AEPG's EoES planning applications 2024.

[admin]

Homes plan refusal 'momentous', say speedway fans (BBC 17/10/24)

Speedway fans have welcomed a decision to turn down plans for 650 homes which would have meant a racetrack and grandstand being demolished and built over.

Peterborough City Council refused to grant permission for the development on the East of England Showground, but approved another application for 850 homes and a leisure village at the same site, with conditions.

The showground had been home to the Peterborough Panthers speedway team for 50 years, but they were excluded in developer AEPG’s £50m plans.

The Save Peterborough Panthers, external group has called the refusal a "a momentous achievement", with campaigners saying "hopes of a return for Peterborough speedway remain alive".

Independent councillor for nearby Orton Waterville, Julie Stevenson, who has been fighting alongside the campaigners, called for both the applications to be refused.

She called it a "huge victory" and said fans' "courage" played a "significant part" in the committee’s decision.

“Whether speedway can or will return to the showground site remains to be seen," she said.

"The land is owned by the East of England Agricultural Society and we hope... they will now work with the speedway supporters’ consortium to find a way to keep speedway in Peterborough."

The speedway track and its grandstand are on the part of the showground site covered by the 650-home development.

Those plans were rejected due to fears of “over-development” of the area.

The British Speedway Promoters, external, which runs the sport, said it "would like to congratulate the Peterborough campaign team on their hard work and reaffirm our position that the sport should be returned to this historic and much-loved venue".

The two development plans for a total of 1,500 homes on the 164-acre site attracted more than 900 objections.

The application for 850 homes was passed with several conditions set within the next six months, including upgrades of Oundle Road and the Orton Parkway roundabout.

Independent councillor Kirsty Knight, who initially backed the plans, said although she was "pleased" and hoped they would help with the city’s housing shortage, she had now got some "serious concerns".

"The highways mitigation conditions were imposed for the 850-homes application assuming 1,500 houses were built and plans are approved," she said.

"But I am now concerned on the congestion the development will have if the conditions are not met.

"They [AEPG] were obligated to abide by them if they build more than 900 homes and only 850 homes plan was approved. This was an oversight of the committee who should have thought of it before rejecting the second plan. (AEPG split the application to confuse the issue. They only have themselves to blame. It should have been one application.)

"From my understanding, (yes but you've been listening too much to Butterfield) I don’t think speedway will have a chance at the showground, but I appreciate the passion and I am happy to work with them and find another venue."

A spokesperson for AEPG said: “We were delighted the officer’s recommendation was approved for the major application.

"We will continue to work closely with the [council] planning team on the next steps progressing the development of the showground."

AEPG did not respond to the BBC's questions on the future of the showground and speedway track on site.

[admin]

East of England Showground promoter looks to the 'next steps' for homes and leisure village development plans (full article peterboroughtoday 18/10/24)

AEPG says that it intends to work on the ‘next steps’ to progress its plans for a homes and leisure village development on the East of England Showground despite criticism from councillors but still leaves many questions unanswered.

The comments from officials of the Asset Earning Power Group (AEPG) come just days after Peterborough City Council’s planning committee rejected an outline planning application to build 670 homes on part of the 164 acre Showground.

And while the committee approved a separate outline planning application for 850 homes plus a leisure village, school, hotel and care village on an adjoining part of the Showground, councillors imposed a six months deadline for AEPG to resolve traffic concerns and agree a Section 106 statement (Councillors agreed by seven votes to two that the development plans should be approved. However, they also decided that a section 106 agreement should be put in place in addition to 40 various conditions to be met by the AEPG (source ET 17/10/24).

If those concerns are not addressed and there are no reasons to extend the six month time period then council officers have been authorised to issue a planning refusal.

AEPG has been chosen by the Showground owners, the East of England Agricultural Society, to find alternative uses for the venue that it says is no longer needed as the Society finds new ways to carry out its duties. (interesting terminology. Don't recall that type of wording before?)

