Political View: Saviour or same old?

 So Labour’s saviour from ‘oop North’ is coming to save us from the lack lustre appeal of his Labour predecessor, writes Conservative Group deputy leader Steve Allen.

Whilst Keir Starmer didn’t possess an electrifying personality and wasn’t a media favourite as a great communicator, we need to question whether a change of face as our Prime Minister will really change the fortunes of our country and set us on a course for the sunlit uplands of prosperity and renewed growth, or merely be more of the same, albeit with a new face and with a likely a tweak of policy in a leftwards direction.

As a Conservative it’s comforting to see Kemi Badenoch establishing herself as a popular leader with positive ratings from a wide variety of sources. She acknowledged that her mission to rebuild the party following a historic defeat would not be an overnight task, and returning the party to electoral success required time and patience.

 It’s clear that policy is paying dividends and that Kemi is growing into an excellent Leader of the opposition, both at the despatch box and when out and about in the country.

Kemi has been a friend of Peterborough Conservatives, making visits to support Paul Bristow whist an MP, and with his successful campaign to be elected as Mayor of Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority.  Many of us were at the Conservative Party Conference last Autumn, an occasion that is highly praised as a tour de force for her; blending a positive stance on borders and immigration with a commitment to leave the ECHR,  a bold economic strategy with the abolition of Stamp Duty on main residences, and importantly, a commitment to Rebuild and Renew.

Now there is a new adversary, it will be interesting to see how the Commons interactions develop.

Meanwhile, here in Peterborough the Council is about to pour 1000 tonnes of concrete into the two subways beneath the Queensgate roundabout and create a ground level pedestrian and cycle route into the city centre. This will see the roundabout and the city centre road system subjected to lane restrictions and diversions until mid-2027!

Many have questioned whether the exercise is worth the disruption that will be caused. Progress and regeneration is essential, and certainly the brave new world of our dual carriageway city centre roads and parkways was widely supported when put in place with the exciting urban improvements implemented by the Development Corporation in the 60’s & 70’s. But times change quickly these days, and underpasses are now regarded as ‘’dark and threatening’’ and they are to be filled in with the replacement pavements constructed at ground level, together with an ‘’at grade’ pedestrian crossing providing access to Cowgate.

Many in the city are saying the ‘dark and unwelcoming’ walkways could easily be combatted by regular re-painting, assiduous cleaning, and brighter lighting. Meaning the pending works could be aborted, and vehicles then not being subjected to recurring demands to stop whilst walkers, cyclists and ‘’wheelers’’ come ‘to and fro’ on the ground level traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing.

I am not convinced by the need for these works. The Station Quarter project of course has enormous potential to improve that area of our city, and the new western vehicle  and pedestrian access from Thorpe Road offers undeniable advantages.

But with still no resolution to the Great Northern hotel acquisition, and therefore the building standing in the way of a real holistic development of the area, and of course with the North Westgate Redevelopment continuing to be bogged down, and seemingly a long way to realisation, those leaving the station will need to avert their eyes not to catch a glimpse of urban decay on their near horizon.