Peterborough Panthers 2023

[TTT]

If anything the election result will just put another dent in the fight to save the Panthers.

Unfortunately Labour will be more interested in building blocks of flats to house third world criminals in.

Will have to do a Workington by finding new land and starting from scratch.

[bigcatdiary]

Posted on the Peterborough City Council Planning Application Portal this morning, an objection by the BSPL and SCB.

 

The following has appeared on Peterborough City Council planning portal:

F.A.O: James Lloyd
Dear Sir,
REF No: 23/00412/OUT and No: 23/00400/OUT
This response should be read in conjunction with our comments of September 2023, all of which remain on the record.
Following the additional reports submitted on April 19 on behalf of AEPG regarding planned redevelopment of the East of England Showground site, resulting in the permanent loss of speedway, British Speedway Promoters’ Ltd (BSP) and the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) wish to reaffirm our total opposition to the scheme.
Additionally, we wish to make the following comments on the Leisure and Community Impact Assessment Report, as prepared by Collison & Associates Ltd. We refer specifically to Section 2 – Assessment of the Viability of Speedway.
We have no comment to make on the nature of the lease arrangement for Peterborough Speedway to operate at the East of England Showground; however, it is clear that a sport which ran continuously at the venue from 1970 until its closure (with the exception of one season due to Covid) meant that it was fully established and accepted in the city, and well supported. In addition to Peterborough Panthers meetings, the venue staged numerous national and international events, bringing the world’s top riders to the area. Consequently, it is even more disappointing that when alternative plans for the site were being formulated, no thought appears to have been given to the possibility of re-locating the Panthers, which we submit contravenes National Planning Policy Framework, which specifically protects sport and recreation facilities where there is a continuing need.
Attention is drawn to the final paragraph of page 11 which states “Anecdotal evidence from British Speedway” which we would respectfully suggest should ring an immediate alarm bell. There is no evidence whatsoever, either on our own website or elsewhere, to suggest that the vast majority of a speedway crowd is not made up of supporters of the home team. There is an attempt to suggest that because a rally in November 2022 attracted around 350 supporters, this was reflective of the Peterborough fan-base, which is a ludicrous position to take. Rather than quote ‘anecdotal evidence’ we would ask why the authors of this report have not communicated with ourselves to establish the true position.
The authors have provided no evidence to back up their claims as to the average attendance at the East of England Arena, which has in fact been substantially higher than 1,000 in recent seasons, and the reference to declining attendance in autumn is also a work of fiction, given that meetings which are staged in autumn tend to be important play-off fixtures, hence in autumn 2021 when Peterborough clinched the league title, attendances were in fact at their highest level in years.
Page 12 also quotes “national evidence shows speedway is a declining sport” and goes on to make reference to a Guardian item published in 2019. Many of the arguments which follow have already been disproven in the recent public inquiry into the closure of Brandon Stadium, Coventry, which also quoted the same document, and we urge careful studying of the Coventry case. In particular, the section concerning TV figures is an inaccurate and disingenuous reflection of the position, and also takes no note of the current very successful arrangement with Eurosport/discovery+ as well as live streaming with the sport recording significantly increased viewing figures over recent years. Material in this section has been largely copied and pasted from other planning reports, which have been disproven elsewhere and accepted as inaccurate by their author.
Page 12 also includes a bizarre and frankly irrelevant section relating to meetings being affected by the weather. It is also inaccurate, given that the NDL Final in 2023 was not between Mildenhall and Leicester – it was between Oxford and Leicester. Speedway, like any sport and particularly motorsport, can of course be affected by the weather, but the argument of “forcing paying attendees home without witnessing any