Although vowing to continue to work closely with the Peterborough City Council planning team on a way forward, the AEPG spokesperson declined to answer other questions from the Peterborough Telegraph about its future approach to the development.

Questions about a possible appeal to overturn the planning committee’s decision to refuse the 670 homes planning application or whether AEPG might go back to the drawing board and put together a new application were not answered.

AEPG also did not answer a question about when a detailed planning application for the 850 homes and leisure village development might be submitted to the council.

And it did not offer a response to a question about whether AEPG or even the East of England Agricultural Society might opt to walk away from the whole thing.

[admin]

Oct 16, 2024 10:04:12 GMT Bigcatdiary said:

Oct 16, 2024 8:34:52 GMT admin said:

Listening to the problems with the 850 plan I still don't know how they passed it, and didn't at the very least defer it? Pleading from the EEAS trustees & the likes of Allia Future Business Centre resonated I guess to cloud the judgement?

Next thing is to find what these are? Some 40 conditions have been attached to the planning approval that have to be met by AEPG.

I have just spoke to Bratters about the 40 and he tells me they will be made public before long

So are we any further forward on these alleged 40 conditions?


Especially when you match it against (source BBC):

Independent councillor Kirsty Knight, who initially backed the plans, said although she was "pleased" and hoped they would help with the city’s housing shortage, she had now got some "serious concerns".

"The highways mitigation conditions were imposed for the 850-homes application assuming 1,500 houses were built and plans are approved," she said.

"But I am now concerned on the congestion the development will have if the conditions are not met.

"They [AEPG] were obligated to abide by them if they build more than 900 homes and only 850 homes plan was approved. This was an oversight of the committee who should have thought of it before rejecting the second plan.

The oversight is that AEPG totally messed up and tried to rush through two plans (which should have been one) - why did the case officer recommend approval of one, let alone both? The committee acted on advice given and it's not their fault if the facts weren't made clear. In fact, on that basis, one could possibly question the approval recommendation and the whole development information provided to the committee?

[bratters]

They [AEPG] were obligated to abide by them if they build more than 900 homes and only 850 homes plan was approved. This was an oversight of the committee who should have thought of it before rejecting the second plan.

Don’t know where that has come from, doesn’t sound right and I’ve never come across it before. Sounds like a desperate attempt to Chuck a spanner in the works. It has however been questioned to the planning department, will get back to you once we find out.

[rodders]

Butterfield said present owner ( Chapman) has no interest in continuing with Panthers or Speedway at Peterborough. Why then will he not sell to consortium? Assuming they want to buy. What tangled webs we weave. Dark forces are afoot

[bratters]

There is no owner. There is nothing to sell and nothing to buy. There is no club. The licence to run Speedway in Peterborough is currently held by the BSPL until such time as a club and track is once again ready to be operational. Butterfield is labouring any point he can, on this particular point, he doesn’t understand Speedway. It’s like saying Mick Horton won’t sell Coventry as he was the last person to promote there. It is completely irrelevant to the current situation at both Coventry and Peterborough. There are no dark forces in play. Why would anyone buy something that doesn’t exist!?!?

[admin]

Oct 21, 2024 19:39:00 GMT bratters said:

There is no owner. There is nothing to sell and nothing to buy. There is no club. The licence to run Speedway in Peterborough is currently held by the BSPL until such time as a club and track is once again ready to be operational. Butterfield is labouring any point he can, on this particular point, he doesn’t understand Speedway. It’s like saying Mick Horton won’t sell Coventry as he was the last person to promote there. It is completely irrelevant to the current situation at both Coventry and Peterborough. There are no dark forces in play. Why would anyone buy something that doesn’t exist!?!?

I was just reading an article in the SS about goings on at Swindon and that licence explanation is the same was given for them.

Terry Russell's proposal for a site away from Blunsdon sounded so much like Mick Horton's never happened Fengate motorsport complex that alarm bells were going off all around.

