Crump99

Refusal for homes is to be reviewed A final decision on controversial plans to build 650 homes on a section of the East of England Showground that was home to speedway racing for 50 years is expected next year, it has been revealed. Peterborough City Council says its appeals committee is unlikely to meet until January to review the decision made on October 15 by the local authority’s planning committee to refuse permission for the homes. https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/people/decision-on-650-homes-plan-for-speedway-land-at-east-of-england-showground-expected-in-new-year-4888020

Signed and good effort up to now with 1115 responses thus far 👏

Surely far easier to produce new plans and build around the speedway as Councillor Fitzgerald whimsically suggested? And although he said that he reads the papers, he clearly didn't read the PCC Open Spaces objection in September (added to the planning portal in error I assume before it had been run by AEPG) which suggested exactly that, with image of speedway track, ring road and hatched beautifully manicured centre green!! I guess the case officer only commented on the revised version that was somehow slipped in without a mention of speedway anywhere within it.

After last week they're stuck in the u-bend with a few councillors who bought in to their guff are trying recover them on a pretty weak argument, compared to the planning committee chair's summing up. Good to see some support today from previous events' organisers https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/politics/council/truskfest-would-be-the-first-in-the-queue-to-return-to-peterboroughs-showground-if-development-plans-fail-to-materialise-4836976 That backs up Councillor Harper's view on viability and ineptness of the EEAS in their use and running of the East of England Showground, The call in is a problem but with one more flush AEPG will be gone!

It was actually worse than that because the report preferably recommended demolition and replacement of the grandstand at an alleged cost of near £4m: so if AEPG do wish to move us then that's the starting point in negotiations for the cost of a like for like replacement. Be careful of what you wish for when commissioning a report! As you say, the grandstand is concrete with a metal framework which doesn't look like a heath and safety hazard despite AEPG's vandalism of earlier in the year. I'm sure that it could be made serviceable (assuming we can find the seats, or some seats) reasonably quickly and for a reasonable cost.

Didn't Jim Lynch threaten to take him to court when Mercer had one of his regular power hour moments about number of vehicles inside the EoES? I can't recall whether it was season ticket holders, disabled supporters or just riders, staff, sponsors etc? Pathetic & entertaining all the same

Peterborough Prime was number 50 in the 56 support letters dumped on the PCC planning portal by AEPG so if that X account really does represent PP then yes he did indeed possibly have skin in the game: Oh dear, how sad, never mind - despite their worthy profile!

I know that you're telling the truth here in that the public face of our excellent working relationship was all a front for the reasons that you state & have told me numerous times. I do have a problem with the rest though, especially how Buster's position changed from his positive 2022 centre green speech to still then running a 2023 campaign that was a downer and negative from the off. He then gave AEPG their PR coup of the farewell to the showground meeting which, if my memory serves me right, he felt deserved praise because he didn't need to do it? (happily made a shedful though allegedly) We were facing extinction and if he'd stood up to Butterfield who then threw us out for the reasons you say then I might feel differently. I appreciate that it's hard work and his money he's invested & investing but it was all very unsatisfactory IMHO.

Its what people think but never been laid out as such and certainly not in such a public forum. Don't think that it's ever been explained satisfactorily what went on with Tomalin but he is still around. I take the 5th at that point. Just checked an e-mail from Aug 2023 and it's strange that Butterfield said that when the EEAS CEO told me that: "I believe that AEPG may have had discussions with the current speedway operators as well as the local authority regarding the possibility of relocating to another site, but I am not sure whether this has been progressed." One assumes that he got that wrong

Basically (don't quote me) he said that Chapman had praised AEPG for what they had done for Peterborough Speedway while presiding over an amicable ending. Butterfield was questioned about negotiating with the consortium but said that he could only legally deal with the owner who showed no interest in saving Peterborough Speedway. When Butterfield was asked whether, during his tenure, Buster had spoken to him at any time about an alternative location for the Panthers he said that he hadn't, despite being aware of the development threat.

Seen him in action about 4 times now. Nasty piece of work. Who votes for that clown?

I'm sure that Buster was well impressed by Butterfield throwing him under the bus in a very public meeting. Not the smartest move by Butterfield & Chapman may indeed break cover now and really do something positive for Peterborough and speedway generally?

Would have been a good idea to get a rider & bike or two. Are they doing that?

If you're about and bored then I believe that it's live streamed (Tues 15th from 1.30pm) here https://www.youtube.com/@PboroughCityCouncil/streams

It's actually quite mind boggling that the planning department and case officer thought that they could take this forward given that AEPG have failed on every metric within the NPPF & Peterborough Local Plan. I kept reading agenda pack thinking that Butterfield & co must have given their eviction of Peterborough Speedway some thought and consideration at some point? He and they clearly never did but now they have their self imposed timeline to meet & the EEAS whining (read the planning portal comments) about wanting their money. They have to throw the dice now and can't undo their incompetence. I'm sure that the Peterborough City Council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee are looking forward to looking at and justifying a decision on this mess?