Westgate retail units and taxi office approved despite fears

A planning application for six new retail units on Westgate, including a new taxi booking office, has been approved despite concerns it could be a focus for anti-social behaviour.

Members of the city council planning and environmental protection committee gave the go-ahead for the application despite its previous refusal on grounds: “…it would bring additional people into the area late at night, resulting in the potential for crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the vicinity of Westgate and thereby would not comprise a positive contribution to the character of the area.”

Speaking at the meeting (Tuesday, January 25) ward councillor Cllr Mohammed Jamil said: “I realise that the applicant has made a fresh application with amendments to the one previously refused however, while officers are recommending approval, I feel I cannot support the inclusion of the taxi rank booking office which has the potential to cause ASB and crime in that area late at night.

“In this new application, the applicant puts forward the idea of marshalls and CCTV to ‘police’ the area and keep latenight, alcohol-fuelled ASB to a minimum. I think the fact that the applicant even mentions the idea of marshalls in the area says that he is expecting some kind of trouble to arise.”

Objecting on behalf of the taxi trade Mr Amran Masood said: “All the taxi bookings in Peterborough are already served through digital bookings on a taxi app on a mobile phone which totally defeats the object of having yet another taxi booking office in that area, so the last thing we want is more intoxicated people hanging around a booking office late at night simply increasing the potential for ASB and crime.”

However, Cllr Ishfaq Hussein

said: “If we are to be a progressive city – and we say that we want to attract more and more people to come to Peterborough – then I think it is important that we make it as easy as possible to come here and when they are here to get around the city; so I think we should grant this application.”

Members voted six for to four against in favour.