, including increasing city recycling levels to 65 per cent by 2020 and cutting CO2 emissions by 35 per cent by 2014. #

City businesses attending the conference will be asked to make green pledges, outlining how they are committed to protecting the environment and helping to achieve these ambitions.

Carol Wakelin, Queensgate’s environmental co-ordinator, said: “Businesses large and small have the ability to make a difference and in doing so can reap significant financial benefits – being green makes good business sense. The team at Queensgate are working hard to ensure there are a range of successful initiatives behind the scenes to help minimise the centre’s impact on the environment and to deliver a positive impact on the businesses’ bottom line. We are committed to working with all of our retailers in helping them to meet their own environmental goals.”

Cllr Sam Dalton, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for environment capital, said: “The city council works in partnership with Opportunity Peterborough, PECT and a host of other agencies to ensure we are doing all we can to save energy and reduce waste, along with the huge number of green sector companies.

“So now is the time to get everyone together to share even more ideas, find out what is going on in Peterborough and discover what the city is doing to establish itself as the UK’s Environment Capital.”

The event takes place at the Kingsgate Conference Centre in Staplee Way, Parnwell, on Monday, February 27, between 9am and 1pm. Entrance is free. To attend, contact karen.gilgan@peterborough.gov.uk.

LOCAL and regional businesses that have reduced their impact on the environment are set to be honoured at the prestigious Investors in the Environment accreditation awards event on Monday, April 30.

The event, sponsored by Eco Building Products, marks the second successful anniversary of the Investors in the Environment (iiE) scheme, which is managed by Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT). The scheme was originally launched as an easy-to-use accreditation process to help small and medium-sized businesses improve their environmental performance and save on their operating costs.

However, it has been so successful in delivering tangible benefits and high-profile recognition that increasing numbers of larger organisations have joined. It offers tangible environmental and business benefits to a wide range of organisations, from a taxi firm that wants to reduce fuel costs to large distribution centres such as IKEA or shopping centres such as Queensgate. The scheme’s reputation has also spread beyond Peterborough throughout the East of England, Lincolnshire and we are in the process of franchising the scheme in Yorkshire.

Last year, more than 12 Peterborough-based businesses were presented with their unique environmental accreditation awards. This year more than double that amount of businesses are set to be recognised with their certification.

There are a number of guest speakers presenting at the awards. These will include leader of Peterborough City Council, Cllr Marco Cereste and renewable energy business specialist Jonathan Selwyn.

The event, held in Peterborough, is free for any business to attend and will also be displaying a number of the latest environmental products and services.

To date more than 600 companies have pledged to develop more sustainable operating practices and, out of those, over 100 businesses have achieved, or are working towards, their iiE accreditation at the bronze, silver or the top-rated “green” level. The scheme has been designed so that any business can achieve the accreditation, but it still remains unique. Businesses have a number of systems to put in place and actions to take, their best practice and green credentials are showcased to the other 600 members and publicised through PECT’s media channels.

The IIE website and regular free workshops are open to all businesses to offer practical advice and templates for developing environmental improvement processes.

For more information about Investors in the Environment, or to book your place at the awards, contact nilam.patel@pect.org.uk, call 01733 866436, or visit www.iie.uk.com More events confirmed for Fairtrade Fortnight Fairtrade Fortnight arrives in Peterborough on Monday, February 27 and finishes on Sunday, March 11 and now includes a free ethical film screening of Black Gold. As westerners revel in designer lattes, impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers suffer the bitter taste of injustice. In this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar coffee industry, Black Gold traces one man’s fight for a fair price.

The events now include Project Dirt Launch (February 29); Fairtrade Stall (March 1); Footprinting Werrington (March 4); Ethical film screening (March 6); Fairtrade Seminar (March 7).

For more information, or to book, email: fair-trade@peterborough.gov.uk fairtrade@peterborough.gov.uk fairtrade@peterborough.gov.uk

PETERBOROUGH’S Eco Innovation Centre (EIC) has re-energised its virtual office services and alongside the rebranding to Virtual Incubation Partners (VIPs), a number of new, innovative services have been added to the new packages.

Working together with the Carbon Neutral ICT supplier Instaprise Solutions, which is a tenant of the centre, the EIC has been able to secure the following, free, exclusive services for existing and new VIPs:

n Carbon Zero webhosting account

n Carbon Neutral Data backup account

n Website design and SEO report(s)

n Flexible physical office for up to 64 hours per month.

n Up to unlimited ‘hot desk’ usage

n Exclusive discounts to the Eco Virtual Assistant service.These additional services, together with the existing telephone answering service, registered business address, postal service, exclusive advertising opportunities and discounted meeting rooms, are available from £30 per month.

For details, or to arrange a visit to the Eco Innovation Centre, visit website www. ecoinnovationcentre.co.uk or call 01733 294520.

TWO local organisations have made extra commitments to the environment this month with new initiatives being implemented.

Bailey’s Sandwich Bars, which have just opened a brand new sandwich shop in Cowgate, Peterborough, have made a bold impact on the city by offering 100 per cent compostable materiels on all of its packaging.

Mark Bailey, from Bailey’s Sandwich Bar, said: “We aim to deliver taste and quality in all of our products and this extends to the packaging. All of our packaging can be added to your compost bin, including the part which looks like cellophane, which is actually made of plant material. It certainly makes lunch taste that little bit better by knowing that you are looking after the environment too.”

Work has also begun at Ormiston Bushfield Academy, in Orton Centre, to deliver sustainable heating to the new academy building.

Kier Construction has started installing the academy’s 400 kW biomass boiler which will supply the base heat demand of the site, with top-up heating supplied from a gas boiler. It is expected that the boiler will provide in excess of 70 per cent of the annual heating energy usage.

PETERBOROUGH Environment City Trust’s mission to plant a tree for every person in the city is entering an ambitious phase with its aim to plant more than 3,200 trees across the city over the forthcoming weeks.

Supported by local businesses, two new sites in the Peterborough area are set to be developed. About 1,500 trees are to be planted in the first site off Malborne Way, Orton Malborne, and 1,300 trees are to be planted on the site off Willow Drove, near Newborough.

Planting days which have been organised by Kier Construction, News International, Anglian Water, Peterborough City Council, Print on Demand and Ormiston Bushfield Academy have been rearranged due to bad weather at the start of the month.