matches” ignores the point that attendees would be allowed into the re-staging free of charge (or paying a proportionate admission should a meeting be abandoned during the event).
The statement “This risk exists as conditions are only fully known once riders attempt riding the track, with the NDL final being called off after a leading rider suffered an accident” is completely false as the NDL final proceeded in satisfactory conditions, there was an accident in the 12th race out of 15 which was not related to the track being “slippery”, and then in the period whilst the rider was being attended to, heavy rain did move in and it was therefore not possible to continue. The result was then declared according to the provisions of the rulebook based on the races which had taken place. This section appears to have been included to ‘pad out’ the report, and to give the impression that the authors have some knowledge of the sport, because it has absolutely no relevance to the issue under discussion.
The closures of Wolverhampton and Swindon are referred to, and these are also matters which we would take issue with. The argument of speedway shale reaching the greyhound track at Wolverhampton was only made some time after the closure notice had been given, in response to a public backlash. Speedway and greyhound racing do exist in the same stadium elsewhere in the country at venues such as Birmingham and Sheffield. Entain simply took a decision which was hugely unpopular locally in order to further boost their profits.
Swindon Speedway was not in an unviable financial position, and we would be happy to discuss the very specific circumstances of that club and that venue should you wish to take the matter further.
Across pages 13 and 14, Collison & Associates Ltd make reference to the argument that speedway at Peterborough is unnecessary due to the “alternative provision” available at King’s Lynn and Leicester. We say this is totally false. There is no evidence that the closure of one club results in supporters of that team transferring their allegiances elsewhere. It is the equivalent of Manchester United FC being closed down on the basis that supporters could instead visit Liverpool – or, on a lower level, Peterborough Utd being closed down with supporters instead told to go and support Leicester, Northampton or Cambridge. The argument is a total non-starter, and again has been proven to be factually incorrect in the Coventry case.
Reference to Mildenhall Speedway is again irrelevant in this case as this was a club operating in the third tier, the development league, and whilst we do hope to welcome them back into the sport in future, their position should not be equated in any way with that of the loss of a Premiership club such as Peterborough.
In conclusion, the narrative of this report (namely the assertion that speedway is a sport in terminal decline) is rather lazily copied and pasted from previous planning applications which have either not been determined (Arena-Essex) or have been accepted by an Inquiry Inspector to be untrue (Coventry).
We would also like to take issue with recent media comments made by Mr Butterfield of AEPG which are intended to create the impression that speedway at the Showground was never viable, and that the objections to his plans are from a “small cohort” of people, remarkably describing them as “selfish.” He appears upset that the thousands of objections are delaying his bid to get spades into the ground and houses built.
We would suggest that a sport which operated for 53 years (despite Mr Butterfield incredibly stating that “its home was never here”) was quite clearly viable for all concerned, and perhaps the only time when it did not become viable for the owners of the site was when they had removed all other events from the venue. Mr Butterfield should also be aware, as doubtless the members of the planning committee will be, that large sections of the report, and indeed his own statements, are irrelevant as viability is not a material consideration in the National Planning Policy Framework. NPPF instead puts the onus on the developer to prove that the displaced sport/land/activity is “surplus to requirements”, which is not the same as viability, and this exercise clearly has not been undertaken here.
One way in which AEPG could ensure their scheme was compliant with National Planning Policy Framework would be to provide an alternative venue, in the Peterborough area, for the sport which they have evicted, or indeed to modify their own plans to support its retention at the Showground.
However, as things stand, we believe there is no way this proposal should be accepted – or, realistically, even taken to planning committee – whilst the reports are so deficient and so full of falsehoods about our sport.
Regards
Nikki Jameison Neil Vatcher
BSP OFFICE MANAGER SCB CO-ORDINATOR
2

M: 07868 466818
T: 01788 560648
E: nikki.jameison@britishspeedway.co.uk
W: www.britishspeedway.co.uk
British Speedway Promoters Ltd : ACU House : Wood Street : Rugby : CV21 2YX

[Crump99]

On 6/13/2024 at 8:17 PM, FromBendThree said:

Of course not. Labour wants more houses to be built. And, if a landowner does not want a third party use their property, there’s nothing you can do about it. Evidence: Arlington Stadium. Owners have said no speedway and that’s that. As a result Eastbourne eagles are extinct. Dead as a dodo. Panthers are the same. 

Only in terms of what the owners have said. I've no idea what's going on at Arlington but doubt it's the same scenario as AEPG's fantasy at the EoES.

[Crump99]

10 hours ago, bigcatdiary said:

Posted on the Peterborough City Council Planning Application Portal this morning, an objection by the BSPL and SCB.

