Five stories you might have missed in Peterborough

A murder arrest, proposals for a new bus depot moving ahead, and the saga surrounding anti-litter signs were among the Peterborough stories covered this week.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was found in the River Nene in Peterborough.

Emergency services were called to Pleasure Fair Meadow Road at about midday on Friday, 23 January, after reports that a man had been chased and entered the river. Divers recovered the body of 32-year-old Conor Kinlan, of no fixed address, in the early hours of Saturday.

A 19-year-old man from Peterborough was arrested on Thursday night on suspicion of murder and possession of a class B drug. He remained in custody at Parkside Police Station in Cambridge.

Two other men, also from Peterborough, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

A rise in council tax to pay for policing across Cambridgeshire has been backed, as the police and crime commissioner told a meeting, "it's that, or you lose police officers".

Cambridgeshire's Police and Crime Panel voted to support an increase of 4.99% to the policing element of council tax for 2026-27, at a meeting in the city on Wednesday.

Commissioner Darryl Preston said it was his "statutory responsibility" to "provide the resources to the chief constable to run an effective and efficient police force".

Chief Constable Simon Megicks told the panel that without the rise, "I'd be staring down the barrel of [having to make] £6m worth of savings".

A secondary school is to host a Ramadan awareness development session to help teachers better support pupils who observe the Islamic month of fasting.

The event on 5 February is being organised in partnership with the Muslim Council of Peterborough and Gladstone Community District Association (Gladca).

About 30 people attended last year's session to learn how schools could respond sensitively to the needs of pupils, and organisers said demand for the event remained high.

Jon Hebblethwaite, head teacher at Jack Hunt Academy, said it supported its aim "to create a respectful environment where all pupils feel able to succeed".

Dozens of anti-littering signs placed by volunteers across Peterborough could be removed after the council said it had received complaints that some were "offensive".

The yellow signs appeared on cycleways and parkways in the city with messages such as "don't toss litter" and "take your crap home".

Angus Ellis, Peterborough City Council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said the work of volunteers was valued, but "in this instance, the signage was unauthorised... I have requested that we review the signs and their sites".

The decision has been criticised by volunteers who say the signs help raise awareness of a major problem in the city.

An outline business case for a new bus depot has been approved.

The new terminal for Peterborough aims to enable better bus services and provide infrastructure for electric buses.

On Wednesday, the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) approved funding that would enable a full business case to be produced and to acquire land for the new depot.

The Conservative mayor of the CPCA, Paul Bristow, said: "I am thrilled to have the backing of my board for this project. A new bus depot is clearly needed and will help provide the better services and economic growth I'm determined to deliver for Peterborough."

Peterborough United are seven points away from League One play-offs after losing 1-0 at Stevenage. Posh have suffered defeat in three of their past five matches. They were without eight defenders owing to illness and injury.

Peterborough Sports are out of the National League North relegation zone after picking up their second win in just four days. Sports beat Chester on Saturday and then produced a stunning comeback to win against FA giant killers Macclesfield. Sports were 3-1 down before scoring three unanswered goals.

Peterborough Phantoms were denied a perfect weekend as Leeds Knights grabbed an overtime winner in the National League. Phantoms had beaten Romford Raiders on Saturday before losing 5-4 to Leeds Knights on Sunday.

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