Five Peterborough stories you might have missed this week

Peterborough Cathedral has exceeded its fundraising target

Good news for Peterborough Cathedral which can stay open seven days a week after exceeding its fundraising target, while new padel courts could open in the city.

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

'Delight and relief' as cathedral can stay open

Peterborough Cathedral said it can now stay open seven days a week

Peterborough Cathedral has exceeded its fundraising target, which has enabled it to stay open.

In January, the cathedral team said it needed to raise £300,000 by the end of March to remain open seven days a week and avoid having to consider entrance fees.

Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, the Very Reverend Chris Dalliston, said: "We're hugely delighted and relieved to have achieved and exceeded our £300,000 target."

Ukrainians can apply to stay longer in city

Ukrainians living in Peterborough were now able to apply to extend their stay in the city

Ukrainians can sign up for a scheme which allows them to remain in Peterborough for a further 18 months.

The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) has been made available to those already granted permission to stay in the UK under other schemes.

Peterborough City Council said it had yet to spend around half of the £3m it was granted in 2022 to support Ukrainians in the city.

'Eid celebration can be lonely'

Natalia Zaman said New Muslim Circle had been "amazing" to her

As family celebrations for Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr took place, some people who joined the religion - found the whole time period "isolating and lonely", a charity said.

New Muslim Circle in Peterborough supported converts in their spiritual journey by teaching them how to pray, organising regular meet-ups and hosting meals and celebrations.

Natalia Zaman, who became a Muslim in 2007, described the charity as a "safe space" and a "lifeline" for those it helped.

Padel courts planned for oldest golf course

Padel courts allow the ball to be hit against the back and side walls of the court and the game is a mixture of squash and tennis

Plans for padel courts to be located at one of the country's oldest golf courses have been submitted for consideration.

Company Padel X applied to Peterborough City Council to construct two courts for the racquet sport in the car park area of Burghley Park Golf Club.

Police appeal for volunteers to lead cadet units

Insp Jim Stevenson said one of the most rewarding parts of being a cadet leader was helping young people through adversity

Cambridgeshire Police appealed for volunteers to lead cadet units, which could be at risk of closure without more helpers.

The force runs six units for young people aged 13 to 18 who either aspired to be police officers or hoped to learn life skills.

Without volunteers, it said the Fens and Peterborough group was most at risk of closing permanently.

The week in sport

Peterborough United grabbed all three points at Crawley Town with a stoppage-time penalty in a 4-3 thriller.

Abraham Odoh scored a first-half hat trick and then won a decisive penalty, which was scored by Ricky-Jade Jones.

The win took Posh up to 14th in League 1.

Peterborough Sports suffered their second successive defeat in the National League North.

The Turbines lost 3-0 to promotion-chasing Kidderminster Harriers.

Peterborough Phantoms bounced back with a 6-2 victory against the Hull Seahawks at the Bretton Rink on Sunday.

The week in politics

Part of Werrington Fields in Peterborough could be fenced off over pupil safeguarding concerns

Residents have signed an open letter pleading with a school to accept a compromise and put an end to a five-year row over playing fields.

Peterborough city councillors recently agreed to lease a section of Werrington Fields to the Ken Stimpson Academy, albeit a smaller section than the academy trust said it would accept.

More than 170 people from Werrington recently signed the open letter to the academy trust, asking them to accept the proposal put forward by the council.

Meanwhile, candidates for the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been confirmed. They are: Paul Bristow (Conservative), Ryan Coogan (Reform UK), Lorna Dupre (Liberal Democrats), Bob Ensch (Greens) and Anna Smith (Labour).

There is also a by-election in Barnack after the resignation of long-serving Conservative councillor Irene Walsh. The candidates are Andy Coles (Conservative), Dave Pardoe (Greens), Barbara Reid (Labour), Yvonne Scarrott (Reform UK) and Kevin Tighe (Independent). Voting takes place on 1 May.