[admin]

Oct 21, 2024 17:11:46 GMT rodders said:

Butterfield said present owner ( Chapman) has no interest in continuing with Panthers or Speedway at Peterborough. Why then will he not sell to consortium? Assuming they want to buy. What tangled webs we weave. Dark forces are afoot

I think that you/we could have called dark forces in 2023 & some of 2024 perhaps (without real hard evidence) but now that AEPG have messed up it'd be the worse time to sell and he did say when the time is right.

If my recollection and understanding is correct then he could hold it for 3 years, which would take him to some point in 2026?

If that's the case then he may indeed have something to sell at that point?

[admin]

So one assumes that the Arena remains and will be upgraded as such: "The remaining indoor arena is going to remain, however, it will be hugely redeveloped to a “world class arena and centre.”

Never been myself but have been told by those who have that access is a nightmare? So with no new access roads, surely they should be downgrading & not allegedly upgrading?

[rodders]

shall not be posting again on this subject . Clearly others know more than I .

[admin]

Oct 21, 2024 22:13:54 GMT rodders said:

shall not be posting again on this subject. Clearly others know more than I .

I wish we did Rodders. I just read the information, make up my own mind and post my take on it. Yes I may know Bratters from a distance (meaning that I haven't seen him personally for several years) but I get no more information than you. Well maybe very occasionally an interesting morsel but nothing significant that moves the dial.

I mean, I'm not clear on the consortium's thinking and objective? I know what mine is and I'm not sure that we're on the same page but that doesn't stop me posting!

[bratters]

Oct 21, 2024 22:40:49 GMT admin said:

Oct 21, 2024 22:13:54 GMT rodders said:

shall not be posting again on this subject. Clearly others know more than I .

I wish we did Rodders. I just read the information, make up my own mind and post my take on it. Yes I may know Bratters from a distance (meaning that I haven't seen him personally for several years) but I get no more information than you. Well maybe very occasionally an interesting morsel but nothing significant that moves the dial.

I mean, I'm not clear on the consortium's thinking and objective? I know what mine is and I'm not sure that we're on the same page but that doesn't stop me posting!

The consortiums objective is to preserve and promote Speedway in Peterborough.

[bratters]

Oct 21, 2024 22:13:54 GMT rodders said:

shall not be posting again on this subject . Clearly others know more than I .

No one knows how this is going to play out, but we all need to pull in the same direction, Butterfield’s ammunition is running out, the rejection of his planning application is a severe blow, I am pretty certain we won’t have heard the last of it.

Hope the wife’s ok, I understand she was due to have an operation recently, give her my best wishes.

[admin]

Oct 22, 2024 9:50:22 GMT bratters said:

Oct 21, 2024 22:40:49 GMT admin said:

I wish we did Rodders. I just read the information, make up my own mind and post my take on it. Yes I may know Bratters from a distance (meaning that I haven't seen him personally for several years) but I get no more information than you. Well maybe very occasionally an interesting morsel but nothing significant that moves the dial.

I mean, I'm not clear on the consortium's thinking and objective? I know what mine is and I'm not sure that we're on the same page but that doesn't stop me posting!

The consortiums objective is to preserve and promote Speedway in Peterborough.

Yes that goes without saying. How we achieve that is where we may possibly differ although last week's planning meeting has certainly helped to aid the cause. You're on the front line and I'm just a keyboard warrior so you're in the driving seat.

[bratters]

Oct 22, 2024 10:26:26 GMT admin said:

Oct 22, 2024 9:50:22 GMT bratters said:

The consortiums objective is to preserve and promote Speedway in Peterborough.

Yes that goes without saying. How we achieve that is where we may possibly differ although last week's planning meeting has certainly helped to aid the cause. You're on the front line and I'm just a keyboard warrior so you're in the driving seat.

The Chairman of the planning committee has made it very clear how that should be achieved during the meeting and his interview to the ET afterwards. The transcript of which will be on our Facebook page very soon. NPPF and LP30/36. This is the cornerstone of the campaign.

