Celebration for dog owners and their pets could be held in Peterborough city centre

Planning is currently in its early stages to hold a Dogs Day in the city centre some time next year as part of ongoing efforts to encourage more people to spend more time in Peterborough’s retail heart..

The idea has come from Peterborough Positive, which runs the city’s Business Improvement District.

Pep Cipriano, the chief operating officer for Peterborough Positive, said: “Dogs are great companions for many people and we feel it would be great to get as many as we can into the city centre on one occasion as we can to showcase what Peterborough has to offer.

“We want to attract more dog owners into the city centre and involve businesses and other organisations that are dog related.

"I think we could attract several hundred people..

"We want to accentuate how dog friendly the city centre is.

“How many people know, for instance, that the Queensgate Shopping Centre is a dog friendly area?

Mr Cipriano added: “We would like to feature a dog walking trail to help showcase the health and wellbeing aspects of dog ownership. There could be lots of mini dog-related events throughout the day."

It has not been decided yet what to call the event or exactly where it could be held or even when it will be held but it is likely to take place during March to May.

Mr Cipriano said: “We have loads of ideas and it might be something we do twice a year.”

Peterborough's outdoors swimming pool, the Lido, holds a very well attended swimming day for dog owners and their pets at the end of the season each year.

And plans for an enclosed public dog walking paddock at the historic Lynch Farm at Nene Park were recently approved by Peterborough City Council.

The trust says it is hoped the facility will open in the new year.