Five stories you might have missed in Peterborough

There were calls from Peterborough's Muslim community for the government to adopt an official definition of Islamophobia, while skateboarders said their "safe haven" in Hampton Hargate had become "unusable".

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

A Muslim leader is calling on the government "to do more" to help his congregation feel safe.

Abdul Chaudhuri, chairman of Peterborough's Joint Mosque Council, said hate crimes against members of the community had "significantly increased" and he called on ministers to "adopt a definition of Islamophobia".

It comes as Sarah Jones, the policing and crime minister, visited a city mosque and a gurudwara on Thursday, and offered reassurances that community concerns were being heard.

Unauthorised union jacks considered unsafe or "dishevelled" will be removed from city lampposts, Peterborough City Council has decided.

The move followed a request by Peterborough First councillor John Fox, a military veteran, who said the condition of some showed "disregard for their true meaning".

He said he was "deeply troubled by the seemingly arbitrary and possibly quasi-political manner" in which flags were attached, "without permission or a proper ceremony". Labour council leader Shabina Qayyam said the rising trend of flying union jacks was "mainly due to a sense of patriotism rather than to create division".

Skatepark users said a lack of lighting was putting them at "serious risk" and forcing some to travel elsewhere.

The lights at the facility in Hampton Hargate, Peterborough, have reportedly been out of order since August, and regular users said repeated attempts to contact the council have so far failed to resolve the issue.

Ricky Hughes, who uses the Hampton Park site several times a week, said the park was a "safe haven" for many, but without lighting, it becomes unusable and unsafe after dark.

Angus Ellis, Labour's cabinet member for environment and transport, said Peterborough City Council understood "residents' frustration" over the broken lightning and was working to replace them.

Campaigners have welcomed a decision that a new hydrotherapy pool could be built in Peterborough after the council approved redevelopment of a youth centre.

A private provider has suggested that The Barn on Hodgson Avenue in Werrington could be converted into a therapy pool after the closure and demolition of St George's.

Karen Oldale, of St George's Friends and Service Users, said the decision was a "significant and important first step" and offered "new hope" for users.

A community group has been searching for two librarians who welcomed the service's first visitors 75 years ago.

The Friends of Woodston Library said it hoped to find Margaret Evans and Mary Kirk, or their families, who were employed at the library in Peterborough during its opening in January 1951.

It wanted to invite them, or their relatives, to an anniversary celebration on Sunday 25 January.

The government agreed to postpone Peterborough's city council elections, which were scheduled to take place in May. It is one of 29 local authorities granted permission to do so in order to focus on local government reorganisation.

The move was supported by Qayyum and the majority of councillors, but opposed by the Conservatives, and Green councillor Nicola Day said elections are "what sets democracy apart from oppressive regimes and dictatorships".

Meanwhile, plans for a secondary school in Great Haddon, a new settlement being built near Yaxley, were approved. Plans to extend a school for children with special educational needs and disabilities were refused, while those for an 8,500-plot Muslim cemetery in Sutton were withdrawn.

Peterborough United had their second defeat of their last three games after a 1-0 loss to Plymouth Argyle.

Peter Kioso was sent off after picking up a second yellow card, while Harry Leonard was stretched off after falling awkwardly. Posh are 12th in the League One table.

Peterborough Sports are now six games without a win in the National League North after losing 2-0 at Merthyr Town.

Peterborough United Women continued their unbeaten run in the Division 1 Midlands with a 3-0 win over Notts County.

Peterborough Phantoms crashed out of the National Cup after being beaten by the Sheffield Steeldogs.

Ashley Tait's side lost the second leg of the semi-final 5-1, meaning they were beaten 9-5 on aggregate.

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