Hannah Gray meets members of the local community.

'You're in town, but you're not, it looks lovely'

One couple lucky enough to call the wide, tree-lined street that is Broadway home are Julie and Kevin Tatam.

Julie (46), a company secretary and carer, and businessman husband Kevin (48) were no strangers to the Central Park area when they moved into their five-bedroom '30s house four years ago.

They had previously lived in Nottingham Way, and Julie's parents, who now live in an annex to her house, had lived in Millfield.

Julie said: "Myself and my husband and my mum and dad have always lived in this area. It was mum and dad that wanted to stay local to be near their friends as they got older."

Julie's parents are perhaps the people who get to enjoy the nearby Central Park the most.

"Mum and dad go to the park and have a coffee and sometimes they'll stay for their lunch," Julie said. "Vince in the Buttercross is very good, he looks after them. It's nice for them to go.

"Mum's Italian, and Vince is Italian as well. My mum feels quite at home there."

Although it was her parents who were particularly keen to stay in the area, Julie herself is a big fan of Broadway.

"You're in town, but you're not," she said. "You're within walking distance, town takes 15 minutes. Everything's nearby, the dentists, the vets, Queensgate, the library.

"It looks lovely in the summer when all the trees are in bloom."
Julie said that although Broadway is a main road, it isn't noisy and doesn't feel busy.

Her neighbours are also friendly.

"I always like to be friendly with everybody," she said. "One of my oldest friends – we started our first day at school together – has moved in next door."

'It's got a feeling of peace, it's a very tranquil place'
AS far as entrepreneur Jon Cousins is concerned, Central Park is part of everyday life – but that doesn't mean to say he has become immune to its beauty.

Nearly every day, come rain or shine, Jon pops to the park's café, the Buttercross, for his lunch.

He said: "For me, one of the fantastic benefits of the park is the Buttercross, it's a fabulous community hub.

"The people I've met in Peterborough through living here I've met through coming here."

Aside from the café, Jon, who lives in Huntley Grove, also enjoys the outdoor environment of the park.

"It's got a real feeling of peace about it. It's a very kind of tranquil place.

"Having said that, I think it's fabulous because it is such a lively park as well. I think it's fantastic to see kids here, it's a lovely safe environment for kids."

Jon did not necessarily plan to end up living near the park.
He has lived in the city for five years, having moved up from London, where he had lived in Covent Garden.

"My business partner had already moved up to Glatton and we set up an office in Peterborough. I was coming up here one day a week to the office and got more and more involved so decided to move up here," he said.

"I found myself living next door to the park by accident. I'd no idea.
"I was just thrilled to bits to find myself living right on the doorstep to the park as it's just a fabulous place.

"I think Peterborough is a great city, but this is a real jewel in its crown. It's just an amazing place."

'It feels safe and I can walk home'
SINCE Anne Reeder moved into her flat in Princes Gate in October, the dark nights and bad weather have prevented her from getting much use of Central Park.

But while she hasn't been able to explore, it has become and familiar and fondly-regarded sight as her two-bedroom apartment enjoys park views from every window except the bathroom.

When Anne, a management consultant, was looking for flats in Peterborough, her criteria including having somewhere that was in walking distance to town, could possibly be rented out in the future and was in a nice area.

Being new to the city, and perhaps having seen it get some bad press, was Anne surprised to find such a nice area in Peterborough?
"I'm not surprised actually, I lived in a very similar area in Ipswich, so it instantly felt like home," she said.

Now she is settled, Anne is enjoying living in a nice part of the city.
"It feels safe," she said. "If I walk home from work or from going out with friends quite late, I feel safe."

One aspect Anne has had to get used to is that she lives on a relatively busy road, with the associated noise.

But there is another sound she is happy to hear every day – a vibrant dawn chorus.

"That's quite a pleasant noise," she said.

Anne and her husband Mike are hoping to get out into the park more now the evenings are lighter and hopefully the weather better.
But already her guests have made use of it.

"When friends have come to stay, they've gone and said how lovely it was," she said. "It's very handy because being so close you can just send your friends over.

"It's a nice size to walk around and come back."

Credit must go to the workers
FEW people know more about the area around Central Park than Yvonne Lowndes.

Councillor Lowndes has represented Park ward on Peterborough City Council for 20 years and lives in Pyecroft.

She is a big fan of the area, and knows it's more than just a pretty park which makes it special.

"It's community spirit which I must admit has changed over the years, but we're building it back up again now and the park's got a lot to do with it," she said.

Yvonne admits there have been problems in the area to do with houses used to grow cannabis, but is hopeful that things are improving.

"In general you've got to weigh it all up and there's a lot of plusses. We've got all the facilities here, close to the city and we've got good schools.

"If somebody wants to go to the theatre, the Broadway's just down the road. I think it's a pleasant place to live."

Cllr Lowndes is also proud of the role the park plays in staging two concerts as part of the Peterborough Festival, when music lovers sit outside, regardless of the weather, to enjoy the entertainment and the surroundings.

"It's fantastic, you couldn't get it anywhere else," she said.
Last year the concerts were held on The Embankment, but this year they are due to be back in the park.

Yvonne said the park is used by people of all ages and that many enjoy it because they feel secure there.

She said the people who work in the park are key to helping create this feeling of security.

"A lot of credit must be due to the people who are in the park 24/7 such as the staff at the tea rooms. They do a fantastic job. You've also got Mark the park ranger, who's there all the time, and the staff," she said.