Rural Peterborough

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Comment by Kevin Roddis on August 25, 2010 at 7:32pm

Hardly a rant Keely. I would add every area of Peterbough, rural, suburb or centre deserves to have a say in how their neighbourhood develops. Marco is on this site extolling the virtues of Neighbourhood Councils and how he wants 'the agenda' driven from the bottom up. Until he starts to understand that it is the residents who should be considered at the top, I doubt anything will change.

Though of course he may well see it that way and he really does believe in bottom up. Evidence would suggest that is the case. especially when one finds out that officers and councillors have pre Neighbourhood Council meetings where they decide the agenda.

Do you go to your Neighbourhood Council meetings? If you do do you question how the agenda is arrived at? Do you ask how many items on the agenda were raised by residents? If they fob you off with a generic reply do you ask for evidence to support their reply?

The next Neighbourhood Council meetings take place next month go to

https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/community_information/neighbourhood_...

to find out when yours is and get along with all your friends.

Yes, it can be frustrating attending them but if you really want a say on how your area is developed that is the place to go. Be prepared to keep on bringing up the same issues meeting after meeting, get as many people to go as possible and make sure you are heard. They will always obfuscate, after all who do we, the residents, think we are holding them to account.

The 'system' relies on people being selfish, only getting agitated when something very directly affects them. It's easy to pick of the ones and twos, they can even use the same arrogant attitude every time and the same vague references to volumes elsewhere.

Unfortunately politics affects all our lives all the time yet for the most part most of us have 'no interest', well not until we are affected.

Now that was a rant!!

Comment by keely Mills on August 25, 2010 at 12:28pm

To be honest on refelction I am just happy that we are even discussing this issue! as it all relates back to David's original point that rural peterborough does need some attention and if they do what a can of worms may open? definitely rant over.

Comment by keely Mills on August 25, 2010 at 12:23pm

I agree on the whole with what you say but people choose to live in a village that did not neccessarily have a enmasse population or indeed loads of facilities and are quite happy to use the city next door to them,because they want that type of lifestyle. I just don't see how villages like EYE or Wansford and particularly their schools can cope with such a large influx and the village communities too without there being confliction. I feel the development of any space should be gradual and with the support of the people within it, otherwise you are just creating social discontent.
Its not selfish citizenship to be consulted or to be part of the process which makes decisions about your community and to not agree or vote against something surely that is what citizenship is about?

Comment by Kevin Roddis on August 25, 2010 at 12:02pm

Villages will always find themselves in a dilemma.

Whilst they resist all attempts for development as such development will at best dilute and at worst destroy the environment they sort by living in a village they are just as vociferous about lack of facilities such as bus services, shops - post offices in particular, schools and these days broadband to name a few.

In reality such services require a critical mass to be viable. It is totally illogical, to prevent others from joining the locality by preventing development and in the next breath saying that those who they have just excluded from their idyllic life should subsidise their facilities.

When you choose where to live there will always be pluses and minuses but to expect to keep the pluses and others to subside, to eliminate the minuses, is not good citizenship - it's plain, simple selfishness.

Comment by keely Mills on August 24, 2010 at 12:45pm

I agree karen, Eye will no longer be a village and have that community which makes it so safe and welcoming. Its not that I am against progress but I just feel eye should stay as Eye and not just another part of peterborough or thorney that gets neglected... oh rant over!

Comment by Karen Toon on August 24, 2010 at 10:48am

Must agree with you both. Peterborough is not just about the 'City' its about the viollages too. I'm from Eye, which I see as a pretty village on the outskirts that often gets neglected as being part of the 'City'.

It's a shame that so many houses are being built and the plans that are in discussion.. I say NOOOOOO !

Comment by keely Mills on August 23, 2010 at 9:31pm

Rural peterborough...
I agree coming from what I see as a real gem being Eye, I had an idyllic childhood and I love the village that kept me safe and still inspires me to be creative in so many ways. I am upset to think what might happen to it if planning has its way.
I am really pleased though at the moment because in my role as project manager for Eastern Angles theatre co, I have been able to programme in dates for the latest tour in EYE, helpston which has taken us out of the city centre, but would love to do more, so if you have any ideas. Please get in touch!