Crump99

Agreed. I think that I'm done with it for 2023, hopefully not for good because there is still a fight there and PCC are looking pretty crap, who's surprised, and if people keep the pressure on, don't lose interest and become apathetic as the season ends then who knows where it will lead because there are plenty of questions to be answered concerning AEPG, The East of England Agricultural Society and Peterborough City Council (namely the planning committee and its members). That was a gut shot from Chapman, delivered in the most unbelievably incompetent uncaring fashion, and I'm not sure that I want to turn up again to any operation that he heads.

Perhaps Chapman could explain why a year go says here at 1.01 www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1285189478916248 that there is a few more years here yet but has seemingly publically done bugger all season to show that he's making an effort to save us and give us those seasons. The message at the start of the season has been that we're done for, added to that there was no explanation of why the Tomlin deal went down. The the final nail tonight though was when he sounded like the AEPG press officer.

Mick Bratley wouldn't be wasting his time if he didn't know what was going on. He certainly doesn't p*** in the wind.

Indeed, that message tonight was as subtle as a train wreck and delivered with as much grace as you'd expect when Chapman is announced to be on the mic. AEPG may not wish to negotiate with him but lobbying councillors/MPs etc and keeping the pressure up on PCC and the Showground planning proposals still has the potential to do plenty of damage to them. The truth will out" - Chapman did mention petitions wouldn't work and with the change.org one that's true, but if a PCC one does get off the ground then that's a whole different ball game. I also don't seem to recall Chapman encouraging supporters to get their objections in on both planning applications. Did I miss that bit? Until AEPG get those proposals approved then much is still up for grabs as they are not meeting LP36 & 30 and we have yet to see their reasoning for ignoring the local plan. PCC will have had to have caved in to their reasoning so it will be interesting to see.

Indeed my local councillor said that it will go through on the nod, which most such proposals no doubt do; and you can see from much of the PR that the preparatory work has gone on behind the scenes and the planning committee would be expected to just tick a box. However, they don't usually get significant objections, bad publicity and close scrutiny of process and decision making. AEPG certainly don't want that and PCC certainly don't want to justify losing Peterborough Speedway to the city for some future development that will allegedly provide a community facility of greater value, serving more of the community for more of the time (they could make a complex used 365 days of the year incorporating Peterborough Speedway and the Arena, so not viable through lack of use is a weak argument) which provides improved services and facilities for a diverse proportion of the community. It's important to keep the pressure on and not give them all that easy ride due to apathy.

House

https://www.aepguk.com/ (East of England Agricultural Society's current contracted promoter at the Showground) Speedway (from Peterborough Telegraph) “We have worked really closely with the Speedway team and Speedway owners,” Ashley added as the Panthers get set to leave the grandstand. “We’ve been in consultation and open dialogue and have been transparent about the plans and the future. “They have known for many years that the site is earmarked for development and ultimately they would need to move location and find a new home. “We actually extended the period for them to include this season and we managed to push that through and work closely with them to achieve that, so there’s a huge amount of collaboration and support there. “We are working with the Speedway fans and owners but we understand the disappointment that the speedway is moving from Peterborough.” General comments: Peterborough Panthers speedway team informed in 2022 that the 2023 season would sadly have to be their last in the Showground grandstand, as that area is expected to be under different ownership by the time the 2024 Speedway season begins. Sale of the land is expected to be approved by Spring 2024, again subject to planning approval. The spades-in-the-ground date is still unclear until the planning committee decides. Plans are at the outline planning stage now, which will be referred to several more stages of detailed back-and-forth, no doubt, before anything can physically go ahead.

It could certainly start a house of cards because "the sale of the land is expected to be approved by Spring 2024, again subject to planning approval"; AEPG are only the current promoter contracted by the East of England Agricultural society so that could go sour; and Peterborough City Council could be stung by the opposition to this unwanted/unpopular development and decide against a concrete jungle in favour of a proper culture, leisure, tourism and community facility for the city and its population that they are rumoured to represent.

You didn't get Jason Crump though, that was only an imitation of the real thing who graced the EoES on Friday evenings in the red and black

I do wish they wouldn't sell it like that, that's very very irritating and not needed. Everyone knows what's going on and most fans and others are fighting against that. If we have to suffer the last ever PR for Kings Lynn I don't think I'll bother. A speedway requiem isn't my idea of fun night. It's like watching Jason Crump riding for Kings Lynn or Ipswich which I never did either.

I think that you're right and that is something that we've got to argue against. AEPG will argue that the site is underused now that they've mugged everybody off and they never used the site to its full potential anyway. I'm sure that when the East of England Agricultural Society got in to bed with AEPG they didn't expect their legacy to be a toxic one, which is something different from that which the developer try to sell on their tin: "we leave a legacy of which all parties can be proud" - Peterborough City Council will never get over, be forgiven, or be proud getting rid of Peterborough Speedway from the city. As for the rent though, because we're inconvenient, they've wrecked the EoES and don't want to offer any help, especially financial (ie subsidise a community facility) their strategy allegedly will be for a break even rent which is clearly ridiculous. However, that does not get them out of their responsibilities under LP30. Hopefully PCC don't buy the guff that AEPG may have submitted to already (and we've yet to see I'm believe) to get them out of their responsibilities. It's worrying that Butterfield is quoted as saying: “We are working with the Speedway fans and owners but we understand the disappointment that the speedway is moving from Peterborough.” - when nothing has been approved. Peterborough Speedway in not moving anywhere if the planning is rejected and PCC are not hoodwinked over LP30.

