Peterborough City Council leader Cllr John Holdich: Show support for our armed forces

This week's column is quite diverse and starts with a request to Peterborough businesses to consider sponsoring our Armed Forces Day events in the city, to make this year's celebration bigger and better than ever before. Armed Forces Day is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the armed forces community, from currently serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets. Armed Forces Day takes place this year on Saturday, June 25, and all the events are organised by a number of committed volunteers, freely giving their time. As such, we are entirely dependent upon charitable donations and sponsorship to facilitate events. In previous years there has been a service led by the Mayor of Peterborough at the War Memorial outside the Town Hall. Last year also included a special event in Cathedral Square featuring entertainment, stands, displays, a tea party and parade. Please get in touch if your business or organisation would like to contribute, donate or sponsor an event. Not only will you be showing your support for our armed forces, but you'll be helping to make this day a tradition for many years to come. Businesses that wish to be involved, or would like to know more regarding donations or sponsorship opportunities, should contact the Mayor's Office via telephone on our switchboard number of (01733) 747474.

If you struggle to find the time to run in the evenings during the week, how about enjoying the fresh spring air and keeping fit by joining a series of free morning and lunchtime runs, overseen by a fully qualified England Athletics Endurance Coach? The free sessions will leave the Embankment Athletics Track, in Bishop’s Road, Peterborough, every Wednesday for 10 weeks from May 4 2016, from 7.30am to 8.30am and another from noon to 1pm. These are part of 2016’s Healthy Peterborough campaign and everyone is welcome to attend and all abilities will be catered for. There’s no need to book in advance, just turn up with your trainers and running clothes. Changing facilities and showers will be available at the athletics track and for further information you can email [email protected]

Lastly, just a quick reminder that residents have until Monday (18 April) to register to vote in the upcoming council, parish and Police and Crime Commissioner elections on Thursday, May 5. I personally think the right to vote, and exercising that right, is a basic cornerstone of a civilised democracy. I hope you’ll agree and we’ll see a good turnout on polling day.

The quickest and easiest way to register to vote is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote but people can also come into the Town Hall on Bridge Street and bring supporting documents to verify their name and address with either a passport or driving licence, or a utility or council tax bill. If you won’t be able to cast your vote in person at your polling station, you still have time to apply for a postal or a proxy vote. Postal and proxy vote application forms are available by calling our electoral services team on 01733 452249 or email [email protected]

All 60 seats in 22 wards will be contested in Peterborough City Council elections on Thursday, May 5. Voters will also elect the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire.

More information can be found at www.peterborough.gov.uk/council/elections