[admin]

Oct 22, 2024 12:25:42 GMT bratters said:

Oct 22, 2024 10:26:26 GMT admin said:

Yes that goes without saying. How we achieve that is where we may possibly differ although last week's planning meeting has certainly helped to aid the cause. You're on the front line and I'm just a keyboard warrior so you're in the driving seat.

The Chairman of the planning committee has made it very clear how that should be achieved during the meeting and his interview to the ET afterwards. The transcript of which will be on our Facebook page very soon. NPPF and LP30/36. This is the cornerstone of the campaign.

Don't recall that but didn't watch much of the second application after the first went down but will look forward to reading that along with the 40 various conditions to be met by the developer?

I've just watched & am now recording the comments/voting part of the 650 plan & will note the interesting points. (jeez, it's over 50 minutes!!)

One thing that I do recall is Chair commenting on viability of the EoES and that the EEAS had possibly missed a trick through their poor management/use of the site?

If PCC had not gone for houses and stuck with their 2015 LP31 draft for the EoES then the EEAS/AEPG might not have run down the place and created the environment for AEPG to preside over this mess. That would also have answered (or not generated in the first place) Cllr Nicola Day saying: “Make no mistake the Showground will be developed – it is just a question of what goes on it.”

Policy LP31: East of England Showground: Within the East of England Showground, as shown on the Policies Map, planning permission will be granted for development for sport, leisure and other uses which would be appropriate to the existing Showground and which would not impair its continued use for that purpose. Proposals for development should not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the surrounding uses (especially on occupiers of nearby residential properties), and all development should ensure that the character of the area is maintained.

Also I don't know if I've mentioned that I don't know why the applications were presented that way round? If the 850 was approved, as it was, then the bigger and better argument, along with the balance argument had to be extremely convincing for the 650 plan or it had to fail on LP36/30 & NPPF 103 because speedway was not incorporated in the development.

Likewise, if the 650 house had been approved then the 850 couldn't be approved because there was no speedway in the plan or provision elsewhere.

AEPG gambled on two interlinked plans being approved and that their unfit for purpose and alternative provision for speedway would wash. I was always concerned about what proximity would be seen as reasonable for alternative provision so was somewhat surprised that Chair said that 23 miles wasn't reasonable.

[admin]

We all knew (well some of us) that AEPG had been too quiet. Now we know why! Didn't get the answer that they wanted so let's lobby. I think that this shows that if the EEAS/AEPG don't get it overturned then the whole thing crashes? It was clear that these plans are so interlinked that they can't stand alone?

A decision to reject plans to build 650 homes on the East of England Showground looks set to be reviewed by councillors. (PT 23/10)

A cross-party group of councillors (It is understood that two Conservative councillors and two Labour councillors have ‘called in’ the decision made by Peterborough City Council’s planning committee on October 15) have ‘called in’ the decision on the basis that it was wrong and does not conform to council policy.

- so do we get to know the names? I can guess two at least? It was made clear that it did conform to local & national policy. What they mean is that it didn't conform to the part that suited them? Two Labour & two Tory, beacons of democracy! That still less than the rejection vote.

I didn't catch the first hour of the planning meeting but when I tuned in it seemed that someone was getting upset about the integrity of the council and/or the planning committee being questioned? If that's the case then I don't know what triggered that response? However, aren't these 4 councillors now questioning the competence of Councillor Harper and the entire planning committee? I mean, the planning committee agreed by six votes in favour with three against and one abstention to reject the plan. That's hardly a nail biter.


Funny that this has appeared now if you link it to this from the BBC report:

Independent councillor Kirsty Knight, who initially backed the plans, said although she was "pleased" and hoped they would help with the city’s housing shortage, she had now got some "serious concerns".

"The highways mitigation conditions were imposed for the 850-homes application assuming 1,500 houses were built and plans are approved," she said.

"But I am now concerned on the congestion the development will have if the conditions are not met.

"They [AEPG] were obligated to abide by them if they build more than 900 homes and only 850 homes plan was approved. This was an oversight of the committee who should have thought of it before rejecting the second plan.

