Campaigners opposed to new Peterborough climbing wall send open letter city’s councillors

The letter was sent to all of the elected representatives to set out the case against the proposed climbing wall development that would be part of a Lakeside Activity Centre at Ferry Meadows.

The £8 million plans were first submitted to Peterborough City Council in March 2019 and since then have undergone changes in the face of numerous objections.

The city council has recently completed another round of consultations, with plans sest to go before councillors at the end of February or the beginning of March.

The detailed open letter reads:

Dear All,

Nene Country Park and Ferry Meadows are a city wide resource attracting nearly two million local residents and visitors from wider afield every year. This proposal  by the Nene Park Trust will significantly change the future use  of  the Country Park and the atmosphere we have all come to love.

We want you all as a whole council to discuss the above Planning Proposals not solely the Councillors in the Planning Committee.

As our Community Representatives we would want the whole city council to take Responsibility for the huge decision and impact that these planning proposals will have.

There is no apology for the length of this letter as we are concerned that you may be unaware of the following information.

If you read the history of Ferry Meadows it states Ferry Meadows was planned as part of this City’s expansion to give the growing population a green space for leisure and recreation. 

Recreation could be interpreted in a number of ways, however, it is clear and is still the case that Ferry Meadows was created to be a “Green Space Country Park” and in these 40 years it has matured in all aspects of flora fauna and wildlife.

These are valuable assets that are part of Peterborough City Council environmental aspirations and are a really significant contribution to climate change. Why would you want to destroy this?

The Former Development Corporation gifted the Nene Country Park and Ferry Meadows to the People of Peterborough in the 1970s. Responsibility for the management and conservation placed in the hands of the Nene Park Trust through a Lease in 1988.

The Covenant objectives which we think are very relevant included the following; “To provide for the inhabitants of Peterborough and the surrounding area by management maintenance and improvement of the Park as a country park for the benefit of said inhabitants and to ensure free access to said inhabitants…” further “to conserve and safeguard wildlife in and around the Park and to encourage secure and maintain existing  and new habitats… for the preservation of the flora and fauna of the area…” 

The Trust received considerable assets to financially support and provide for their work in the Park.  Information regarding Nene Park Trust’s Finances can be found on the Companies House website.

Yes, the Development Corporation looked at alternative plans by the Loughborough Recreation Planning Consultants but the submission was rejected as too commercial and large scale and detracting from the purpose of creating a quiet haven, a refuge for both people and wildlife, its current purpose as it stands today.

It is popular for its established wildlife, its mature trees and hedgerows that look visually pleasing but also play a hugely important role environmentally, they are indeed the ‘lungs of the city!’ 

There are healthy, mature trees and they are doing their work. To remove some of these for the new proposed car park or widening of the internal single access road is a travesty!

To plant three new saplings for each tree removed (as recommended by Peterborough City Council) in their place will take years of growth before they will reach the same capacities, if indeed they survive!

It is certain that the established wildlife at Ferry Meadows will significantly be adversely affected by loss of habitat, light pollution, traffic pollution etc.

To open the park at night with lighting throughout the public area will have a huge impact. Levels of lighting ie Lux levels remain unresolved

For example the wall exterior will be lit at 300 Lux at night, the maximum that bats can tolerate is 0.005 Lux.

Dr Stebbings  (International Bat Expert ) has reported his views and concerns on the planning portal.

The recent Applicants Ecology Report looks at ecology implications for widening the access track. We would assume plans will follow. 

Widening the internal access single track will see the significant further loss of wildlife habitats hedgerows, trees, increase of speed of vehicles along this track and lead to issues of roadkill as the wildlife are used to the park being closed in line with the seasons.

The intention is  to build an International Climbing Centre as it has recently been named, of 34.25 meters, which in itself brings significantly more impact on the Park overall, on the Level 3 floodplain, the highest, most serious level, within which are also levels A and B. 

Yes, as humans, we can build on a floodplain, it doesn’t mean we should, and you only need to watch the news every year to see the devastation that this practice in places has caused!

Nationally it is now recognised that building on a floodplain should only take place when there is no alternative. (Ministerial letter of advice also on the planning portal)

We believe that councillors need to consider whether this is truly an essential building, in this location?

Graham Walker, who was a former Architect for the Development Corporation, and knows Ferry Meadows very well, particularly the floodplain, has strongly advised against this development, as his report on the planning portal explains.

We are concerned about the way Nene Park Trust looked at alternative sites ie Sequential Testing a legal requirement. The first report was a desktop exercise that included a clearly inappropriate site near Woodhall Spa in the Lincolnshire Wolds!

The second attempt on behalf of Nene Park Trust included more local sites, discounted  because the land was not leased by Nene Park Trust. As it would appear that Peterborough City Council have plans to request Nene Park Trust to look after Peterborough City Council amenity land then surely this will open up more site possibilities?

In fact, the Whitworth Flour Mill was raised as a viable option with Gillian Beesley as again its sale had fallen through, there was even a suggestion to possibly incorporate the wall into the building. This was declined. This mill is again available and ‘under bids‘ are being considered!

