VIDEO: MP Shailesh Vara backs campaign to bring more money to Peterborough

Shailesh Vara has added his support to bring more money to Peterborough to protect vital services in the city.
Shailesh VaraShailesh Vara
Shailesh Vara

North West Cambridgeshire MP Mr Vara is the latest politician to back the Stand up for Peterborough campaign.

In 2013/14 the city council received £55million in Revenue Support Grant, the government grant which supports a range of council services, and this will have reduced to just £15million in

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2018/19 and then £10million in 2019/20. That will be a reduction of 80 per cent over seven years.

Shailesh VaraShailesh Vara
Shailesh Vara

Mr Vara said: "We need to get that money to provide better services for the elderly, for the young, for education and a whole variety of other services. That's why I'm going to be taking this campaign to the highest level possible."

The campaign has received support from across the political spectrum in Peterborough since its launch last month.

Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya is one of a number of MP, councillors and others to have called for more money for the city.

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Leader of Peterborough city council, cllr John Holdich said: "We are in the midst of our toughest budget setting process yet and the time has come for us to take a stand. We are having to do more and more with less and less money from the government and I believe Peterborough no longer receives a fair funding deal and our residents are being short-changed.

Shailesh VaraShailesh Vara
Shailesh Vara

"I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved in our city in recent times, but we cannot continue to see our government funding fall at such an alarming rate and continue to provide the

same level of services that we currently do for our residents. When you add population growth and sharp increases in demand for services we will get to the point very quickly where we will have to cut frontline services if our funding is not increased."

Residents are also being urged to back the campaign. They can do this by writing to the Leader of the Council at the Town Hall, pledging their support for the campaign, or by posting a

comment on the Stand Up For Peterborough page on the council's website at www.peterborough.gov.uk/StandUpForPeterborough.