Case to refuse showground development plans 'could not be clearer' say Peterborough Panthers Speedway team

The consortium fighting to keep the Peterborough Panthers Speedway team has said that the case ‘could not be clearer’ to refuse plans for a major development of the city’s showground.

Plans for a development of 1,500 homes- split into two application of 650 and 850 homes- to take place on the East of England Showground could be discussed as soon as the council planning meeting on October 15 but this is subject to conformation.

The development, being put forward by Showground land agents AEPG, has left the city’s national championship winning speedway side without a home.

The team had raced exclusively on the site from its founding in 1970 to being given the boot by AEPG in 2023.

Despite national and local policies which require the replacement of sporting facilities at risk from development the AEPG application does not include Speedway.

Consortium member Mick Bratley said: “We are continuing with our preparations on the basis that the Planning Committee might make a decision on October 15.

"The Council Policy LP36 on the East of England Showground states that the loss of any existing leisure and sports facilities will not be supported unless replacement facilities are provided in accordance with policy LP30. It could hardly be clearer.

"This is an attempt to ignore the relevant policies and kill off Speedway at the East of England Showground where it has enjoyed 53 years of uninterrupted racing until stopped by AEPG

“Our message is clear. The Peterborough City Council should refuse any application for planning permission which fails to comply with the relevant national and local policies and take whatever steps are required to ensure compliance with its own policies.”

Over 2220 notices of objection have been submitted on the council’s planning portal to plans.

Objectors were given a boost last week when the owners of Queensgate spoke out about the ‘negative impact; the development would have in its current proposed location.

AEPG has released a list of its own 55 organisations which it claims are supporting its plans.

Mick added: “As we have seen elsewhere a number of misleading suggestions are being made about speedway. These are the same suggestions which were rejected by the Planning Inspector in the Coventry Stadium Planning Appeal as a result of which development of the Coventry Speedway track was refused.’

Brian Connolly, who worked on the successful Campaign to oppose the residential development of Coventry Stadium, said: “After nine days of evidence the Planning Inspector rejected the arguments against Speedway and the Consortium will ask the Planning Committee to follow and adopt the Coventry Stadium Appeal Decision and the reasons behind it.

"We are preparing a detailed response to address the relevant planning points, in particular those in place to protect sporting facilities at risk from development’.

Consortium members are keen to ensure that supporters and all those interested in preserving Speedway in Peterborough let their views be known and have set up an online petition at https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/register-your-support-to-preserve-speedway-in.

Mick added: “The Planning Committee will be asked to consider the petition and the over 2,200 objections to the planning application and reject any suggestion that the Peterborough Speedway track is surplus to requirements.

“Every effort will be made to ensure that the Planning Committee applies the relevant local and national policies for the protection of sporting facilities to ensure that a Speedway track in Peterborough is preserved.

“This is an important stage in the process and a call to action for campaign supporters and the wider public who should use this opportunity to work with the Consortium to demonstrate their opposition to the plans to kill off a much-loved sport in Peterborough.

“Further announcements will be made with details of what supporters can do to support the Campaign and help the cause.”