Caroline Hall, PECT’s Forest for Peterborough project officer, said: “This is an exciting and ambitious stage of the Forest for Peterborough project.

“We are planning to plant more than 3,000 tree saplings during February. Without the support of local organisations, the Forest for Peterborough would not be possible.”

If your organisation would like to find out more ways to support the Forest for Peterborough project, call Caroline Hall on 01733 882545.

What is my legal position when a number of staff make requests for time off during the 2012 Olympics this summer?

Many employers are already receiving requests from employees for time off to attend, watch or volunteer at the 2012 Olympics which, of course, fall within the main summer holiday period.

A request to take time off during the Olympics is just the same as any holiday request.

Employers need to balance requests fairly to ensure the business can operate as usual. Most employment contracts permit employers to decide when holidays can be taken and enable them to refuse requests due to business needs. Under the Working Time Regulations employers have the right to provide employees with written notice refusing holiday requests if certain procedures are followed.

It makes sense to notify employees now how you intend to deal with multiple requests for time off, for instance first come first served or drawing names out a hat. Whatever you decide, you will need to ensure the system is fair, non-discriminatory and unlikely to lead to employees feeling unfairly treated.

Olympic events will often be scheduled during working hours. Employers should consider whether flexible working arrangements such as different start and finish times or alternative lunch hours are possible. Employers may anticipate an increase in sickness absence because employees want to stay at home. You should remind employees of your sickness absence policies and address any issues during “return to work” interviews.

Finally there is no legal right to time off for those who have volunteered to assist at the Olympics. As with all requested time off, it is down to you, the employer, whether to grant it or not.

Next week: I want to grow my business but hiring new staff is a huge commitment. What are my options?

-- If you have got a business issue you would like addressing by one of our panel, send it to john.kralevich@peterboroughtoday.co.uk

A week in the life of a local business person:

Monday

My husband and I are very fortunate to live in a beautiful stone Rutland Water village, so each day begins with a walk with our black labrador, Merlin.

I also check and feed our flock of Ryeland sheep, very important just now as the ewes are heavily pregnant and look like tubby woolly teddy bears.

Driving to my office in Peterborough, I review a customer call logged late on Friday for a six-year-old computer file server with two faulty drives which we do not maintain.

Saturday was spent tracking down replacements that are hopefully being delivered this morning.

We recently introduced a new YOU Care service that allows our engineers to remotely monitor servers 24/7 and spot any problems immediately before the servers fail, but our client doesn’t subscribe to this.

I make a note to visit the client soon to review their needs and will suggest they upgrade their service package to YOU Care package.

Hardware or system failure accounts for 78 per cent of all data loss, and it can be devastating for a business.

Sadly, 60 per cent of companies that lose data close within six months.

The drives arrive with us by lunchtime and we work throughout the afternoon and evening to rebuild the server and to try to restore the data from the customer’s back-up tapes.

Some 34 per cent of all companies fail to test their tape back-ups and of those that do 70 per cent discover failure.

Tuesday

I have a meeting with online networking site I Patter, which is aimed at connecting and promoting small businesses throughout the UK.

The rest of the day is spent producing a tender to provide hardware support on a large number of Tally Genicom printers and also a server upgrade from MS Small Business Server 2003 to SBS 2011.

Wednesday

Is the day I work from home. Microsoft Small Business Server allows me to access my PC in the office and I can therefore work just as effectively without being in the office.

I have access to all emails and documents and can also access our Sage accountancy programme.

I work on plans for the business rather than in the business.

I update sales targets, P&L and cashflow projections, and write a monthly email newsletter for our customers informing them of our change in logo and corporate identity along with suggestions on system upgrades.

Thursday

I visit a customer for whom we have recently installed a new HP Proliant server with Microsoft Small Business Server 2011 to discuss the advantages of our YOU Care Package.

New business cards arrive and they look great. The rest of the stationery is not due to arrive until Monday. I spend the afternoon applying to register the YOU Care logo as a trademark.

Friday

I spend a lot of time designing the navigation on the new website particularly the headings and content.

I plan the layout and pass to our in-house web team to put my thoughts into reality. Now all I have to do is all the content. I drop into Waitrose on the way home for their Valentines offer of a meal for two for to give me the night off cooking.

Saturday

I hoped to do a training walk for The Royal Marsden Hospital Fund Raising March which I am doing on March 11, walking 14 miles from the Marsden in London to its sister hospital in Sutton, but it is minus 13C and paths are icy and snow bound, so I put it off for another week.

I light a log fire in the lounge instead and snuggle down to watch the Six Nations rugby.

Sunday

Minus 6 this morning and I meet two equally mad friends for a 3.5-mile run. This allows me to feel good about eating my full English breakfast before starting the preparation for the week ahead. I plan and cook some meals on Sunday and pop them in the freezer.

I always cook a proper Sunday lunch, as it’s one of the few times my family get the chance to sit down and spend time together over a meal.

My youngest son, who is a meteorologist in the Navy, always makes an effort to get home for it if he is not on duty or at sea. However, this weekend it is just a phone call to catch up before he goes back to sea.

A DEVELOPER behind multi-million pound plans to extend Peterborough’s Queensgate shopping centre has warned that the long-awaited project could be further delayed if a neighbouring scheme gets the green light.

The warning comes from Hawksworth Securities ahead of {http://democracy.peterborough.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=2630&Ver=4|tonight’s meeting of Peterborough City Council’s planning committee (link to meeting agenda)} when members will consider ING Retail Estate’s own plans to build on derelict land near the railway station.

The Station Gateway scheme, which has been recommended for approval by council officers, would create 635 jobs on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office in Bourges Boulevard with a 4,300sq m foodstore and 850sq m of other shops.

But Bristol-based Hawksworth, which has long harboured an ambition to bring forward the North Westgate retail regeneration scheme around Queensgate, is objecting to the proposals.

David Shaw, town planning adviser for Hawksworth Securities, said: “To get North Westgate off the ground, we need a critical mass of retailers who are interested.

“We would like to put a food store in North Westgate – it would not be key, but it all helps to make North Westgate fully viable. The more we allow this out-of-town stuff, the less there is to get North Westgate off the ground. There’s only a certain amout of shopping you can have in Peterborough.”