 

The following has appeared on Peterborough City Council planning portal:

F.A.O: James Lloyd
Dear Sir,
REF No: 23/00412/OUT and No: 23/00400/OUT
This response should be read in conjunction with our comments of September 2023, all of which remain on the record.
Following the additional reports submitted on April 19 on behalf of AEPG regarding planned redevelopment of the East of England Showground site, resulting in the permanent loss of speedway, British Speedway Promoters’ Ltd (BSP) and the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) wish to reaffirm our total opposition to the scheme.
Additionally, we wish to make the following comments on the Leisure and Community Impact Assessment Report, as prepared by Collison & Associates Ltd. We refer specifically to Section 2 – Assessment of the Viability of Speedway.
We have no comment to make on the nature of the lease arrangement for Peterborough Speedway to operate at the East of England Showground; however, it is clear that a sport which ran continuously at the venue from 1970 until its closure (with the exception of one season due to Covid) meant that it was fully established and accepted in the city, and well supported. In addition to Peterborough Panthers meetings, the venue staged numerous national and international events, bringing the world’s top riders to the area. Consequently, it is even more disappointing that when alternative plans for the site were being formulated, no thought appears to have been given to the possibility of re-locating the Panthers, which we submit contravenes National Planning Policy Framework, which specifically protects sport and recreation facilities where there is a continuing need.
Attention is drawn to the final paragraph of page 11 which states “Anecdotal evidence from British Speedway” which we would respectfully suggest should ring an immediate alarm bell. There is no evidence whatsoever, either on our own website or elsewhere, to suggest that the vast majority of a speedway crowd is not made up of supporters of the home team. There is an attempt to suggest that because a rally in November 2022 attracted around 350 supporters, this was reflective of the Peterborough fan-base, which is a ludicrous position to take. Rather than quote ‘anecdotal evidence’ we would ask why the authors of this report have not communicated with ourselves to establish the true position.
The authors have provided no evidence to back up their claims as to the average attendance at the East of England Arena, which has in fact been substantially higher than 1,000 in recent seasons, and the reference to declining attendance in autumn is also a work of fiction, given that meetings which are staged in autumn tend to be important play-off fixtures, hence in autumn 2021 when Peterborough clinched the league title, attendances were in fact at their highest level in years.
Page 12 also quotes “national evidence shows speedway is a declining sport” and goes on to make reference to a Guardian item published in 2019. Many of the arguments which follow have already been disproven in the recent public inquiry into the closure of Brandon Stadium, Coventry, which also quoted the same document, and we urge careful studying of the Coventry case. In particular, the section concerning TV figures is an inaccurate and disingenuous reflection of the position, and also takes no note of the current very successful arrangement with Eurosport/discovery+ as well as live streaming with the sport recording significantly increased viewing figures over recent years. Material in this section has been largely copied and pasted from other planning reports, which have been disproven elsewhere and accepted as inaccurate by their author.
Page 12 also includes a bizarre and frankly irrelevant section relating to meetings being affected by the weather. It is also inaccurate, given that the NDL Final in 2023 was not between Mildenhall and Leicester – it was between Oxford and Leicester. Speedway, like any sport and particularly motorsport, can of course be affected by the weather, but the argument of “forcing paying attendees home without witnessing any