So why are they not calling in the 850 decision if the supporting information supplied to the committee was inaccurate?

[admin]

Oct 22, 2024 12:25:42 GMT bratters said:

Oct 22, 2024 10:26:26 GMT admin said:

Yes that goes without saying. How we achieve that is where we may possibly differ although last week's planning meeting has certainly helped to aid the cause. You're on the front line and I'm just a keyboard warrior so you're in the driving seat.

The Chairman of the planning committee has made it very clear how that should be achieved during the meeting and his interview to the ET afterwards. The transcript of which will be on our Facebook page very soon. NPPF and LP30/36. This is the cornerstone of the campaign.

Was the incorrect answer apparently - ding ding round two

[admin]

Oct 21, 2024 11:13:41 GMT bratters said:

They [AEPG] were obligated to abide by them if they build more than 900 homes and only 850 homes plan was approved. This was an oversight of the committee who should have thought of it before rejecting the second plan.

Don’t know where that has come from, doesn’t sound right and I’ve never come across it before. Sounds like a desperate attempt to Chuck a spanner in the works. It has however been questioned to the planning department, will get back to you once we find out.

Think that 4:51:17 onward here might help www.youtube.com/watch?v=7akWkeX3gr8

[admin]

Interesting to hear one of the planning committee say that if there was a will and a way then PCC would find an alternative home for the speedway if need be. Also, it's not as if this has just cropped up. It's been known about for some while?

Exactly!

As soon as they ditched LP31 from their 2015 draft local plan and adopted the 2019 local plan they'd got a problem. Then the case officer (or whoever) approved plans that ignored the NPPF, LP36 & 30 and that now that has them scrambling round for the bit of policy to match to their recommendation.

Policy LP31: East of England Showground - Within the East of England Showground, as shown on the Policies Map, planning permission will be granted for development for sport, leisure and other uses which would be appropriate to the existing Showground and which would not impair its continued use for that purpose. Proposals for development should not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the surrounding uses (especially on occupiers of nearby residential properties), and all development should ensure that the character of the area is maintained.

Chair said that they could deviate from the local plan so how about deviating back to LP31.

[admin]

Truskfest 'would be the first in the queue' to return to Peterborough's Showground if development plans fail to materialise

Proof reading not a required skill at Peterborough Today - just for accuracy, that's Truckfest!

The promoter of Truckfest (got it right there ) has said that the event would be the first in line to return to Peterborough’s showground if the opportunity ever arose.

Truckfest was one of the city’s premier events that ran for over 40 years at the East of England Showground before the East of England Agricultural Society pulled the plug in 2023 in order to build houses on the site.

Earlier this month, an application for 850 homes on the showground site were approved, however, a further outline application for 650 homes on the section of the Showground that was formerly used for speedway racing was refused.

While the decision is set to be called in by a group of councillors, the promoter of Truckfest has said that he, and many other promoters, would jump at the chance to return to the showground in the future, even just on the site of the 650 planned homes.

Colin Ward of Live Promotions Events, which hosts Truckfest, as well as a host of other events across the country including the Land Rover Owner International Show, Fireworks Fantasia and the Restoration Show, said: “I’m waiting to see what happens in the end.

"Speedway was always very popular, certainly Truckfest was. We ran there for well over 40 years and we regarded it as our home.

“Truckfest has always been part of Peterborough, along with loads of other successful shows at the Showground, and we all still miss it.

“If the opportunity ever came along, we would not be alone in welcoming the chance to return.

“If ever the Showground returned to its original state, we would bring quite a few events back there, as well as Truckfest we do Land Rover, motor cycle shows and much more. We’d love the opportunity to bring all of them back and certainly other promoters would too.

“If there is a way back, we will be the first in the queue to come back, there is no doubt about it.”

Colin, who lives in the city, added: “All of these types of events brought incredible amounts of money into the city, people would stay in hotels, go shopping in the area; it was such a magnet for tourism.

“It’s so sad that they are trying to get rid of such a massively popular amenity, not just for Truckfest and Speedway but so many events, it’s a tragedy really.

