Crump99

PCC are unfortunately part of the problem. They are responsible for the mess so I don't have much confidence in them to fight this too hard in the current climate? But they might surprise, who knows? From the AEPG DAS "The Showground site was offered to Peterborough City Council to allocate for housing and employment uses, to meet the needs of the city as it continues to grow. The Peterborough Local Plan was subsequently adopted by the Council in July 2019 with an allocation development at the Showground site." They knew that, if approved, Peterborough Speedway would be lost in that location, hence LP36 and 30. That's where the battle ground is and rejection must come. I suspect it'll be rejected on several other issues as well initially when AEPG play their first 2024 hand!

23/00412/OUT Representation from Consultee (Web) Sport England 08/01/2024 Speedway As set out previously, Sport England does not wish to make detailed comments on this point, and have referred the Council to the governing body, the Speedway Control Bureau, who we understand have raised objection to the application. Whilst we note the content of the supporting statement in relation to the loss of speedway venue, this does not seem to appropriately address the relevant planning policies in the Local Plan, particularly LP36 and the guidance in the NPPF in respect of the loss of the facility. This is because no information is provided in respect of replacement facilities in line with policy LP36 of the Local Plan. For information, the previous reference to para 99 of the NPPF should now read Para 103 following the updated publication in December 2023. As such, our previous comments remain valid in respect of the loss of the facility for speedway. Many thanks, Stuart Morgans Principal Planning Manager

Rumour is that allegedly his last meeting would cover that with change anyway if it came to pass?

Not when it's on the council's radar and part of the local plan, that's also currently under review. This is not a bit of random land that nobody cares about. AEPG are not going to get that luxury and they want the job done. They are not in in for the long game and already have their timetable in the public domain.

Interesting question and one to leave on the back burner really. I don't know is the answer and whether the consortium have discussed this on their call, who knows? I'd guess that if Peterborough doesn't happen locally in some form in 2025 then that really would be it. What I do know is that the focus has to be on that return to the EoES because that is the only objective that will get a result. Any plan b can only be considered in terms of the Peterborough Local Plan, PCC doing their job and AEPG fulfilling the requirements of LP36 & 30. It's also worth noting that when PCC turned down Butterfield's retrospective DHL planning application that was recommended to be approved they went elsewhere in the local plan to find the criteria to turn it down, so if the will is there?

It wouldn't be a plan B though. It would be plan A and play right into AEPG's hands as they'll refer to "l. The service provided by the facility is met by alternative provision that exists within reasonable proximity: what is deemed as reasonable proximity will depend on the nature of the facility and its associated catchment area" from LP30, which would be game over if agreed. I'd be pretty sure that they've already evidenced that using Leicester and Kings Lynn as their ignorant examples.

That is true but their application will probably fail because they are keeping the speedway out and not adhering to the local plan. If PCC hold firm and AEPG can't wriggle out LP 30 then they are going to have to negotiate with Chapman's representatives at some point one assumes?

Although you've already replied to the planning applications (at least I think that you have) you can add additional comments if you think any of that is relevant to those AEPG documents or may make PCC think, in our favour that is!

Depends what way you look at it. If you look at the overall picture then it's helpful to the consortium with their objectives. If you've only got pound signs in front of your eyes and no hidden agenda then the statement clearly favours you although it can't be a surprise to the consortium that dealing with this owner is going to be anything but straightforward.

And that messaging basically continues and is still sold which is the disappointing thing, just read the latest BBC items. It's another white flag on the EoES. The main positive of that statement was that it replaced farewell to the EoES as the main news item. It's still a bad look but not half as bad as it was.

As I said, more questions than answers. However, Bratters and co know what they are trying to achieve and I'm sure that the statement serves their purpose, even though it's far from perfect looking from the outside? It keeps Peterborough Speedway on the front page and gives the screw another turn.

It shouldn't be beyond the wit of man to to draw up a contract handing the club over to the consortium as it is now with clauses about future potential eventualities. The consortium would have stronger negotiating power and Chapman would have a better chance of that future pension dividend. If there is no hidden agenda then that certainly is a strange agenda to be following as his first choice.

While the consortium and save Peterborough Speedway campaign exists then Chapman knows that it's not worthless, hence why he says when appropriate. AEPG are going to have to negotiate with the club and fork out at some point if they want some or all of their plan or plans approved. They would be quids in anyway so what they'll have to pay Peterborough Speedway then (spot the connection?) will be small beer to them. Either Chapman knows something that we don't, which probably wouldn't be surprising, or he's willing to gamble that the square root of nothing is nothing anyway. That's all unsubstantiated guesswork of course but one can only use the information that's thrown out there.

You don't learn though do you, as we discussed As with most such things, it's too little too late and raises as many questions as it answers. However, it's welcome that he's finally broken cover all of the same and does give the consortium some useful ammunition in their fight to save his club. And there is the sticking point: still his club until it's appropriate, whenever that is and based on what criteria? I thought that discussions have been going on for weeks and an agreement was nearing? Hasn't it been confirmed that he had a serious offer mid season (although not in his required format apparently) so he could have handed it over for someone who wanted to fight for the 2024 that he was never interested in. The pressure that is now mounting on AEPG could have started mid season in a subtle way to potentially create that change of circumstances that we were told was needed. For the record, I don't hold Buster totally responsible in any respect. There have been plenty of opportunities overtime by those closer to the inner circle to get us to where we are now in terms of public action. We tend only to remember the recent though and "we have made the extensive attempts to continue beyond 2023" sticks in the throat and is one of those unanswered questions. What extensive attempts were those? Because I don't publically recall any? The only thing that I recall was his awful PA announcement when I walked out of the EoES for what looks like the last time despite the apparent consortium focus.