Mr Shaw said the Station Gateway proposal was contrary to approved planning policy in the council’s local development framework and station quarter brief because it failed to prioritise the city centre for retail development.

He said a foodstore and the space for eight or nine retail units contained in the plans would fail to bring people to the city, and its relatively remote location and 310-space car park would mean shoppers would visit it directly, bringing no overspill benefit to the city centre or railway station.

He said: “To go to this site you will make your own individual car trip which only seems to increase traffic and doesn’t do anything for the station.

“It doesn’t contribute – it doesn’t add to the shopping in Peterborough. It will do nothing to make shopping better in Peterborough.”

Mr Shaw also cast doubt on the likelihood of a proposed 130ft high office block becoming a reality in the current economic climate.

He said: “It’s always good if things are happening in Peterborough, but this is a short-term fix to get a bit of retail investment.”

He admitted North Westgate would be a long-term project, but argued it would ultimately be of greater benefit to the city.

He said: “It would bring higher quality shopping to Peterborough city centre, which attracts more people into the city from further away.”

A spokeswoman for Peterborough City Council said: “Planning officers have completed their assessments and the planning application has been assessed against planning policies.

“Subsequently the planning application is recommended for approval.”

ING Retail Estate declined to comment. A spokesman said it would be inappropriate to do so before tonight’s meeting.

Factfile: North Westgate

THE North Westgate revamp would be a multi-million pound development.

David Shaw, town planning adviser for Hawksworth Securities, estimated the investment at £75-£100 million.

It would feature about 500,000sq m of retail space and 100 homes.

The firm was one of two developers in the running to carry out the regeneration, focused on the Queensgate shopping centre, which was awarded to Hammerson but was put on the back-burner in 2009 due to the financial crisis.

But Hawksworth has retained an interest in Westgate and is continuing to liaise with Hammerson and Peterborough City Council about a way forward for the stalled scheme.

The developer has previously said its long-term vision for the “mixed-use” site included a Debenhams department store and retention of The Brewery Tap public house.

What do you think about the development and delays?

Contact our news team by email {mailto:eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk|eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk}, telephone 01733 588719, {http://www.twitter.com/peterboroughet|on Twitter - @peterboroughet} or use our {http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/yoursay|Have Your Say form}

A CITY judge has spoken of his “frustration” after he was forced to adjourn two cases because no interpreters were available.

District Judge Ken Sheraton said he was unable to go ahead with two cases yesterday after interpreters failed to turn up despite requests from Peterborough Magistrates’ Court to book them for the hearings.

Their absence is being attributed to cuts to their pay, which were introduced on February 1 and were agreed in a deal between Applied Language Solutions and the Ministry of Justice.

Before the deal, an interpreter was guaranteed at least three hours’ pay at £80 if they attended court and then £30 per hour thereafter. They were paid £15 per hour for time spent travelling.

Since February 1 interpreters are not paid for the first hour they travel and are paid £20 per hour at court.

The new arrangements are being blamed for interpreters not turning up and between February 3 and 10, Peterborough Magistrates’ Court had to adjourn 12 cases for that reason.

Yesterday, one case, involving a Polish lorry driver, had to be adjourned because no Polish interpreter was available.

Another case involving four Lithuanian defendants was adjourned by Judge Sheraton who said he could not even hear a bail application on behalf of the four, because he could not be sure the defendants would be able to understand their bail conditions if it were granted.

Speaking in court, Judge Sheraton said the situation was “frustrating”.

He said: “This is an issue of frustration. It is regrettable that again the organisation has not been able to supply interpreters.

“It makes it very difficult to proceed at a time when senior judiciary are asking that we work as swiftly as possible.

“This is far from being the only case affected by this and I understand it is happening across the country.

“If bail is appropriate with conditions I have to make sure defendants understand them, which is difficult without interpreters.

“I am adjourning this case until Wednesday, when I hope an interpreter will be available, but I give no guarantees.”

Richard Boucher, from Hunt and Coombs Solicitors, said the problems were affecting everyone using the courts across the country.

He said: “This problem is affecting everyone – defendants, defence solicitors, police, prosecutors, victims and the court system.

“We are here to do a job and justice cannot be done if interpreters are not available.

“There are lots of cases where people who would normally get bail are being held in custody because they cannot give solicitors instructions about their personal circumstances.

“A lot of these people do not understand the British court system and it is unfair for cases to go ahead in those circumstances. It is vital defendants understand what is going on.

“This has been going on for a number of weeks and it is not a happy situation.

“I am not sure what the cost of the adjournments will be but I am sure the taxpayer will not be happy.”

No-one from Applied Language Solutions was available to commentthe time of going to press.

MORE than £3 million has been spent on CCTV cameras by Peterborough City Council in the past four years, a new report has revealed.

The spend puts the council in the top ten per cent of local authorities in the UK, coming in at 39th out of 428.

This is according to figures released by Big Brother Watch in its report called The Price Of Privacy.

The figure covers the cost of CCTV installation, operation and maintenance from 2007 to 2011 with the UK-wide total spent being a staggering £515 million.

The report says: “In the current financial climate, sustaining the level of investment in CCTV is impossible to justify. The surveillance British citizens are now subjected to continues to increase, despite being at a level that makes many other democratic countries recoil in horror.

“CCTV does not have a significant deterrent effect on crime and is not a substitute for police. Yet it continues to be claimed - without evidence - that more CCTV improves public safety.”

According to Big Brother Watch, the city council’s spend of about £3,104,000 is spread across 149 CCTV cameras.

This compares to about £518,000 for Cambridgeshire County Council across a network of 273 cameras - making it 247th in the ranking.

Cambridge City Council is 7th, meanwhile, having splashed out just shy of £5 million on 141 cameras between 2007 and 2011.

Cllr Peter Hiller, council cabinet member for neighbourhoods, disagreed with Big Brother Watch about the merits of CCTV describing it as an “extremely effective method of enforcement”.

He said: “We find it’s been an effective deterrent in crime hot spots.”

While he was unable to confirm the city council had spent £3.1 million in the past four years, he defended its outlay on CCTV cameras.

He said: “It’s money spent wisely and I think there must be a return in safety or peace of mind.”

