Concerns have been voiced at plans to sell alcohol between 8am to 2am at Peterborough’s Showground under a new drive to host large-scale leisure attractions at the venue.

A licensing application has just been submitted seeking approval to sell alcohol between 8am and 2am once leisure attractions are in place on a 50 acre section of the 164 acre East of England Showground.

The application has been submitted to Peterborough City Council by East of England Showground Services Ltd, which is part of AEPG which has a 20 years lease on the 50 acre site where it wants to host a range of family leisure attractions starting next year.

But concerns have already been voiced that the move might generate noise, nuisance and create dangers for public safety.

placeholder image — The East of England Showground

Alongside the sale of alcohol, the application seeks approval to host a range of attractions on the site including plays and films, indoor and outdoor sports, boxing and wrestling, live and recorded music and dance.

It states that these attractions and others could attract up to 15,000 people but that this would still be a long way short of the 100,000 people who regularly attended leisure events at the Showground before it was effectively closed in 2023.

The applications states: “We seek to replicate, insofar as is reasonable practicable, the activities, hours and conditions which were applicable to the premises under premises licence before it was surrendered.

“The licence sought in this application is only for an area of 50 acres which is significantly smaller than the previous licensed area.

The application is for the same hours and activities as the previous licence as it is believed that there is a solid evidence base that these have not undermined the licensing objectives.

New leisure attractions could be stars of the show at East of England Showground...

“Further we seek to apply for this licence with conditions which are the same as the previous licence, follow the spirit of the old conditions or reflect current policies where it has been practical to do so

It adds: “The premises licence encompassed the full 164 acre site and accommodated up to 100,000 visitors.

“The new application is condensed with significantly lower capacity and is substantially further away from residential occupiers.”

Ashley Butterfield, chief executive of AEPG, said: “The application is identical to the previous licence and will be professionally managed as it always was.

"The police have confirmed they are satisfied with our terms.”

Councillor Nicola Day, one of the city council representatives for the area, said: “A number of residents have contacted me about the application for a license to sell alcohol from 8am to 2am, seven days per week.

“They are concerned around issues about noise, nuisance and public safety as well as the regularity of events, which may not be the same frequency as when this space was a Showground.”

Leisure activities had been held on the Showground for decades before the owner, the East of England Agricultural Society, decided it no longer needed the land.

It hired land promoter AEPG to oversee two outline planning applications for a total of 1,500 homes and a 50 acre leisure village development.

The applications were rejected by councillors last year after the Society refused to sign a Section 106 agreement for £20 million worth of measures to ease the impact of the development on the community.