In the last two years, the Nene Park Trust has failed to respond to the suggestion of the Woodlands Site at Splash Lane Castor as an alternative site for the proposal. The land in question is an asset held by The Nene Park Trust.

We are aware that a change in the covenant arrangements has enabled the Nene Park Trust and Peterborough City Council to change the use of some of the land on the site to the financial gain of Nene Park Trust.

We understand from records that the intention is to build a Pavilion with the money. However, there is still physically room for this to be considered as an alternative site for the climbing wall. The infrastructure exists as does sufficient parking. Furthermore, this is most definitely not a Level 3 floodplain.

A site on Alwalton Hill was identified as another alternative, again infrastructure and parking present. In fact, just off the A1 would mean no additional traffic into the city avoiding congestion and additional air pollution. This assessment though was inconclusive.

We believe that basically Nene Park Trust decided that they wanted the international climbing centre next to Gunwade Lake on Ferry Meadows and sequential testing treated as an academic exercise.

The loss of Oak Meadow and the Gunwade Car Park affects whole communities within the city and visitors beyond. The areas afford the best views within the park and are a main area for groups to congregate to picnic, take in the views/green space, for peace and tranquility, to observe the wildlife and just get away from it all, this is so valuable! Not everyone can or will want to participate in the climbing wall. Where do the disabled and elderly residents and visitors go for these views as the previous generations have done?

No, they can’t go further up the valley as Nene Park Trust are trying to encourage visitors to do. They  are effectively being discriminated against.

Nene Park Trust’s own reviews on their website, of which there are hundreds, have all been read and approx 98% say how they visit to get away from day to day stress, love being in the countryside, see the wildlife, the green space, the fresh air, a total contrast to the city! How much they love the park! Recite all the memories of past and present with their children and families and friends! The picnics and daytrips they had etc!

In fact, the only real issue of complaint was about the ever increasing car park fees and problems with the machines.

You all know that the location of the park is alongside a substantial residential area, but also the only real way to access the park is by car along a substantially busy main arterial road into Peterborough city! All access has to transverse Oundle Road at some point!

On Oundle Road, there is a large business park with head offices; Some of the buildings are being considered for conversion to residential use; Nene Park Academy, St John’s Junior School, Wistow Junior School (just off Oundle Rd) and further substantial residential building at Alwalton.

The Showground we once had is now a substantial housing area - Orton Northgate, that has continued to grow over the last few years, approx just under 1000 new residential units are due to be built in the area [with residents] needing to travel via Oundle Rd! Of course, the access from the A1 has been widened to improve the access through Alwalton into Oundle Rd!

A traffic survey by us was undertaken over a 12 hour period on Oundle Rd, not at the busiest junction, (this did not take account of the future external developments planned).

Again, this information can be found on the planning portal.

The Skanska Travel assessment on the planning portal has a front cover photo of a highway with a bike and a bus stop. Not one Vehicle! The bus stop on the front cover is nowhere to be found on Oundle Road! This is pure spin with the illusion that this is how it is and would be a safe place to take your family on their bikes, totally not true.

The Residential area and estates alongside Ferry Meadows already experience increasing numbers of cars parking to avoid Nene Park car parking charges.

We anticipate that with the increase in visitors this proposal aims to attract to the park that the situation will only worsen for local residents. Residential areas will continue to become the overspill car park for the park, a matter not addressed by either Nene Park Trust or Peterborough City Council.

The Plans are to open the Park every night until 10pm and a provision to add a further 2 hours after dusk and as and when at the discretion of the park management! We assume that to be at competition times.

The claim is that the competitions will be at off peak times, presumably in the evenings. In theory, this is likely again to impact internally and externally on Ferry meadows and the surrounding community. This will have an adverse impact on wildlife with noise and lighting pollution, parking and traffic moving and people  accessing/exiting the park .

It is of major concern as to the potential impact these issues are likely to have on pollution, wildlife, green spaces, floodplain and generally on people’s choices as to how/where they want/can spend their leisure time!

We have been in contact with national and international climbers most of whom wouldn’t visit because it shouldn’t be in a country park, or the wall is out of fashion ie it’s not the height it’s how difficult it is, it will lose money in their experience!

The international climbing centre has been compared to the climbing facility in Milton Keynes. This is no comparison. The Milton Keynes venue is no way nearly as tall, is located in a business/retail site location and is not set up to attract the same numbers of spectators.

Climbing walls of the size of the Nene Park Trust proposal are built on either brown sites or industrial estates, not in country parks.

A size comparison is the climbing wall nine miles out of Edinburgh built down inside the site of an old disused quarry. 

Previously known as Ratho. At its highest it is 28metres. A few years ago, following significant losses it went into receivership and closed. Eventually to be taken on by the local authority. Currently closed due to the pandemic. However, the Local Authority are being advised to cut the budget to  Edinburgh Leisure by £500,000!

We are reliably informed that national competitions will bring in hundreds of spectators, international competitions may attract  thousands of spectators.

