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Five Peterborough stories you might have missed

News imageJOANNA TAYLOR/BBC The Reverend Allison Williams is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a navy jumper with a dog collar and blue jeans. Next to her is a black labrador with its tongue lolling out. Behind them is a partially built green metal fence over grass.JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
The Reverend Allison Williams said she was "glad" to see a fence being built on a field in Werrington because it would safeguard children

A legal challenge after the sale of a Hindu temple reached the High Court and campaigners mourned the loss of a field once shared between a school and residents.

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

Hindu temple sale to Islamic group 'unlawful'

News imageEKTA PATEL Exterior of the temple building with a red door. Bharat Hindu Samaj is written in white at the top of the door entrance and there is an orange flag.EKTA PATEL
The Bharat Hindu Samaj temple was established in 1986 and is used by worshippers from across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire

A council's decision to sell the site of the "principal place of worship for Hindus" in the East of England to an Islamic organisation was unlawful and should be quashed, the High Court has been told.

The Bharat Hindu Samaj temple in Peterborough faces having to leave its home, where it has been since 1986, after the city council sold the freehold of the Rock Road site to the United Kingdom Islamic Mission (UKIM) in February. The temple claims the council's decision had "significant flaws".

The council and the UKIM are opposing the challenge, with the local authority's barristers telling the court that the temple's arguments "lack merit and ought to be dismissed".

Hospitality venues hope for World Cup boost

News imageTipsy Cow Members of the public standing by the bar, watching football on large TVs.Tipsy Cow
Tipsy Cow in Peterborough can accommodate up to 200 fans and will show matches until 00:00 (BST)

The Willow Cafe, Charters Bar and Tipsy Cow are among the Peterborough businesses hoping that screening 2026 World Cup matches will "bring people together" and boost business.

"We want both new and familiar faces to come," said Andy Campbell, the manager of the Willow Cafe in Central Park, which is hosting a fan zone in its garden with a capacity of 1,200 people.

"We want people from all backgrounds to come together as one community."

Campaigners lose key battle in school fence row

News imageJOANNA TAYLOR/BBC Tony Forster looking at the camera with a glum expression. He is wearing glasses and a dark red T-shirt. Behind him is the partially built green metal fence and a van on a field.JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
Save Werrington Fields campaigner Tony Forster said the group had suffered a "significant defeat"

Campaigners say they have "lost the key battle" in the fight to stop a field once shared by a school and the public from being fenced off.

The Save the Werrington Fields group opposed the building of the fence on the land in Peterborough for more than six years, but work on it has now begun.

Since 2019, the Ken Stimpson Academy has insisted that part of the field must be enclosed for its pupils to play sports, citing safeguarding concerns.

Litter group installs upside-down basketball hoops

News imageElliot Deady/BBC Four people standing next to a bin which has been installed on a lamp-post. They are all smiling and wearing high visibility jackets.Elliot Deady/BBC
The bins are managed by the Peterborough Litter Wombles, but they want the council to adopt them

Litter picking volunteers frustrated at a lack of bins in parts of their city have paid for and installed their own.

Members of the Peterborough Litter Wombles group have put up six bins made from upside-down basketball hoops on lamp-posts in the city, including three new installations in the Parnwell area last week.

Costing about £30 each, group founder Harry Machin said the bins had "such a big impact for such a small amount of money".

Free training sessions to sharpen cycling skills

News imageA man cycling on a cycle path. Only the lower half of his body is visible. He is wearing blue shorts, black socks and white trainers.
Free cycling workshops will be held across Peterborough between July and November

New and experienced cyclists are being encouraged to take part in free training sessions held in Peterborough.

The workshop at the Lido, Central Park and Nene Valley Community Centre will be held between July and November.

The week in politics

An award scheme celebrating those who support and inspire children and young people has been launched by Peterborough City Council.

The authority said the Spark Awards aim to recognise the dedication and impact of individuals and organisations, including volunteers working with children across the city.

In planning news, an application to expand a dog-walking facility in Wittering was submitted.

It could see a new paddock built to give nervous dogs a safe space to exercise at Grange Farm.

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