A Commons select committee visited Peterborough as part of an extensive investigation into the effects of an influx of foreign workers into Britain.
COMMUNITY tensions could escalate in multi-cultural areas such as Peterborough because of increasing strain on public services from migration, a parliamentary inquiry has found.
A Commons select committee visited the city as part of an extensive investigation into the effects of an influx of foreign workers into Britain, and has published its findings today.
In Community Cohesion and Migration, the cross-party group concludes the increase in largely eastern European workers has helped local economies by filling low-skilled job vacancies.
But it has also found swelling migrant populations are putting extra pressure on overstretched public services, warning the scenario could lead to a breakdown in community relations.
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Special Report: The future of Peterborough: Immigration in the city------------------------------------
MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson described the report as a "damning indictment" of the Government's failure to provide enough funding to cope with Peterborough's growing population.
He said: "The Government was warned about the likely pressures on the delivery of local services at least three years ago, but took no notice of local authorities.
"We have seen a massive influx of eastern European migrants in Peterborough and a significant strain has been placed on schools, housing, health services and the police. This report is a damning indictment of the inaction of a government which has shown a complete disregard for what is actually happening here."
It is believed as many as 20,000 migrants have arrived in Peterborough since the expansion of the European Union in 2004, though Government estimates are far lower.
The select committee, headed by Labour MP Phyllis Starkey, paid a visit to the city in January during a fact-finding tour, which also took in Burnley, Barking and Dagenham.
During the six-hour trip, committee members spoke to political leaders, service chiefs and migrant groups to establish what effect migration was having on the area.
At the time, Dr Starkey was tight-lipped about the group's likely findings, but the report has revealed an urgent need for local authorities to get more cash.
Current funding levels from central government are based on population figures from the 2001 census, a figure many have argued is now wildly inaccurate.
The full article contains 387 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