matches” ignores the point that attendees would be allowed into the re-staging free of charge (or paying a proportionate admission should a meeting be abandoned during the event).
The statement “This risk exists as conditions are only fully known once riders attempt riding the track, with the NDL final being called off after a leading rider suffered an accident” is completely false as the NDL final proceeded in satisfactory conditions, there was an accident in the 12th race out of 15 which was not related to the track being “slippery”, and then in the period whilst the rider was being attended to, heavy rain did move in and it was therefore not possible to continue. The result was then declared according to the provisions of the rulebook based on the races which had taken place. This section appears to have been included to ‘pad out’ the report, and to give the impression that the authors have some knowledge of the sport, because it has absolutely no relevance to the issue under discussion.
The closures of Wolverhampton and Swindon are referred to, and these are also matters which we would take issue with. The argument of speedway shale reaching the greyhound track at Wolverhampton was only made some time after the closure notice had been given, in response to a public backlash. Speedway and greyhound racing do exist in the same stadium elsewhere in the country at venues such as Birmingham and Sheffield. Entain simply took a decision which was hugely unpopular locally in order to further boost their profits.
Swindon Speedway was not in an unviable financial position, and we would be happy to discuss the very specific circumstances of that club and that venue should you wish to take the matter further.
Across pages 13 and 14, Collison & Associates Ltd make reference to the argument that speedway at Peterborough is unnecessary due to the “alternative provision” available at King’s Lynn and Leicester. We say this is totally false. There is no evidence that the closure of one club results in supporters of that team transferring their allegiances elsewhere. It is the equivalent of Manchester United FC being closed down on the basis that supporters could instead visit Liverpool – or, on a lower level, Peterborough Utd being closed down with supporters instead told to go and support Leicester, Northampton or Cambridge. The argument is a total non-starter, and again has been proven to be factually incorrect in the Coventry case.
Reference to Mildenhall Speedway is again irrelevant in this case as this was a club operating in the third tier, the development league, and whilst we do hope to welcome them back into the sport in future, their position should not be equated in any way with that of the loss of a Premiership club such as Peterborough.
In conclusion, the narrative of this report (namely the assertion that speedway is a sport in terminal decline) is rather lazily copied and pasted from previous planning applications which have either not been determined (Arena-Essex) or have been accepted by an Inquiry Inspector to be untrue (Coventry).
We would also like to take issue with recent media comments made by Mr Butterfield of AEPG which are intended to create the impression that speedway at the Showground was never viable, and that the objections to his plans are from a “small cohort” of people, remarkably describing them as “selfish.” He appears upset that the thousands of objections are delaying his bid to get spades into the ground and houses built.
We would suggest that a sport which operated for 53 years (despite Mr Butterfield incredibly stating that “its home was never here”) was quite clearly viable for all concerned, and perhaps the only time when it did not become viable for the owners of the site was when they had removed all other events from the venue. Mr Butterfield should also be aware, as doubtless the members of the planning committee will be, that large sections of the report, and indeed his own statements, are irrelevant as viability is not a material consideration in the National Planning Policy Framework. NPPF instead puts the onus on the developer to prove that the displaced sport/land/activity is “surplus to requirements”, which is not the same as viability, and this exercise clearly has not been undertaken here.
One way in which AEPG could ensure their scheme was compliant with National Planning Policy Framework would be to provide an alternative venue, in the Peterborough area, for the sport which they have evicted, or indeed to modify their own plans to support its retention at the Showground.
However, as things stand, we believe there is no way this proposal should be accepted – or, realistically, even taken to planning committee – whilst the reports are so deficient and so full of falsehoods about our sport.
Regards
Nikki Jameison Neil Vatcher
BSP OFFICE MANAGER SCB CO-ORDINATOR
2

M: 07868 466818
T: 01788 560648
E: nikki.jameison@britishspeedway.co.uk
W: www.britishspeedway.co.uk
British Speedway Promoters Ltd : ACU House : Wood Street : Rugby : CV21 2YX

Not forgetting another excellent submission by SPORT ENGLAND who are also playing a superb supporting role http://plandocs.peterborough.gov.uk/PublicDocuments/01342680.pdf

[BRITISHSPEEDPOWER]

On 6/13/2024 at 9:08 PM, TTT said:

If anything the election result will just put another dent in the fight to save the Panthers.

Unfortunately Labour will be more interested in building blocks of flats to house third world criminals in.

Will have to do a Workington by finding new land and starting from scratch.

Hopefully if you do build a new track Workington style, it will be the same dimensions as the showground track. A perfect replica on a new piece of land. Many of the 4tt was some of the best speedway I've ever seen.

[Crump99]

23 minutes ago, BRITISHSPEEDPOWER said:

Hopefully if you do build a new track Workington style, it will be the same dimensions as the showground track. A perfect replica on a new piece of land. Many of the 4tt was some of the best speedway I've ever seen.

Hopefully before people suggest new from scratch (not aimed at you because you're only to replying to a post) they also explain why giving up on an existing set up and stadium when there is a battle to be had (with good evidence and support on our side) is a good idea? Who is going to find that new land and pay for that new construction etc (if it was easy and quick then it would already be in process)? Chapman stood on the centre green and spoke of the problems associated with such an exercise. Why give up and go it alone at this time? If that's not the final nail then you'll not see Peterborough Speedway again before the Labour Party has made the sport fully electric. Butterfield would love us to go away because there are many obstacles and costs in his way and he knows it. The alleged small cohort of Peterborough Speedway supporters need to stay strong and focussed. We may not win, and the new from scratch brigade would argue that it's wasted time, but that's the only way that you'll see Peterborough Speedway again in the short or longer term is to stick with the current strategy.

[Goldhawk]

Agreed . fight tooth and nail for the iconic Showground ! 

[FromBendThree]

14 hours ago, Crump99 said:

Only in terms of what the owners have said. I've no idea what's going on at Arlington but doubt it's the same scenario as AEPG's fantasy at the EoES.

