Mayor's View: Keep it local this Christmas and back our high streets
After the rush of Black Friday, festive shopping is now in full swing, and I urge everyone to take advantage of what’s on offer right here in Peterborough, writes Combined Authority Mayor Paul Bristow.
During the recent Christmas lights switch on in Cathedral Square, I was blown away by the fantastic turnout from locals.
We had great fun getting into the festive spirit, but what was even better, was the increased footfall the event brought into the city. What’s local matters. We’re lucky to have a city centre with a vast array of shops, bars and restaurants – offering the perfect opportunity to make a day out of Christmas shopping and end it with some food and drink.
High streets are the beating heart of a city, they support the growth of the economy, provide jobs, foster a sense of community and make it an attractive place to live and work.
But, without customers, they can’t survive. Which is why, I want to allocate a total of £1.2 million over two years to deliver free parking in Peterborough. High parking charges are off-putting. Our city centre and Queensgate shopping centre are losing out to retail parks and online competition. I made a promise in my manifesto to introduce free parking to help improve footfall in the city centre and support local shops and I meant it.
In January, the Combined Authority Board will look to take a final decision on my proposal and in the meantime, I will continue to work with Peterborough City Council to find a solution.
It’s not just about locals; we also need visitors from further afield. We want Peterborough to become a place where people want to shop, eat and drink – which is why it’s great to see that work has finally kicked off at Peterborough Station Quarter. As an MP, I fought hard to secure its funding because I believe in the project’s potential. It’s not just about refurbing the existing station; it’s about looking at how we can better use the space to create a more inviting welcome for visitors and improve walking and cycling links into the city, helping to increase footfall for local businesses.
Our shops, restaurants and bars aren’t the only ones trying to spread Christmas cheer. Around this time of year, our Cathedral becomes a beacon of tourism. Doors are opened to welcome visitors to a range of fantastic events like the festive light installation and Christmas Tree Festival. The Cathedral is undoubtedly one of our region’s greatest assets and we must protect it. In September, I secured an investment worth over £299,000 to replace the Cathedral’s failing and outdated lighting with a modern, energy-efficient system. This will improve safety and ensure our Cathedral can continue hosting cultural events that bring people to the city centre.
A greater police presence in the city would also go a long way. With more people coming to the centre, that feeling of reassurance makes a big difference and gives people confidence to shop longer and more often.
It’s all about having the future in mind. We’re not just looking at standalone projects; we’re focused on the bigger picture. We want to rejuvenate our city centre and not just for Christmas. Now that’s proper regeneration and all part of my promise to get Peterborough moving.