The council’s investment in its “eyes in the sky” is set to continue, with plans of a spend in the region of £15,000 to £30,000 before the end of this financial year on speakers for CCTV cameras.

Other surveillance schemes have included the use of a Smart car to snap motorists flouting traffic laws.

Cllr Hiller added: “The talking cameras we are considering putting in the city centre would be as an additional deterrent before crime occurs, so that rather than record the crime it could actually prevent crime.”

Big Brother Watch calls in its report for local authorities to review its use of CCTV and where a camera has not been used to solve a crime in the past three years it should be turned off.

Cllr Hiller said such a view ignored the impact of cameras as a deterrent.

He added: “We think very seriously about where we place cameras, but we also maintain them effectively and check the results of those cameras.”

Do CCTV cameras make you feel safer in the Peterborough?

Contact our news team by email {mailto:eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk|eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk}, telephone 01733 588719, {http://www.twitter.com/peterboroughet|on Twitter - @peterboroughet} or use our {http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/yoursay|Have Your Say form}

FACTFILE: survey findings

ACCORDING to Big Brother Watch, there are currently at least 51,600 CCTV cameras controlled by 428 local authorities in the UK.

Birmingham City Council is the biggest spender, having dished out £14 million between 2007 and 2011.

It is one of only two local authorities to have spent more than £10m in that time, along with Westminster City Council at £11.8m.

Leicester City Council has the highest number of CCTV cameras of all, with 2,083 in total - about one camera for every 145 people.

Eighteen authorities have spent more than £1m per year on its CCTV cameras, including Cambridge City Council.

The lowest spender, excluding authorities which do not have CCTV, was West Devon on £737.21.

South Holland District Council, in Lincolnshire, is among a raft of councils with no CCTV cameras on its books, resulting in a £0 spend in the last four years.

However, despite also having no CCTV cameras, Rutland County Council managed to spend £1,381 in that time, the report states.

PETERBOROUGH same-sex couples are becoming more confident in applying to Peterborough City Council to fulfil their wish to be parents. And two couples who spoke to deputy features editor John Baker during Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Adoption and Fostering week say that – thankfully – they have encountered no prejudice.

IT is a question which can still divide: Can a homosexual couple successfully bring up an adopted child?

Society is becoming more sensitive and aware of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people legally taking on a boy or girl as their own.

But many still bridle at the thought, believing that a child is somehow missing out on an element of parenting.

Only 14 countries across the world legally permit same-sex adoption, although because the matter is often not specified by law, other countries sometimes allow legalisation through other judicial processes.

UK couples have been allowed to adopt since December 2005, while other equally open countries include Belgium, Holland, Spain and Sweden, as well as much of South America and some states in Australia and the USA.

But South Africa is the only African country to allow gay adoption, and Eastern Europe and Asia are almost exclusively forbidding.

This week is the first ever Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Adoption and Fostering week, which aims to promote same-sex adoption and fostering through a series of events across the UK.

It comes as foster carers have just been hailed by social workers for their significant strengths in a survey commissioned by New Family Social, the charity behind LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week.

Seventy-two per cent of social workers surveyed saw the “amount of energy and enthusiasm” LGBT adopters bring to the process as a significant strength, while 76 per cent saw “openness to difference, and supporting a child with a sense of difference” as equally important.

The Evening Telegraph spoke to two same-sex couples who have adopted children in the past 18 months, with help from Peterborough City Council’s adoption and fostering team.

The pictures on this page are not our couples; they agreed to talk only on condition of anonymity, but this was for the sake of their children and not because of their sexuality.

As with every adoption their roads to parenthood were long, with numerous home visits, an eight-week assessment course and preparation course, and interviews before assessment and matching panels.

Sandra White of Peterborough City Council’s adoption team estimates that she has been involved in “95 per cent” of adoptions involving same-sex couples in the city.

Unsurprisingly, the number of applications has been rising since 2005, and Sandra said: “I would say there is a steady stream of about two to three gay families a month who enquire about adoption, out of 15-20 couples overall.

“From what I understand this varies considerably with the area, but we know that some come to us because they know other same-sex couples who have been successful.

“The only difference in the process is during the home study assessment, when we ask how they are going to explain the situation of two mums or two dads, in the same way as a single parent adopting someone would have to explain a different situation.

“But there are a lot of books out there that explain how to deal with it, and the different types of families, which make sure that families are comfortable.”

In certain circumstances a biological parent will even prefer their offspring going to a same sex couple when they are still in contact with the child.

Sandra gave the example of a mother who was delighted that her child went to two men, because it meant that there would be no other female competing with her.

That adoption has proved successful, and Sandra added: “For us it’s all about looking at what a couple has got to offer and their circumstances; whether it’s man and woman, man and man, or woman and woman.”

For more information go to {http://www.lgbtadoptfosterweek.org.uk/|www.lgbtadoptfosterweek.org.uk} or {http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/children_and_families.aspx|fostering and adoption information from www.peterborough.gov.uk}

Case study #1: Peter, William and Emily

PETER and William are the proud parents of two-year-old Emily.

The men, in their 20s and from a village outside Peterborough, have been together for eight years.

As with all adoptions it was a long and often frustrating wait for all the boxes to be ticked.

William said: “We decided on adopting a couple of years ago, because obviously we weren’t going to conceive naturally.

“We searched the local area and went to an open evening in the city, where they explained the process to us.

“Then we arranged a meeting with a social worker, to see if we would be put forward, before a house visit and a three month course.

“There were quite lot of steps to go through but I was always quite realistic, and tried to distance myself and not get too excited until it became a reality.”

The duo were approved by a panel and then it was a frustrating case of waiting for a ‘match’.

Last spring they heard about Emily, and when they first saw her...

William said: “We just knew. She was a lovely girl.

“We have been really lucky because she was with a lovely traditional family in foster care, which helped us, because although she was only a year-and-a-half she was in a really good routine.”

The couple, who entered a civil partnership in 2010, both have experience of working with children. William is a teacher and Peter is a nursery worker.

Emily moved into their home last July and has been as good as gold so far, to the point where they have not ruled out adopting other children in the future.

Firstly though they are concentrating on their daughter and the challenges ahead.

“We have had no comments. Perhaps because she has the same colour hair as me people assume I am her father, and Peter is my brother,” said William.

