Stadium stand-off a sign of things to come?

The Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Combined Authority was created to facilitate a regional strategy for the improvement of transport, housing and other issues. Taking a more joined-up, regional approach with politicians from local authorities across the county having their say has its advantages. This week we have seen recently elected Mayor Nik Johnson wade into the debate over the site for a new Posh stadium. Labour’s Mayor Johnson is clear he does not want to see a proposed new Posh stadium on the Embankment. His deputy on the combined authority and Conservative Peterborough City Council leader Wayne Fitzgerald has been vocal in his support for Peterborough United’s planned move over the river. Mayor Johnson is threatening to pull financial support for the masterplan being drawn up to cover the university and Embankment developments, not something that in itself will significantly impact the proposal but it is clearly a battle line drawn. Campaigners opposing the stadium move will be delighted that the Metro Mayor has joined the city council’s Labour group leader Shaz Nawaz in backing their view. Debate is valuable, and it is healthy that such sweeping plans are not a foregone conclusion. But it is a twoedged sword. It could also be an indication that the Mayoral authority under Nik Johnson may decide not to play ball with other key proposals. At best tough scrutiny but at worst the chance of delays and inertia as local authority leaders arm wrestle over details and processes. Perhaps a public vote on such landmark developments might be an effective way to resolve any logjams if our elected politicians on local authorities struggle to reach agreement.