The I know the real truth story is getting a bit tiresome though. Either post the facts, as you understand them or give it a rest, said in the nicest possible way. CJ has been a yo-yo for years and you seem to think that him making decisions is a plus. I'm not sure how many Panthers fans feel the same? Until Buster actually says what went wrong with the Tomlin deal, why he has been so negative on our future during 2023 (although I understand if it's not to upset AEPG as Bratters says), or why here at the end of 2022, at 1.01 he say that Panthers could have another few seasons at the EoES ? https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1285189478916248 then the jury is out and will remain so. Yes he's providing a good ending, and credit for that, but the emphasis very much on ending with others fighting for the club and energising the fans to get active. Surely even a die-hard Buster fan such as yourself can see that there are some questions to answer?

What's CJ bailing out got to do with it. Chapman is the owner and what he says goes no matter what the others underneath him do. He soon pops up on any team building issue that doesn't suit. He could have given us a decent team from the off irrespective of CJ. Good effort at deflection though. And credit for making avoiding the wooden spoon look like an achievement

Indeed. And that was the clever part of the article when he said: " If anyone did want to make me an offer, I wish they would have put it in writing, because I would have accepted it if it was anything sensible." - if those negotiations were only verbal and an offer price couldn't be agreed then there were no offers, despite others disputing that?

Didn't say that I believed it. Just that it has as much credibility as a post on a forum. Both are lacking detail and counter argument so treat both with a pinch of salt.

And in the programme he said that was cobblers: "There have been no offers; I can categorically assure you of that. Not one person has made an offer for the club. The only person I've spoken to was Michael last winter -- nobody else spoke to me about it or offered anything. If anyone did want to make me an offer, I wish they would have put it in writing, because I would have accepted it if it was anything sensible. So when I see that I've turned down two offers, I really wonder what people are trying to achieve by saying that." If anyone wishes to dispute that then feel free.

Last home meeting of 2023 yet to be confirmed but will happen so if you've been listening to the rumour mongers, not saying that that's the reason for your question, then fear not

He was 46, crocked, unproven since his injury and going to fall off at some point. How many bad indicators do you need to realise that it was a season breaking risk that we didn't need to take?

That so true. Allegedly AEPG have give PCC their reasoning for not needing to honour LP36 & LP30. I don't think that paper is in the public domain but if anyone can point to it then then would be helpful. And then Butterfield is quoted in the local press as saying “We are working with the Speedway fans and owners but we understand the disappointment that the speedway is moving from Peterborough.” On what basis does he make such a claim when their planning application has yet to be approved? It's not going anywhere at the moment and even less so if PCC do their job. All sounds a bit dodgy?

Because you're a speedway supporter with your own pride. Just because a load of clowns don't know what they are doing it doesn't mean that you have to follow their lead.

Whilst still running you have to nice to AEPG, even at this late stage.

Julie Stevenson is on our side although publically slightly fence sitting at the moment or it's being made to look that way which is a touch disappointing none the less, if that's how it needs to be though then so be it. My local councillor is on the planning committee, is known to me and we get on fine, but the response I got from a cc'd e-mail was (slightly reworded but the message is accurate) "as a member of the planning committee I need to keep away from this" - from speaking to him before, I think that the correct course is to politely lobby (e-mail) those local councillors and ask them to make your views known to the planning committee. Not forgetting to also register an objection on the planning portal and referencing that in your email. Locals could also e-mail the MP the ward (the ward covering the East of England Showground) who is Shailesh Vara, also Paul Bristow as the the loss of the site and Peterborough Speedway is a city issue so no reason for him to get away unscathed, he took the photo op at the start of the season https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/other-sport/major-boost-for-peterborough-panthers-as-potential-new-promotion-team-is-announced-alongside-increased-financial-support-3994378

First green shoots in the programme last night. Rather than the "the end is nigh" message we got "enjoy the 3 final meetings (not specifying whether that means season or for good) & then take stock and look at what potential there is for the future, where and when? I'm probably reading too much in to that but have to cling on to whatever appears.

Good post. Keep the objections coming, even encourage friends and family to object. As well as the more detailed objections that point our their failings, it's a numbers game so a basic objection objecting to the loss of a perfectly viable existing culture, leisure, tourism and community facility; valuable city green space and one of the city's most successful and high profile sporting teams, in Peterborough Panthers speedway team, which has been in operation at the East of England Showground continuously for 53 seasons, that would do. Of course reword it or add your own thoughts so as not to look like a job lot, but do it. I'd favour AEPG being told where to get off by PCC and them also telling the East of England Agricultural Society that they need a new plan more focused on enhancing the existing culture, leisure, tourism and community facility (including Peterborough Speedway) and AEPG and co can build their residential housing, and its alleged positive outcome for Peterborough, elsewhere. Just a thought

Been like that for long time now. I've sort of got used to it but it's something that you notice every meeting. We still get some superb action but compared to what it used to be like we're missing 20% of the product. Iversen particularly tries what used to work in years gone by and can go wide for the pass for the lead but come out of the bend in 3rd or 4th. It must be so frustrating for the riders? However, that's a bit of a side issue as we fight for our future. Panthers as a club are now on fire (not literally as some may wish) at just the right time. If ever you wanted to see absolute speedway quality then Artem Laguta is it, both on track and his reaction to the fans. God knows who that imposter was who turned up at his first meeting?