“There will always be those who do not approve of it, but luckily we haven’t encountered any issues.

“The main difficulty will be when she goes to school. We can’t protect her and picking the right school will be essential.

“We will teach her how to deal with things because she will come across prejudice – all children do.

“So we will make her aware at the age of three or four, or as soon as she starts asking questions like ‘where’s mum?’ - that would be natural in a one-parent family, where there is just a dad looking after a daughter.”

Looking further down the line the couple expect family friends to help if Emily feels the need to talk about puberty.

William added: “We know that there will be a lot going on then, and there may be problems in teenage years, but all families have them.

“We are going to be very open with her about all sorts of things, and we hope she will be open with us.”

Case study #2: Sophie, Anna and family

IT was always going to be a boy – or two – for Sophie and Anna.

And the two little brothers they adopted, aged six and seven, have fitted well into the household since they arrived 18 months ago.

Sophie said: “We decided we wanted a family, and one or either of us could have been a mum.

“But we didn’t want a child that was biologically connected to one parent and not the other. We wanted to help someone’s child who had struggled.

“Social services check your history, your family, and your support network. It is a long process but they know these children have had a rough start in life, so they need to know they are getting it right.

“For whatever reason we both knew we wanted boys, even when we were growing up. We don’t know why, perhaps the fact that we were both only children had something to do with it.

“That was always at the forefront of ouor minds but luckily two boys came up, who we adopted 18 months ago.

“The first time we met them we knew we were drawn to them, there was a connection. And we came away feeling that they were the ones.

“People talk about nature/nurture, but there are so many similarities between them and us.”

Going from no children to two children in September 2010 was a big step for the duo, who are both civil servants.

Sophie said: “The first few weeks we were constantly alert, thinking ‘are we doing the right thing? Are we being too strict?’ We now had two perfectly formed little people to deal with.

“It was a struggle, but on the days when everything was good, it was brilliant.”

Sophie (45) and and Anna (34) have been together for eight years, four as civil partners.

They have largely been welcomed, at the boys’ school and in the village they live in.

“I should imagine that the local community had a lot to say, but we have chatted to a lot of mums and they have been very positive,” said Sophie.

“Mostly we get comments from kids asking where the boys’ dad is, but we say that they are lucky – they have two mums instead!

“I have lived my life as a gay female for many years now, and I know that there will be people who do not approve, I know plenty of people who have encountered that but we have to respect that other people have opinions and wishes.

“The way we deal with people sometimes helps; if you are abrupt you can come across angry, and we would rather talk about the fact that we are open about things.

“As the boys get older there will be more questions, but we are quite open with them, and their friends as well, that they were adopted.

“No matter what happens we have been blessed, and it has been worth every minute.”

1.40pm: Former Peterborough United striker Leon McKenzie has today (Tuesday) been jailed for sending bogus letters to the police in a bid to avoid a driving ban.

The 33-year-old, of Northampton, was sentenced to six months in prison after admitting sending the letters to Northamptonshire Police in an attempt to avoid speeding convictions.

Sentencing the former Premiership footballer at Northampton Crown Court today, Judge Richard Bray said: “A custodial sentence is necessary for this type of offence which strikes right at the heart of justice.

“It would completely send out the wrong message if I did not hand out a custodial sentence.”

McKenzie, who retired from professional football in December, was also handed a 18-month driving ban.

McKenzie joined Posh in 1998, on loan where he scored nine goals in 15 games. In 2000 McKenzie joined Peterborough on a permanent basis for a fee of £25,000.

In three years at London Road, he scored 49 goals in 103 games. He joined Norwich from Peterborough in December 2003 for a fee of £325,000.

...“Whitney Houston is dead.” “Great idea Paul” (Marco Cereste, our illustrious leader) and “Joe won us the game.” Sorry the last one was a typo!

I enjoy the bizarre and the ridiculous and positively thrive on the crazy and the mildly insane, but the last week has been off the hook.

After getting “so emotional” over the untimely and rather ugly death of miss Houston and then just about recovering from the “Hallelujah” nature of the funeral (the only thing missing was a Whoopi Goldberg séance), I was thrown into a mild state of shock following the news that my market idea, (move it to Cowgate) had garnered the seal of approval from the city’s biggest cheese.

But that was just the beginning of the weirdness: “Fountains to be turned off.”

Oh no, the curse of Cathedral Square strikes again (just ask Bowman’s the builders).

How will certain sections of the Peterborough public wash their children next summer? Have we not paid the bill? Have they been outsourced and has actor, Sean Penn, been asked for his opinion?

Apparently it’s all god’s fault (no not Gillian Beasley, the real god). He’s not dropping enough of the wet stuff and if we get a hosepipe ban, they may have to be turned off. All of which could be bad news for lazy parents, but great news for fans of concrete watching.

“Smart Car taxis given the green light.”

Taxi for one. Small, environmentally friendly and soon to be a regular sight on the streets of Peterborough. I get it, but it’s not for everybody.

I like to sit in the back. I like my personal space and I don’t want to be forced into a possible inane, garlic and smoke infused conversation about the weather, whilst the driver continually brushes my thigh, in a desperate search for the gear knob.

I also worry about those of a certain size (as many of us are these days) who would struggle to get in without the aid of an army of pushers. You will be walking, which is perhaps no bad thing.

“And finally, heavy metal band AC/DC are to launch their own wine range.”

I thought the newsreader was having a laugh, but no, AC/DC wines were legit. You can choose from Back in Black Shiraz or Hells Bells Sauvignon Blanc (although as one listener suggested, surely Whole Lot of Rose should have been included).

There are rumours that other famous names may be about to come to market with their products too. Rapper, Shaggy, has apparently got a new product for keeping knickers up – Mr Boom Elastic. Michael Bublebath is coming soon and Terry Hall is launching a Specials Chinese takeaway range that you can never eat – 2 Much Foo Yeung.

Locally, councillor, Sheila Scott is hoping her special Quaker oats will sell. Charlie Swift is thought to be taking over from Iggy Pop as the face of a well known insurance company and Iain Forsythe, Premier Kitchens head honcho, is set to launch a takeover for SAGA, although it will have to be re-named to reflect the new owner.

It’s been one very odd week.

