There are places in Peterborough that people simply accept.

Then there's Cathedral Square.

Mention it and you're quite likely to get an opinion.

For some people, it's Peterborough showing off a little: a big open civic space with the rather spectacular cathedral sitting behind it.

For others, it's a place that should be brilliant but somehow doesn't always live up to its surroundings.

And then there are the fountains.

We'll get to those.

Is Cathedral Square really Peterborough's most divisive public space?

There's no citywide poll proving it, so we can't hand it the trophy just yet.

But it's certainly a contender.

First, look at what Peterborough has here

It's easy to become blind to things you see regularly.

Cathedral Square has something many towns would love to plonk in the middle of their centre: Peterborough Cathedral.

That's quite a backdrop.

The square itself provides a large pedestrian space where people can meet, attend events, wander through or simply sit without having to buy anything.

The Academy of Urbanism has previously praised the redevelopment of Cathedral Square as a pedestrian-focused civic space that helped improve perceptions of Peterborough.

The Peterborough Civic Society has also recognised the strength of the setting and the historic buildings surrounding it.

Stand in the right spot on a decent day and it's difficult to argue that Peterborough doesn't have the raw ingredients for an impressive city-centre square.

But that's also where the frustration begins.

With a setting this good, should the square feel more lively than it sometimes does?

Ah yes. The fountains

Few things demonstrate the Cathedral Square divide better than the fountains.

They're essentially water jets.

You wouldn't think this would be controversial.

This is Peterborough, though. We can work with that.

Local reporting has previously covered a public vote over keeping the Cathedral Square fountains following reported costs of around £35,000 for repairs and operation.

And suddenly the fountains weren't really about fountains anymore.

One person sees children playing in the water on a warm afternoon and thinks: this is exactly what a public square should be for.

Someone else looks at the cost and thinks: Couldn't we spend that money on something more important?

Both are really asking the same question:

What should Peterborough get for the money it spends on its city centre?

That's why the argument has lasted longer than you'd expect for some water squirting out of the pavement.

Perhaps the real problem is what happens when nothing is happening

Cathedral Square can work brilliantly when there's an event taking place.

The more difficult question is what it's like on an ordinary Tuesday.

No market.

No festival.

No special occasion.

Just the square.

Criticism from the Peterborough Civic Society has previously touched on malfunctioning fountains and a lack of activity.

And that's probably closer to the heart of the debate.

A public square can be beautifully designed and still leave people wondering what they're supposed to do there.

One person might enjoy the openness.

Another might describe exactly the same space as empty.

Someone might feel perfectly comfortable walking through in the evening, while another person might avoid it.

None of those experiences necessarily disproves the others.

They're different experiences of the same place.

Is Cathedral Square actually overrated?

Probably the more interesting question is whether Peterborough is making enough of it.

Because calling Cathedral Square overrated seems unfair.

The cathedral isn't overrated. The historic setting isn't imaginary.

Having a large pedestrian public space in the heart of the city genuinely has value.

But pretending everything is perfect would be equally unhelpful.

A handsome square isn't automatically a successful one.

The real test is whether people want to spend time there when they don't have a specific reason to be there.

Would you meet a friend there?

Sit there with lunch?

Bring the children into town because of it?

Hang around for half an hour rather than simply walking through?

Those answers probably tell us more than another architectural award ever could.

And with Peterborough continuing to consider the future of its city centre, Cathedral Square sits right in the middle of the conversation — literally.

Maybe that's why people care enough to complain about it.

If Cathedral Square were completely hopeless, we'd probably have stopped arguing.

Instead, it's beautiful enough to defend and frustrating enough to criticise.

Which feels very Peterborough indeed.

Your turn: defend it or criticise it

What do you actually think of Cathedral Square?

Is it one of Peterborough's best public spaces, a missed opportunity, or somewhere you barely think about as you walk through?

And what one realistic change would make you spend more time there?

Leave your view in the comments.

Or nominate the next Peterborough place for our local debate a street, park, venue, attraction or public space that seems to generate far stronger opinions than it has any right to.