New youth hub being considered by council

Plans to build a new youth hub along a city's embankment are in discussion, a council has said.

Mohammed Jamil, Peterborough City Council's cabinet member for finance, said the authority was considering a purpose-built youth zone near the city's new £36m swimming pool.

The proposed facilities would be based on youth zones developed by OnSide, a national charity that aims to "build a network of state-of-the-art, multi-million-pound youth centres in the UK's most disadvantaged areas".

"They've set these things up in places like Wigan, Bolton and east London," Jamil said, adding that it could be "very successful in attracting youths and trying to keep them off the streets".

OnSide's youth zone in Wigan includes 15 areas for young people, such as four 40m floodlit football pitches and an art room.

The charity's east London hub offers about 20 activities for youths, including fitness, dance, basketball and a climbing wall.

Jamil, who is also deputy leader of the city's Labour group, said the plans for Peterborough were still in the early stages.

"We're still at the infancy stage and it's a concept for us," he said.

"It could involve computers, employment skills or a whole host of things that young people are interested in. We're looking at what has been done elsewhere in the country."

He added the council was exploring funding options for the project.

"We're looking to secure funding to deliver something like this on the Embankment," he said.

"The council would have to fund part of it, but we are actively working to make sure it happens," he said.

Do you have a story suggestion for Peterborough? Contact us below.

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.