Paul Stainton’s Peterborough Breakfast Show is on 95.7FM BBC Cambridgeshire every weekday morning between 6&9am

I recall many moons ago (details are vague when you get this old but my research tells me it was 1995) interviewing the, at the time internationally famous, test-tube mum Pauline Lyon from March.

She became the oldest mother in the UK at 51 and then she gave birth to a baby nearly four years later aged 55.

Pauline, a very sweet, nurturing soul, lied to doctors to enable her to undergo the in-vitro fertilisation treatment which resulted in the birth of a daughter, Lauren, a month before her 52nd birthday.

Lord knows how she had the energy. I don’t say ‘never again’ to much in life – not even marriage you might be surprised to discover – but bringing another child into the world is the one exception.

I’m too selfish and too darn tired and that’s my rite of passage now I’m on the wrong side of the forties and careering towards ‘the big five 0’.

Last week I wrote about the mums and dads of Southwold on the Sufolk coast who are indisputably middle-aged and in some cases creeping towards retirement with pre-school sprogs.

In Peterborough we are more accustomed to teen mums than greying parents of a certain age.

And as grandparents (though I’d like to stress I’m not there yet and I’ve told my two boys I’ll cut if off if it happens any time soon) we are conditioned to make lots of exaggerated cooing noises, spoil them rotten and then politely hand them back.

That’s what middle-aged people do with babies – they don’t sire them!

Middle-aged men are no longer sandcastle building age. If hell is other people’s kids, imagine being in your middle years and having to endure the din generated by the various spawns of Satan at Activity World or Big Sky.

And you no longer have the dexterity and energy to leap around the ball pond or bouncy castle.

These kids are merely accessories for the couples who have everything – the career, the flash car, the huge semi and second home, the breed dogs, what’s missing, ah yes, a child.

You can always tell a trophy mum and dad because they burden their offspring with ridiculous, ‘creative’ names.

Trixibelle, Wigglybum, Romeo, Fuzzywig have their place in Dickens, Shakespeare and Beatrix Potter, but don’t saddle the poor mites with names that effectively emit a green light to the school bully.

You’re supposed to protect and nurture them from the unforgiving playground of life that is the playground – not expose them to merciless peer ridicule.

And when you turn up at the school gates your kids should not have to field jokes about your dad handing out the Werther’s Originals, and incontinence.

*Middle Aged & Divorced

FOR those who love boxing, the most disappointing thing about the press conference scrap between Dereck Chisora and David Haye, was that it was far more entertaining than the real fight hours earlier.

The Klitschko brothers must be the worst world heavyweight champions of all-time. They’re certainly the most boring.

The pair hide behind their massive reach and bulk, taking no risks and jabbing their way to dull victories against relative midgets.

How on earth does a talentless oaf like Chisora survive 12 rounds with a supposed world champion? Indeed I started rooting for Chisora during the bout as at least he tried to fight.

Of course he let himself down afterwards, but even that would have been worth it if he’d managed to chin Haye. That’s a mouth that needs closing and I hope the cameras Haye so clearly loves are there when it happens.

FUNNIEST newspaper headline I read over the weekend concerned Pep Guardiola replacing Arsene Wenger as Arsenal boss in the summer.

Wenger has caused such devastation on the playing squad at The Emirates, the Gunners will be lucky to attract Steve Bruce or Mick McCarthy, never mind the best coach in the game.

Wenger is the classic case of the star who stayed too long. He’s growing increasingly stubborn and the dodgy eyesight that has always affected his matchday viewing has now stretched into an inability to spot defenders with any sort of skill.

It’s sad in a way to see a proud man wither before our eyes. The Arsenal board should act now and turn the rest of the season into a long farewell for a manager who created a couple of vastly entertaining sides, before it’s too late,

MIND you Wenger is not the only manager being let down by awful defenders.

His back four are so bad even that clumsy misfit Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked a world beater the other night, but the standard of defending, even among the top clubs in the Premier League, is terrible, and a major factor as to why no English clubs will make the last eight of the Champions League.

When someone as ordinary as Gary Cahill becomes a top target of a top four club, you know the talent pool is dry. Chelsea pay this plodder £80,000 a week, on top of the £7 million they handed to Bolton, presumably because he looks good alongside David Luiz.

Chelsea also have the problem of John Terry’s decline which is matched at Old Trafford by Rio Ferdinand’s. Nemanja Vidic is a crock now so United’s future success at the highest level could depend on Sir Alex Ferguson finding a quality partner for Phil Jones (clearly he was at London Road on Saturday to run the rule over Gaby Zakuani).

And Manchester City will never deliver the success in Europe their financial war chest demands until they can find a replacement for Joleon Lescott.

GOOD to see that England’s saviour Harry Redknapp is learning how to negotiate his way through knockout competitions. This tactical genius must be delighted that Spurs ground out a 0-0 FA Cup draw at Stevenage on Sunday to keep alive their chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

THE FA Cup continues to surprise. I enjoyed Norwich City’s dour, miserable manager Paul Lambert explaining away his side’s shock home defeat to Championship flops Leicester City.

According to Lambert surviving in the Premier League takes priority over delivering a special day out at Wembley for the club’s fans.

Norwich are currently eighth in the table, 14 points clear of relegation. How safe does Lambert want his side to be?

The Canaries have done very well, but their season will probably dribble out to a dull, mid-table conclusion. Further progress in the FA Cup would have kept the excitement going for a few more weeks.

Instead managers like Lambert have ensured the once-magical competition has been diminished that little bit more.

I’D dearly love Portsmouth to get relegated this season. In fact they’d already be relegated if the Football League had any balls.

Pompey have effectively been caught cheating and not for the first time in the last couple of years. They’ve been spending money they haven’t got in a selfish pursuit to finish above properly-run clubs.

The 10-point deduction isn’t enough. Their playing staff is now protected by administration and, ludicrously, there was even weekend talk of bringing in new players.

Portsmouth probably have the talent to stay up, but they shouldn’t have.

Swanny’s fanmail: send yours by email {mailto:alan.swann@jpress.co.uk|alan.swann@jpress.co.uk} or {http://www.twitter.com/SwannyPosh|on Twitter @SwannyPosh}

I thought I was missing something when the world went ‘Arry mad. I racked my ageing brain because I felt sure I had forgotten something that ‘Arry had done.

