Approval for strong Guildhall Walk fence

Alleyway to be shut during the evenings

The city centre cycling route of Guildhall Walk will be closed outside of working hours after a new fence at the site was approved. A compromise solution was agreedbetweenPeterborough City Council and Barclays which has borne the brunt of anti-social behaviour in the alleyway which runs between Cathedral Square and Priestgate.

Thebank, whichissituated next to the problem area, successfully argued that defecation, urination, drug use and roughsleepingweremakingit unpleasantfortheirstaffcoming to work.

However, councillors on the council’s planning committee extended the fence’s opening hours beyond what Barclays was proposing, with access allowed between 8am and6pm, MondaytoSaturday, and 9am to 5pm on Sunday.

And the front gate which faces Cathedral Square will have to be re-designed into a solid-panelled fence before it is allowed to shut in the evenings.

Addressing the committee, GrahamMartinfromBarclays said: “I can honestly say the last 18 months have been horrendous for staff and the public using Guildhall Walk - there’s been threatening behaviour, foul and abusive behaviour, food rubbish from nearby restaurants, needles.

“But the worst thing to have to face is the area’s been used as a public toilet. Even during the day a member of the public was urinating in broad daylight.

“What we proposed is a compromise, not a full closure, so Guildhall Walk will be open during the day when law-abiding citizens and pedestrians can use it.”

The council’s planning officers hadrecommendedthat the application be refused.

However, mostcouncillors agreedwithBarclays, withCllr Peter Hiller saying: “You have my sympathy, it’s a bank you run not a public toilet.”

Liberal Democrat member Cllr Andrew Bond said: “I feel sorry for the bank, but because bad things happen should we take it away from people who use it correctly?”

Barclays had previously tried to fence-off the site but was forced to re-open it after it wastold it needed to send in a planning application. Amanarrestedonsuspicion of murdering Peterborough schoolboy Rikki Neave has been re-bailed by police.

Theman, whopolicehave notpublically identified, but have said is now aged in his 30s and from Peterborough, was arrested on April 19 and bailed to appear back at Thorpe Wood Police Station yesterday (June 15).

He appeared back at the station, and has now been re-bailed by detectives until September 20, so police can carry out further enquiries.

Rikki Neave was sixyears-old when he was murdered in Peterborough in November, 1994. He was last seen leaving for school at around 9am on the morning of November 28.

Rikki’s body was found in a wooded area off Eye Road, close to Willoughby Court at 12:05pm the following day - five minutes’ walk from his house in the Welland Estate.

A post mortem examination concluded that Rikki had died as a result of a compression of the neck – strangulation.

In June last year, officers from the three-force Major Crime Unit relaunched the investigation into Rikki’s murder with a team of dedicatedofficersandspecialists assigned.

Over the past 10 months officers have been methodically building a timeline of Rikki’s last movements and made a national appeal for help via the BBC’s Crimewatch programme.

Anyonewithinformation about Rikki’s death should contact police on 01480 425882 or email operation. mansell@ cambs. pnn. police.uk.

Alternatively, you can give i nformation anonymously, via independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111 or via www. crimestoppers-uk.org.

Guildhall Walk