This would seem a significant change of usage and should also have been the subject of a public consultation!

We are aware of some of the expert reports online were desktop written with no site visit and information provided by Nene park Trust. We believe that this is hardly reliable and not independent.

It is totally unacceptable that this Country Park gifted to the people of Peterborough and hence a city-wide resource does not warrant in our opinion a better assessment than some of those already evidenced!

It has not gone unnoticed that some two years ago the word ‘international’ was mentioned by the CEO of Nene Park Trust but not part of the formal proposal, until recently when included in reports relating to the Towns Fund Bid.

Whilst the city was in its first lockdown, when residents were in their homes, frightened, lonely and shocked for some weeks not knowing what the future held  to come out of that lockdown to find out that, unbeknown to the residents, the Town Fund Bid Committee had been formed, met and decided on its shopping list to Central Government for £20m plus.

This information was revealed in the Peterborough Telegraph ‘outed ‘ by a concerned resident.

We are of the view that allowing the CEO of Nene Park Trust to act as Chair of the Towns Fund Committee is a conflict of interest.

We know that money (1.5 million) has been identified from the Towns Fund Bid and allocated towards the costs of the International Climbing Centre at Ferry Meadows. Nene park Trust has always maintained its financial independence of taxpayers/public money for this proposal . This clearly goes against Nene Park Trust’s statement.

Nene Park Trust was leased this Land to manage the country park for the people of Peterborough, no more no less. To reiterate within that lease they have assets and  properties that provide the trust with a regular income.

By their  own admissions they are not a poor charity, even though they are quick to relay the opposite to the People ie when car park machines were vandalised and the recent Covid 19 situation.

They are registered at Company House as a closed charity and the board of trustees is made up of stakeholders, businesses representatives and city councillors

A major issue has been the limited consultation with the public carried out by Nene Park Trust.

Nene Park Trust  consultations amounted to a few hundred (not all in agreement).

We are nearing 6000 objections and numbers are rising; objections on the planning portal petition handed into the Peterborough City Council planning department in 2019 with over 1,100 objections from local residents (97% knew nothing about the proposal). Unfortunately Covid 19 curtailed our efforts.

Without the ability to  petition further we turned to the Change.org petition site, on which is nearing 5000 objections.

When read together this significantly indicates residents’ and visitors’ views!

We therefore expect under the current circumstances that the city council takes all petitions and objections into account.

These figures reflect the strength of feeling there is against the proposals.

Gillian Beesley CEO was approached with a request for a leaflet drop to inform residents of the facts of the proposals similar to the one sent out at the end of the first lockdown re Covid 19!

Ms Beesley declined on the basis as could be seen as influencing either way, we believe that to deny the residents of the city was wrong.

The responsibility therefore lies with you all as elected members on a matter as significant as this! Whichever way residents vote they all have a right to know all the facts and  information in relation to this proposal by Nene Park Trust and the significant impact on Wildlife and the  Environment that these proposals will bring, if agreed, to their country park.

We know that there are further changes to follow this proposal.

Ferry Meadows and its wildlife and environment are to be sacrificed to commercialism. The far reaching implications of these proposals mean the end of Ferry Meadows.

To follow holiday lodges within the park? Further limiting Public access!

We firmly believe that this current council should own these planning proposals and each member should take responsibility for the part they play, including no abstentions.

We in fact expect nothing less, we expect you to look at and consider every single aspect of these proposals on OUR behalf. We do count!

The numbers of objectors should act as a clear indication of public feelings and this current Council will be held responsible both now and in the future on the outcome of the decision on this proposal by Nene Park Trust.

This is our country park gifted to us, your duty is to inform us and listen to us, you are all our representatives.

We are very aware that this project is as much about what is not in the planning proposal as is in it, and if passed will see the end of Ferry Meadows as a Country Park as further obvious plans will be submitted,  eg the possible widening of the access track through the park and where plans are not necessary Nene Park Trust will go ahead with whatever they choose to do presumably sanctioned by you as the landowners.

We were present when you all declared a Climate Emergency, we do not recall any exceptions ie Ferry Meadows, which is after all what you were supporting environmentally and also aspirations to be an environmental capital or were these  just empty words?

It does not give much hope to the city when one of your colleagues, two minutes after the Declaration on Climate Emergency, expressed verbal support for the planning proposals stating it will be ‘good for his boys as it will get them out of bed.’

Nene Country Park and Ferry Meadows are only leased to Nene Park Trust on a 999 year lease. As you must know, the landowners are yourselves Peterborough City Council (wasn’t it transferred from the Development Corporation at the cost of £1).

The Lease documents are clear that amendments to the lease can only be made by agreement of the landowner. Are we to assume that the numerous and recent changes within the lease arrangements eg Woodlands, Splash Lane, changes of trust objects with the Charity Commission, have all been carried out with Peterborough City Council’s agreement? 

Including, and significantly, your permission to allow these planning proposals to go forward in the first place when you as the landowners could have said no.

Ferry Meadows are the lungs of the city, help the people of Peterborough keep it that way.