Then I read your weekly column and realised that I was right all along. We have got engulfed in a wave of euphoria into appointing a Pearly King as England manager. A comparatively potless Pearly King as it transpires.

Just because the tabloids say we have to have an Englishman this time, enter ‘Arry. So, if he takes it on because he can’t write very well by his own recent admission, how long before he gets found out?

Still, at least all the players will know the words to ‘Down at the old Bull and Bush’.

And it could be worse as Steve Bruce is out of work, another genius without silverware.

Gary Chapman

Harry Redknapp always seems to manage teams that are struggling. He rescued Portsmouth and when he took over at Spurs a few years back they were down at the bottom of the Premier League.

Even you Swann paid him a compliment back then for what he’s done, so he should be the perfect choice for England as he could turn a bunch of no-hopers into a team challenging for a trophy.

I watched Luis Suarez closely at Ajax and knew what sort of a person he was before he came to England and I am happy that he landed at a team like Liverpool.

Chelsea would have been a good option too as I can’t stand both teams and they both have no chance of winning anything with all the money they have wasted.

Mangun

So it’s okay when a Manchester United player attacks a spectator. It’s okay when a United player cheats on his wife with elderly women. It’s okay for a United player to end the career of fellow player.

It’s okay for a United player to have a five-year affair with his brother’s wife. It’s okay for a United player to miss a drugs test.

But it’s not okay for another club’s player to refuse to shake hands with a United player or never play in England again.

Fergie, what a hypocrite.

Ganghis Khant

Your last column was spot on, especially your bit about the press/MOTD (re-Dalglish).

We saw their same love-in for Bruce at Sunderland.

@Grim72ftm

I’ve changed my mind after tonight (AC Milan). Unfortunately Arsene Wenger has lost his way.

@samueljackson

It is time Wenger went. He’s run out of ideas. Arsenal have been beaten too many times with good tactics and Wenger doesn’t know how to change his.

@Maccasports

Has Tomas Rosicky ever done anything to merit his place in the Arsenal side?

I genuinely can’t think of anything memorable he’s done for them.

@squiresm

It was so nice of Sir Alex Ferguson to offer advice to Kenny Dalglish that he should sell Louis Suarez for not shaking someone’s hand.

I’m sure he would have really appreciated such advice himself from his fellow managers after one of his own players kung-fu kicked a spectator.

Mean Mr Mustard

TWO men suffered serious head injuries after a gang of men leapt from a taxi and assaulted them in a late-night attack in Peterborough on Sunday, 19 February.

The terrifying attack happened at about 2.30pm, when two men were walking along Park Road near Peterborough city centre after a night out.

The men, aged 21 and 22, were near All Saints Church, when a silver car with yellow writing on its side, believed to be a private hire vehicle, stopped on the side of the road.

About four men – who police believe to be of Middle Eastern origin – then got out of the car and started attacking both men in the street.

The attackers are believed to have been armed and used a sharp implement – possibly a bottle – to inflict injuries to the two men’s heads.

The offenders then jumped back in the car and drove off.

The injured men were taken to Peterborough City Hospital, where their wounds were described as serious but not life-threatening.

They were later released from hospital after receiving treatment for their injuries.

A police cordon was put up until 10am on Sunday while detectives combed the area to look for evidence.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said: “There was an allegation that a bottle had been used to strike one of the people.

“None of the injured parties had life-threatening injuries.

“We would like to talk to anybody who knows anything about the incident that took place.”

It is not believed that a private hire driver was involved in the altercation.

Police have not yet arrested anyone in connection with the incident.

Detective Sergeant Andy Tolley, who is leading the investigation, added it was thought the attack could be linked to an altercation earlier in the night, although no details of the first incident have been released by police.

He said: “This was a nasty attack and the victims were left shocked and shaken.

“I would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time or thinks they know who may have carried out this attack.

“Any information could be very important to this investigation.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Detective Sergeant Tolley at Cambridgeshire police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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11.30am: The A47 westbound at Thorpe Wood in Peterborough was blocked following a two car collision this morning (Tuesday).

The incident happened on just after 9.10am, the road is now clear.

A police spokeswoman said it was not thought anyone was injured in the crash, but the cars were blocking the carriageway.

CONCERNED residents have backed a campaign to improve road safety measures near Queen’s Drive Infant School, that has struggled to find and keep a lollipop lady to help youngsters cross safely.

About 200 people have added their names to a petition due to be presented to Peterborough City Council on Wednesday calling for a light-controlled crossing in Dogsthorpe Road near its junction with Queen’s Drive West.

The zebra crossing lost its lollipop lady at the end of last term, due in part to reckless drivers failing to stop when instructed. It followed another grassroots campaign two years ago calling for the council to appoint a school crossing guard after the area went without someone in the post for several months.

Councillor John Shearman, member of the council for the Park ward and part of the 2010 campaign, has been collecting names in support of a light-controlled crossing, along with prospective Park ward council candidate Nicola Day-Dempsey.

He said: “We believe the best approach is to deal with this once and for all by putting in a light-controlled crossing.”

Cllr Shearman said the improvements should be a priority for the authority such is the risk on the road.

He said: “What’s the greater cost, a child being killed or putting in the lights? I think, on balance, most people will believe whatever it costs the council that it’s far better to put in the lights.”

Miss Day-Dempsey (33), of Garton End Road, said: “My son attends Thomas Deacon Academy and a light controlled crossing has been installed on Park Road at the junction with Queen’s Drive West.

“It is superb and children and young people are at no risk.

“I hope the council will listen to local parents, teachers and all who have signed our petition and put a similar crossing point in on Dogsthorpe Road.”

Sarah Skinner, acting headteacher at Queen’s Drive Infant School, in Queen’s Drive West, said: “Many cars just don’t stop for people on the crossing, even when it was enforced by a crossing patrol.”

She added: “A lot of our children are accompanied by their parents so we hope they will be safe, but it’s an accident waiting to happen.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Once the petition is received we will carry out a preliminary assessment.”

She said the site was being surveyed to see if it met criteria for the recruitment of a crossing guard.

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FAULT in a car caused it to catch fire in a street in Wisbech.

Firefighters were called to the blazing black Ford Focus in Larkson Avenue at 2.30pm on February 18.