There’s plenty of land ripe for development on the outskirts of Peterborough with infrastructure that could service them. It baffles me as to why they would want to destroy such a fantastic amenity.

“All of the amenities that the city have lost in recent years has been outrageous. It all adds up to a devastating impact on the city.” Wayne Fitzgerald said that they all read the papers? Let's hope that he & they read that bit? In terms of the balance, that's another weight on our side!

PT 24/10/24

[Hodgy]

Oct 24, 2024 10:23:44 GMT admin said:

Truskfest 'would be the first in the queue' to return to Peterborough's Showground if development plans fail to materialise

Proof reading not a required skill at Peterborough Today - just for accuracy, that's Truckfest!

The promoter of Truckfest (got it right there ) has said that the event would be the first in line to return to Peterborough’s showground if the opportunity ever arose.

Truckfest was one of the city’s premier events that ran for over 40 years at the East of England Showground before the East of England Agricultural Society pulled the plug in 2023 in order to build houses on the site.

Earlier this month, an application for 850 homes on the showground site were approved, however, a further outline application for 650 homes on the section of the Showground that was formerly used for speedway racing was refused.

While the decision is set to be called in by a group of councillors, the promoter of Truckfest has said that he, and many other promoters, would jump at the chance to return to the showground in the future, even just on the site of the 650 planned homes.

Colin Ward of Live Promotions Events, which hosts Truckfest, as well as a host of other events across the country including the Land Rover Owner International Show, Fireworks Fantasia and the Restoration Show, said: “I’m waiting to see what happens in the end.

"Speedway was always very popular, certainly Truckfest was. We ran there for well over 40 years and we regarded it as our home.

“Truckfest has always been part of Peterborough, along with loads of other successful shows at the Showground, and we all still miss it.

“If the opportunity ever came along, we would not be alone in welcoming the chance to return.

“If ever the Showground returned to its original state, we would bring quite a few events back there, as well as Truckfest we do Land Rover, motor cycle shows and much more. We’d love the opportunity to bring all of them back and certainly other promoters would too.

“If there is a way back, we will be the first in the queue to come back, there is no doubt about it.”

Colin, who lives in the city, added: “All of these types of events brought incredible amounts of money into the city, people would stay in hotels, go shopping in the area; it was such a magnet for tourism.

“It’s so sad that they are trying to get rid of such a massively popular amenity, not just for Truckfest and Speedway but so many events, it’s a tragedy really.

There’s plenty of land ripe for development on the outskirts of Peterborough with infrastructure that could service them. It baffles me as to why they would want to destroy such a fantastic amenity.

“All of the amenities that the city have lost in recent years has been outrageous. It all adds up to a devastating impact on the city.” Wayne Fitzgerald said that they all read the papers? Let's hope that he & they read that bit? In terms of the balance, that's another weight on our side!

PT 24/10/24

Good to read the positive promotion feedback. Can’t believe ‘Truskfest’ 😆 was 40 years. Think I probably only went one or two times - not my thing but many did. BMF was incredible for several years. The amazing number of bikes and all that chrome shining in the sun was an amazing sight as you approached. Have never been into motor bikes but they put on a great show. Never could understand why Speedway and Bikers have rarely connected. Recall the days when Friday night Speedway was on during BMF Friday’s but not many bikers bothered with the Speedway, even though it was free for them.

Not confident these events and Panthers will ever return. We can but hope.

[bratters]

A ‘call in’ has never been done for any planning application that got refused, ever. I’m not even sure it’s allowed under the constitution of the council and the scrutiny committee, this is why there’s been silence for over a week now, the legal department must be working overtime.

[admin]

Oct 24, 2024 23:40:02 GMT Hodgy said:

Oct 24, 2024 10:23:44 GMT admin said:

Truskfest 'would be the first in the queue' to return to Peterborough's Showground if development plans fail to materialise

Proof reading not a required skill at Peterborough Today - just for accuracy, that's Truckfest!

