Peterborough MP says we should be proud of city centre - but opposition leader calls for major changes after city tops unhealthy high street list

Paul Bristow said ‘he was not interested’ in surveys and ‘bogus studies’ after a report from Bankrate.com/uk that listed the city as having the unhealthiest high street.But Labour group leader on Peterborough City Council, Shaz Nawaz, called for the council to make big changes to improve the city centre.

The survey itself awarded points for gyms, leisure centres, green spaces, vegan suitable restaurants, libraries, museums, well being centres, GP access and pubs, while points were subtracted for fast food takeaways, vape shops, pawn shops and betting shops.

Peterborough was given a score of -104, with Rotheram in second last with -77, and Swindon third bottom with 19.

Topping the list was York with a score of 471, with Glasogow and London rounding out the top three.

Cllr Nawaz said: “High streets aren’t doing too well as we all know. This is partly to do with the internet alongside changes in behaviour. But it’s also due to the unattractiveness of the high street. In Peterborough there is a lack of choice. In Millfield all you see is an abundance of off licences and betting shops.

“Over the years councillors have been complaining about this but it seems to have been ignored every time.

“If you look at the city centre it’s not much better. Pawn shops, betting shops, take-aways. No wonder people aren’t attracted to going to the city centre. We need more independent shops that offer a variety of goods. Better facilities would defiantly improve footfall. Why would someone with children want to visit the city centre? If anything they would want to stay away.

“It would ne nice to see more green space, other facilities where people can either meet, or use, like gyms. People want a nice experience when they visit the high street. I am afraid our city centre does not offer that. We are a long way off from being where we need to. I am disappointed that the Conservative administration isn’t doing more about this. They have the power but lack the will.”

But Mr Bristow said: “We have seen many misleading claims in so called ‘surveys’ and bogus ‘studies’ about Peterborough, and this is just the latest. There is no doubt we need to do more regenerate parts of our City, but Peterborough has exciting plans around the station, our City Centre and of course the University. This will hopefully mean more choice on our high streets.

“But I am just not interested in studies that talk our City down. The truth is that Peterborough is a City on the up. We have a lot to be proud of and we need to shout about it loud and clear.”

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Counil said: “We are fully committed to working with our partners to promote health and wellbeing across the city.

“Since the start of the lockdown we have worked to promote ways that people can keep active and healthy and we are developing a healthy weight strategy to further support the adoption of healthy lifestyle choices.

“Peterborough’s vibrant city centre which is within close proximity to green spaces, award-winning parks, sports facilities, cycle routes and walkways will play a key role in the delivery of the strategy.”