They used a hose reel to extinguish the blaze and had returned to their station by 3.10pm.

A fire service spokesman said: “The cause of the fire was accidental.”

A CATALYTIC converter was stolen from a car in Stamford.

Thieves struck the vehicle in Ryhall Road between 5.45pm on February 17 and 8.20am on February 18.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area to get in touch with them as soon as possible.

Anyone with information about the theft should call Lincolnshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

THE number of young people injured in vehicles on Peterborough roads has fallen by more than a third since the launch of the For My Girlfriend drink-drive campaign a decade ago.

Last year, 152 people aged 17 to 25 were injured on Peterborough roads compared to 240 casualties in 2002.

An annual For My Girlfriend crash reconstruction has been staged locally by Peterborough City Council and emergency services with students at Peterborough Regional College for the past 10 years.

Clair George, road safety officer for SaferPeterborough partnership, said: “For My Girlfriend shows the terrible dangers and consequences of driving irresponsibly.

“One of the key priorities of the SaferPeterborough road safety action plan is to reduce the number of young drivers and passengers aged 17 to 25 who are killed or seriously injured on Peterborough roads.

“Young drivers have the tendency to drive too quickly and to over-estimate their driving ability. They are also vulnerable to peer pressure.”

For My Girlfriend is one of a number of initiatives delivered in a bid to reduce casualties in the 17 to 25 age group and influence their driving attitude and behaviour.

These include a young driver education day, theatre in education productions and media campaigns.

]]> 1.3542377 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:09:48 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/inquest_family_s_anger_and_anguish_over_death_of_popular_teenager_kimberly_harrison_1_3542371

PARENTS of a teenager who died from a heart problem they did not know she had have revealed that her tragic death has helped doctors discover a heart defect in her sister.

Kimberly Harrison (15) died at her home in Oldbrook, Bretton, on 1 December 2010 as a result of cardiac arrhythmia, an inquest heard yesterday (Monday).

It heard how she saw three doctors in the week before her death, with one diagnosing her with a cold two days before she died.

Coroner Gordon Ryall recorded a verdict of natural causes and agreed with medical experts who said there was no guarantee she would have survived if her condition had been detected earlier.

Her mum Kerry Harrison spoke of the family’s continuing heartache after the hearing.

She also revealed that heart tests on Kimberly’s siblings after her death had detected a previously unknown heart problem affecting her sister Fiona.

Mrs Harrison said: “It is like a living nightmare. We are still going through it unfortunately and her sister has now been found with a heart defect.

“It was hard going through it all again in the inquest, hearing about it all was hard for us.”

The inquest heard how Kimberly was born prematurely and had a small hole in her heart, which was detected when she was a baby.

Her family had thought the problem had been solved by an operation when she was eight years old.

The family also released a statement after the inquest that said they believe Kimberly had been failed by medical professionals.

It comes as they found out that doctors, who treated her in the days before her death, did not know she had been born with a hole in the heart.

The family also claim a message that she should get annual routine check-ups after her heart operation was not passed on to them and she had not seen a doctor about her heart since 2005.

Barrister Rachel Taylor read out the statement which said: “We now know that Kimberly missed the opportunity for medical treatment that might have saved her life. Kimberly was always one to stick up for others so now we want to stick up for her. We will be taking advice on what we can do to make sure this doesn’t happen to anybody else.”

The inquest heard the family’s concern for Kimberly’s health started a week before her death when she was taken to Peterborough City Hospital with a bad ankle brought on by no discernable cause on November 24, 2010. She left that day on crutches, only to return to hospital on November 29 complaining of chest pains.

She was seen by Dr Dhakshinamoorthy Vijayasankar, who told the inquest he thought the chest pains were caused by abrasions from the crutches.

On November 30, Kimberly was taken to the Walk In Centre, in Thorpe Road, after her lips and fingers turned blue and she developed a cough.

She was seen by Dr Sophie Ng, who performed tests on the teenager and concluded that she was suffering from a cold and recommended sleep.

Cardiologist Dr Frances Bu’Lock wrote a report into Kimberly’s treatment and concluded the doctors could not be blamed for failing to see the symptoms.

Dr Bu’Lock said that even with regular check-ups and the symptoms being spotted, Kimberly’s death may not have been avoided.

Speaking to the family, Coroner Gordon Ryall said: “You will always look back and think ‘if only’, but there is no guarantee that the outcome would be different.”

A VENTURE launched by Peterborough City Council and Lloyds TSB to help first time buyers has been hailed a success.

The Local Lend a Hand Scheme began in December to help people get on to the property ladder and new figures show there have been 94 inquiries about the scheme.

Of those, seven househunters have already secured a mortgage and are working towards moving to their new homes. Twenty-four others have a mortgages agreed in principle and are searching for a property.

If all 31 mortgage deals are followed through by customers, about £360,000 of the £1 million the council has set aside for first-time buyers will be used up.

Councillor Marco Cereste, the council leader said: “We want to help people in these difficult financial times and helping first-time buyers will give the wider economy another boost.

“I’d like to see even more people coming forward because once the initial pot of money we set aside is used up, we can look to increase it to £10 million - and help even more first-time buyers.”

Many mortgage providers currently need first-time buyers to provide a deposit of up to 25 per cent. Under the Local Lend a Hand Scheme, first time buyers in Peterborough needing a mortgage up to the value of £123,500, need to provide a deposit of five per cent.

The other 20 per cent will come from a £1 million indemnity by the city council.

]]> 1.3542364 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:02:30 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/car_fire_prompts_warning_from_chiefs_1_3542361

FIRE chiefs have warned of the dangers of tackling fires after a person suffered slight burns putting a car fire out.

Two crews were called to Soke Parkway, Peterborough, at 6.30pm on Sunday but when they arrived the fire was out.

A fire spokeswoman said: “If you discover a fire in your car you should get out, dial 999 and wait for firefighters to arrive.”

FIREFIGHTERS were called after a fence and a nearby shed containing a gas cylinder caught alight.

They extinguished the fire in Carron Drive, Werrington, Peterborough at 8.35pm on February 19 and cooled down a butane cylinder that had been in the shed. They returned to their stations by 10.10pm.

An investigation found the cause of the fire was accidental.