Attempts being made to get Arlington Stadium in Wealden Local Plan which determines where house building is likely to be approved in district. Didn’t make first draft but long, long way to go.

in case you don’t know. Arlington Stadium is within Wealden council area.

[TTT]

4 hours ago, Crump99 said:

Hopefully before people suggest new from scratch (not aimed at you because you're only to replying to a post) they also explain why giving up on an existing set up and stadium when there is a battle to be had (with good evidence and support on our side) is a good idea? Who is going to find that new land and pay for that new construction etc (if it was easy and quick then it would already be in process)? Chapman stood on the centre green and spoke of the problems associated with such an exercise. Why give up and go it alone at this time? If that's not the final nail then you'll not see Peterborough Speedway again before the Labour Party has made the sport fully electric. Butterfield would love us to go away because there are many obstacles and costs in his way and he knows it. The alleged small cohort of Peterborough Speedway supporters need to stay strong and focussed. We may not win, and the new from scratch brigade would argue that it's wasted time, but that's the only way that you'll see Peterborough Speedway again in the short or longer term is to stick with the current strategy.

I was so positive at the start but slowly my hope began to fade, An uphill battle has become a mountain to climb imo.

I've got no faith in Leftie Labour who are Anti-English to do the Panthers a favour, They'll be fully on board with building tower blocks to house a load of third world criminals in.

Also I fully believe that Buster Chapman would happily take a bribe from AEPG if offered to him in order to keep the Panthers OFF track imo.

 

Alex Brady found some land but Speedway has a stupid rule where you cant have two tracks within 30 miles of each other.

[Rob B]

4 minutes ago, TTT said:

I was so positive at the start but slowly my hope began to fade, An uphill battle has become a mountain to climb imo.

I've got no faith in Leftie Labour who are Anti-English to do the Panthers a favour, They'll be fully on board with building tower blocks to house a load of third world criminals in.

Also I fully believe that Buster Chapman would happily take a bribe from AEPG if offered to him in order to keep the Panthers OFF track imo.

 

Alex Brady found some land but Speedway has a stupid rule where you cant have two tracks within 30 miles of each other.

Thats Swaffham which is between Kings Lynn and Norwich

As for the 30 miles how would you explain Wolverhampton and Birmingham, 12 miles between them. Belle Vue and Buxton was less then 30 too. 

[TTT]

15 minutes ago, Rob B said:

Thats Swaffham which is between Kings Lynn and Norwich

As for the 30 miles how would you explain Wolverhampton and Birmingham, 12 miles between them. Belle Vue and Buxton was less then 30 too. 

I'm just repeating what Alex Brady has said on X/Twitter, I've got no idea about the rule.

Alex -> Big shame that the BSPA 30 mile rule applies so no #Speedway here. Back to the drawing board

Edited June 15 by TTT

[LagutaRacingFan]

Swaffham is miles away from Peterborough.

 

[*JJ]

3 hours ago, Rob B said:

As for the 30 miles how would you explain Wolverhampton and Birmingham, 12 miles between them. Belle Vue and Buxton was less then 30 too. 

History: Wolves, Birmingham and Cradley have been there for many years, back to the pre-war days when there were enough fans to go around!

[Fromafar]

1 hour ago, LagutaRacingFan said:

Swaffham is miles away from Peterborough.

 

Is it ,how far.?

Edited June 15 by Fromafar

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

When starting a track up approach the SCB, worry about the bspa when you are up and running 

[Bald Bloke]

1 hour ago, Fromafar said:

Is it ,how far.?

From the Showground to Swaffham is 54 miles.

 

Edited June 15 by Bald Bloke

[Fromafar]

7 minutes ago, Bald Bloke said:

From the Showground to Swaffham is 54 miles.

 

What all the rubbish from Brady then about within 30 miles.

[Bald Bloke]

1 minute ago, Fromafar said:

What all the rubbish from Brady then about within 30 miles.

It's around 16 miles from Kings Lynn. So within 30 miles of another track.

[LagutaRacingFan]

1 hour ago, Fromafar said:

Is it ,how far.?

1 hour drive

 

[tellboy]

18 minutes ago, Bald Bloke said:

From the Showground to Swaffham is 54 miles.

 

If he is looking at Swaffham,that doesn't really benefit Peterborough or their fans whatsoever.Should be looking at the Showground or as near to Peterborough as possible imo.I wouldn't travel 54 miles to watch my team ride at home.