Five Peterborough stories you might have missed

A new family hub opened in Peterborough's most deprived ward and a sleep-out raised £28k for a homelessness charity.

Here are five stories from Peterborough you might have missed this week.

A trial will see patients who have breast cancer symptoms able to book appointments directly with diagnostic clinics, without going to see their GP.

The pilot will run at Peterborough City Hospital as well as Addenbrooke's and Hinchingbrooke hospitals in Cambridgeshire.

Self-referrals would be made through NHS 111 online or the NHS app, and the trial is aimed at speeding up diagnoses and easing pressure on GPs.

A proposal for an Olympic-size climbing wall in Peterborough is no longer viable due to its cost, the charity behind the plans has said.

Nene Park Trust was granted planning permission in 2021 to build the wall and an indoor activity centre at Ferry Meadows.

The trust said plans had been amended for "a simpler, lower building", and a revised application for a new climbing wall would be submitted to the city council in April.

A family-run burger business is no longer allowed to trade from an A-road lay-by following claims it has "outgrown" the site.

Higgsy's burger shed on the A15 at Norman Cross in Yaxley, near Peterborough, was set up by partners Adam Miller and Amber Higgs in a converted shipping container in 2022.

Their licence renewal has been refused, with a Huntingdonshire District Council sub-committee finding there were "serious health and safety concerns regarding number of people using facility and condition of lay-by".

Miller said the business had not "outgrown the lay-by at all", adding: "We're being punished for being relatively successful."

Families in Peterborough have welcomed a new support hub designed to meet the needs of children and parents.

The Family Hub at Gladstone Park Community Centre, in Millfield, is the fifth facility of its kind to open in the city.

Based on Bourges Boulevard, it will bring together a range of services under one roof, including baby feeding advice, wellbeing and mental health support, and help with children's early language development.

More than 80 people who spent a night in Peterborough Cathedral helped raise about £28,000 for a homeless charity.

Light Project Peterborough offers support to rough sleepers in the city.

Since January, about 150 new people have sought help at its respite centre, The Garden House.

Peterborough City Council's cabinet voted through plans to fence off playing fields next to a school from the public after a heated council debate.

Werrington Fields has been shared between the public and Ken Stimpson Academy for the last 45 years.

The cabinet also agreed to the sale of the former TK Maxx building on Bridge Street to March-based MJS Construction. It is now set to be demolished.

Meanwhile, the council agreed to authorise the refurbishment of Southfields Primary School in Stanground, to create a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) unit. It would provide for 38 children, aged five to 11, with autism spectrum disorder and associated learning difficulties.

Two community champions were chosen to lead independent boards tasked with regenerating the the Paston, Gunthorpe and Welland area and the Orton Malborne and Orton Goldhay area through Pride in Place funding. Jonathan Jelly will lead on the former and Ejaz Moghul on the latter.

Peterborough United were held to a 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon in League One. Jimmy Jay Morgan scored his fourth goal in four games for Posh.

Peterborough Sports remain in the National League North relegation zone after losing 1-0 against Darlington. The Turbines are five points from safety with just six games left to play.

Peterborough United Women are on the verge of winning the Division One Midlands title after being rivals Boldmere St Michaels 3-2. Tara Kirk came off the bench to score the winner for Jake Poole's side.

Peterborough Phantoms finished fifth in the final English National Ice Hockey League standings. Ashley Tait's side will face Swindon, Sheffield and Romford in the playoffs.

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