If it wasn't in his interest he'd have let us go under, although, as has been said, we wouldn't have. Fair point that Rathbone perhaps didn't have to sell to Chapman but for some reason he did? The club statement in April explained that it was nothing to do with Tomalin and his mouth (although sealing the deal before opening it would have been preferable); "Over the winter there was an on/off scenario whereby the club may have changed hands. However, given the uncertainty over the longevity of Peterborough Speedway, it was understandable that a sale did not take place". Which brings us back to the start about what has Chapman done all year to save the club and placate those ungrateful >>>>>>>>? Bugger all on the face of it, although not upsetting AEPG during the campaign is sensible I'm led to believe, so there is a bit of slack there but being the AEPG communications officer was a bit too far. However, from Oct 31 and after subsequently clearing what he was told to remove from the EoES, one assumes that the gloves are off so we await his statement to placate us and justify your Buster love in.

No money changed hands apparently, allegedly Butterfield (shrewdly knowing that retirement beckons for his PR man) promised Chapman a place if needed in the older person’s Care Village - within the 280-bed care home, to provide supported care, which will be built in The Care Village. If ever part of the project isn't going to see the light of day then that'll be it. Only an unsubstantiated rumour of course. We're still awaiting Chapman's version of events for his sterling efforts throughout the 2023 season regarding the future Peterborough Speedway. At the same time of course as keeping an eye out for Hell freezing over.

Shrewd is taking a payment now to put in the pension fund and a clause in the contract re future possibilities (the unlikely "if" that you mention). For someone who allegedly has such passion and belief in the sport, as well as being a self proclaimed significant saviour of Belle Vue, he's going a bloody funny way about justifying those claims. The only people getting great business out of him (and he's welcome to say that the criticism is wrong) are AEPG and his truelove. Gambling on what might happen and getting bugger all (which allegedly perhaps raises an interesting question?) isn't shrewd in my book.

With respect, I don't think that you do understand. "I'm saying wait and see if he does sell to the consortium first" - he's potentially helped to make sure that Peterborough Speedway don't run in 2024 and possibly never again. He's done nothing and said nothing. Some people should perhaps tone it down a bit with their vitriol and think before sending but there has been a nasty whiff about 2023. There is only one person who can tell his truth and calm it down. How long do you want angry supporters to wait?

Shame that they didn't and neither did he. Anyone who supported that meeting just lined his pocket, allegedly, and gave Butterfield and AEPG a PR triumph. Just look at the club website: 14 consecutive farewell news items leading to farewell to the Showground article splashed all over it, with CJ then saying at the rally (you'd have thought that the club website would be covering that and Panthers fight for survival) that the EoES is our home and we want to be back there in 2025. Well I hope there really is a plan and work going on in the background because I've seen nothing tangible as yet to square that circle

Wouldn't quite go that far but that one did brighten the day up somewhat

At this stage! That's a good one. He's taken a club down, poached their assets, left genuine Peterborough speedway people (and some would say genuine speedway people) to try to salvage something from the mess that he presided over and left. His last act is to cling on for some reason to seemingly stop the consortium moving forward. Although the council motion: "To arrange a meeting between the current owners of the Peterborough Panthers Speedway Team" suggests different unless it's a typo? Chapman deserves everything that he's getting although he is quite welcome to put out a statement of clarification. He did it in the summer when he felt the criticism at that point was unjust. Panthers contract at the EoES has finished, as has the AEPG deadline to clear the site so what's holding him back now? One can only assume that he doesn't give a stuff and has got everything that he planned and wanted? The floor is his!

Not really unless you have the evidence to back up the vitriol.

I'm sure that he knew exactly what he was or wasn't doing, so idiot isn't the right word. I can't think of many appropriate words and phrases to describe him but idiot isn't one of them. If he really wants shot of Lynn with retirement beckoning as well then a good 2024 is vital and that costs, say no more squire! You can bet that he'll put in some effort this time to get shot and will not be stipulating that bids need to be in writing before he offloads his truelove.

From Cllr Julie Stevenson of Orton Waterville (27/11/23) - on Facebook: IMPORTANT NEWS: SAVE PETERBOROUGH SPEEDWAY As part of the ongoing effort to protect Peterborough’s speedway track and team (Peterborough Panthers), Orton Waterville Parish Council is to debate whether it is in the public interest to register the track as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). If the parish council votes in favour of initiating the ACV registration process, it may put a halt to any intentions to destroy the speedway track. What is an ACV? The Localism Act of 2011 created a provision that allows ‘defined community groups’, such as parish councils, to ask their local authority to list assets that meet the relevant criteria as being of ‘community value’. The Localism Act defines an asset of community value if: Its actual or current use (or there is a time in the recent past when its use) furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community, and It is realistic to think that there can continue to be (or it is realistic to think that there is a time in the next five years) non-ancillary use of the asset that would further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community. The debate will take place between members of the parish council during a meeting of Orton Waterville parish council on Wednesday 29th November 2023. If the decision is taken to register the track as an ACV, the next step will be for the parish council to ask Peterborough City Council to initiate the registration process.