Latest news with #NeneParkTrust
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Nene Park Trust appeals for £3.5m to help build activity centre
The charity that runs Peterborough's Ferry Meadows says it needs to bridge a £3.5m funding gap to deliver its Olympic-grade climbing wall and activity Nene Park Trust hoped to start work on a Lakeside Activity Centre this year for it to be completed by Summer aimed for the facility to become a National Centre of Excellence for climbing and para-climbing - as well as offering year-round play and fitness Trust said it had committed about half of the £14m construction costs from its reserves. In a May prospectus, the trust said: "We seek financial support to help to bridge the remaining funding gap of £3.5m that will allow this ambitious, transformative project to proceed."It added that the project could lead to an increase in regional participation in sport, physical activity and healthier lifestyles. "The centre will also elevate Nene Park, making it a beacon for local residents and visitors alike, and enhance Peterborough's appeal as a vibrant city to live, study, work, and invest in," it hundreds of objections, plans for the facility were approved by Peterborough City Council in Nene Park Trust said it had used £2m of its own money to complete the first phase of the Lakeside Activity included building a new car park and improving the lake-side road, widening it in some places and improving drainage and complete the site is expected to be about 34m (110ft)-tall. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Five stories you might have missed in Peterborough
A new pool and sports quarter was promised for Peterborough, while a "lost town" prisoner of war camp will soon be open to visitors. Here are five stories from Peterborough you might have missed this week. Plans to speed up a project to build a new pool for Peterborough were announced on Wednesday. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the city would get funding for a new sports quarter. It could be about 18 months before work on the project would begin, but a local swimming club said it was "thrilled" by the announcement. A prisoner of war camp dating back to 1796 has been bought by Nene Park Trust. The Peterborough charity hopes to introduce visitors to the site, which housed about 7,000 prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars, in September. Historians described Norman Cross, just south of Yaxley, as a "lost town". A petition to reinstate a school lollipop lady made redundant in cuts to school crossing patrols has gained more than 800 signatures. Lisa Bryan helped pupils at Eye Primary School cross the road for more than 25 years. The petition will go before the next full council meeting on 23 July. Litter picker Mark Fishpool said he was a "one-man band" despite 900 people joining his online community group. He said that while many people pledged to help out, only one or two volunteers turned out each year. But Mr Fishpool said he had no intention of giving up his efforts and admitted he found picking up rubbish "very addictive". A community building described as a "second home" that has been closed for a year is being given a new lease of life. The Peterborough Nepalese Society agreed a long-term lease with the council to use Stafford Hall in Westwood. The society, which previously used the building for gatherings, will carry out repair works with plans to reopen it later this year. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Council approves plans for 870 new homes near city 'No confidence' motion published ahead of meeting Cash-strapped council 'not out of the woods' Nene Park Trust Peterborough Nepalese Society Peterborough City Council
BBC News
14-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peterborough: Five stories you might have missed this week
A new pool and sports quarter was promised for Peterborough, while a "lost town" prisoner of war camp will soon be open to are five stories from Peterborough you might have missed this week. Swimmers 'thrilled' at pool plans Plans to speed up a project to build a new pool for Peterborough were announced on Rachel Reeves said the city would get funding for a new sports could be about 18 months before work on the project would begin, but a local swimming club said it was "thrilled" by the announcement. Wartime 'lost town' bought by local charity A prisoner of war camp dating back to 1796 has been bought by Nene Park Peterborough charity hopes to introduce visitors to the site, which housed about 7,000 prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars, in described Norman Cross, just south of Yaxley, as a "lost town". Campaign to save lollipop lady gains pace... A petition to reinstate a school lollipop lady made redundant in cuts to school crossing patrols has gained more than 800 Bryan helped pupils at Eye Primary School cross the road for more than 25 petition will go before the next full council meeting on 23 July. ...but local litter picker gives up his group Litter picker Mark Fishpool said he was a "one-man band" despite 900 people joining his online community said that while many people pledged to help out, only one or two volunteers turned out each Mr Fishpool said he had no intention of giving up his efforts and admitted he found picking up rubbish "very addictive". Nepalese community gets 'second home' back A community building described as a "second home" that has been closed for a year is being given a new lease of Peterborough Nepalese Society agreed a long-term lease with the council to use Stafford Hall in society, which previously used the building for gatherings, will carry out repair works with plans to reopen it later this year. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Tourists could soon visit this former prisoner of war camp
Nene Park Trust has acquired Norman Cross, the world's first purpose-built prisoner of war camp, located in Cambridgeshire, from a private farmer to preserve it as a site of historical significance. The site, near Peterborough, contains the remains of approximately 1,770 French, Dutch, and German soldiers captured during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The trust aims to conserve the area and open it to the public, offering a historical and green space for visitors. The camp, which operated from 1797 to 1814 and housed around 7,000 French prisoners, functioned as a self-contained town with barracks, offices, a hospital, school, marketplace, and banking system. The acquisition was made possible through £200,000 of grant funding from Historic England and £50,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with the goal of sharing its green space and unique stories for generations to come.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
World's first prisoner of war camp in Cambridgeshire to open to the public
The site of the world's first purpose-built prisoner of war camp, which dates back to the Napoleonic wars, has been saved by Historic England funding. Assembled in four months using 500 carpenters and labourers, the historic site in Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, housed around 7,000 French Prisoners and inspired the creation of the world's largest collection of prisoner craftwork. Now, the Napoleonic Norman Cross prison depot site, which contains the remains of the camp dating back to 1796, has been purchased by Nene Park Trust with £200,000 grant funding from Historic England and £50,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Currently there is no public access to the site, but the Nene Park Trust is developing plans to allow visitors to explore the area. The acquisition of the Norman Cross site fulfils the ambition of long-term resident and supporter, Derek Lopez, who died before seeing his vision completed. Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: 'The Norman Cross prisoner of war camp represents a pivotal moment in our shared European heritage that deserves to be better known. After years of work to secure this site, we're delighted that our partnership work with Nene Park Trust, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Lopez family has helped to save this internationally significant monument for the nation.' Functioning as a self-contained town with barracks, offices, a hospital, school, marketplace and banking system the prison measured about 250m by 270m and was designed around four quadrangles. Each one had wooden accommodation blocks for prisoners, as well as an exercise yard, a store house and cooking house. Prisoners created craftwork – including artefacts such as toys, model ships and dominos sets carved from wood or animal bone – and sold them at a regular market. Battles were being fought in Europe, the Caribbean, north Africa and the Indian Ocean with French and Dutch soldiers and sailors captured and brought to the UK. The last prisoners left the camp in 1814 and it was dismantled two years later. A memorial to the 1,770 prisoners who died there, many due to diseases such as Typhus, was erected in 1914. Paul Chamberlain, author and historian of the Napoleonic era, said: 'Norman Cross Prison Depot is unique in that it is an historic site that continues to tell its story, involving communities, both local and national. 'This acquisition will enable more of the story to be told for future generations and provide us with a better understanding of a lost town that had a significant impact on the region over two hundred years ago.'