The promoter of Truckfest (got it right there ) has said that the event would be the first in line to return to Peterborough’s showground if the opportunity ever arose.

Truckfest was one of the city’s premier events that ran for over 40 years at the East of England Showground before the East of England Agricultural Society pulled the plug in 2023 in order to build houses on the site.

Earlier this month, an application for 850 homes on the showground site were approved, however, a further outline application for 650 homes on the section of the Showground that was formerly used for speedway racing was refused.

While the decision is set to be called in by a group of councillors, the promoter of Truckfest has said that he, and many other promoters, would jump at the chance to return to the showground in the future, even just on the site of the 650 planned homes.

Colin Ward of Live Promotions Events, which hosts Truckfest, as well as a host of other events across the country including the Land Rover Owner International Show, Fireworks Fantasia and the Restoration Show, said: “I’m waiting to see what happens in the end.

"Speedway was always very popular, certainly Truckfest was. We ran there for well over 40 years and we regarded it as our home.

“Truckfest has always been part of Peterborough, along with loads of other successful shows at the Showground, and we all still miss it.

“If the opportunity ever came along, we would not be alone in welcoming the chance to return.

“If ever the Showground returned to its original state, we would bring quite a few events back there, as well as Truckfest we do Land Rover, motor cycle shows and much more. We’d love the opportunity to bring all of them back and certainly other promoters would too.

“If there is a way back, we will be the first in the queue to come back, there is no doubt about it.”

Colin, who lives in the city, added: “All of these types of events brought incredible amounts of money into the city, people would stay in hotels, go shopping in the area; it was such a magnet for tourism.

“It’s so sad that they are trying to get rid of such a massively popular amenity, not just for Truckfest and Speedway but so many events, it’s a tragedy really.

There’s plenty of land ripe for development on the outskirts of Peterborough with infrastructure that could service them. It baffles me as to why they would want to destroy such a fantastic amenity.

“All of the amenities that the city have lost in recent years has been outrageous. It all adds up to a devastating impact on the city.” Wayne Fitzgerald said that they all read the papers? Let's hope that he & they read that bit? In terms of the balance, that's another weight on our side!

PT 24/10/24

Good to read the positive promotion feedback. Can’t believe ‘Truskfest’ 😆 was 40 years. Think I probably only went one or two times - not my thing but many did. BMF was incredible for several years. The amazing number of bikes and all that chrome shining in the sun was an amazing sight as you approached. Have never been into motor bikes but they put on a great show. Never could understand why Speedway and Bikers have rarely connected. Recall the days when Friday night Speedway was on during BMF Friday’s but not many bikers bothered with the Speedway, even though it was free for them.

Not confident these events and Panthers will ever return. We can but hope.

When I first attended in the 70s there was always lots of bikers in attendance but the majority drifted away over the years. The explanation that I've heard that best explains that IMO is that speedway is a specialist motorcycle sport & bikers generally can't relate to it too much? Their bikes, where they ride etc are more compatible with Moto GP, BSB, WSB & their own shows/events.

[admin]

Oct 25, 2024 8:10:43 GMT bratters said:

A ‘call in’ has never been done for any planning application that got refused, ever. I’m not even sure it’s allowed under the constitution of the council and the scrutiny committee, this is why there’s been silence for over a week now, the legal department must be working overtime.

Interesting. That's worth an e-mail.

I wonder if this is taking advantage of an opportune moment? The Council Leader has been struggling with a hip problem and I believe is due for replacement surgery. I wonder if he's on sick leave atm?

AEPG & their council mates clearly didn't expect refusal and I believe that it's full approval or they are off. I'm not surprised that they are throwing the kitchen sink at it and want to delay as much as possible.

Fitgerald (who we assume is one of the four, along with Mahmood) must have been well miffed at being chastised and outfacted by Councillor Harper, while Mahmood would be hoping to delay as much as possible in the hope that the Labour government favourably change planning rules (whether that will apply to future or existing I wouldn't know) as I think that he alluded to at the planning meeting.