THERS TORY’ HT GOES ON...
had previously voted through the 850 home scheme, while the second 650-house phase of the development was turned down by six votes to three with one abstention.
Councillor Harper later said: “The application was seen as for too many houses and the loss of the speedway and Showground was too much.
“There was nothing in the application to really replace that and if we’re going to lose those sorts of things we need to find somewhere else for them to be and of a similar value or better.
“This application was purely housing and nothing else. There was not enough in there to approve the decision.
“What I would like to see is that it forces people to the table. It was mentioned by speedway that it didn’t feel it had a proper chance to consult and work with the owners of the Showground.
“Hopefully they will come together and maybe they’ll hreats’
The East Sussex teenager also paid tribute to Pirates’ bosses for helping him progress and be on the verge of three medals in his debut Championship campaign.
He said: “It’s been a dream season for me. At the start of the year I just thought I was doing the National Development League only.
“I didn’t expect to be ending up at Poole and hopefully picking up the treble. I’m certainly looking forward to Wednesday night and hopefully we can complete the job.
“The Poole management of Danny Ford and Neil Middleditch have been amazing to me. Everyone at Poole has helped me out from day one. That constant support has brought me on more, so I’m scoring more now.”
Report: PHIL LANNING
come up with a plan for an alternative that is as good as if not better and maybe we can move forward. But that is for them to decide.”
Speaking on behalf of the Peterborough Panthers Speedway Consortium, Mr Connolly added: “Paragraph 103 was at the heart of the argument and a precedent was set with the Coventry appeal decision earlier this year.
“In the planning case officer’s report and recommendation to approve the applications, he completely ignored the Coventry Appeal decision and expressed the view that the protection of paragraph 103 should not apply. That completely disappointed us, but we were delighted when the chairman made a point of what the loss of speedway would mean to the city.”
The campaigners will now seek talks with AEPG in the hope that they can be convinced to include speedway in any alternative scheme they might come up with, rather than being forced to leave the speedway facilities, including the grandstand, to deteriorate as they cannot be demolished and built on.
Mr. Connolly went on: “AEPG can’t develop that land now, but our door is open and we invite the applicant to work with us to enable the policy and precedent compliant application to be made.
“We have won a battle but we certainly have not won the war, and we will continue to fight. We are going to push and push at everything we can to remain at the East of England Showground.
“We are all pleased that the application that sought to kill off
Cross fighting ORMER England speedway and grasstrack star Simon Cross has begun rehabilitation in hospital after suffering a ‘serious stroke’ on a recent return trip from his home in France to England with his wife Andrea.
FOn a dedicated Facebook page set up by the family, called ‘Simon Cross recovery’, the following update was posted last Sunday:
“Since Simon's admission to 'his five-star hotel' (his words by the way) he has had a treatment plan put in place. His consultant James and the physio team have already realised that Simon wants to run before he can walk.
“The physio team had him up on his feet on Thursday at the bar (obviously not the bar that he's accustomed to). With their help and patience they got him to walk by placing his leg in the position it should be to remind his brain what it should be doing. We've found out that he can do this better in reverse.
“His left arm really doesn't want to play ball at the moment but with daily stimulation (that’s me prodding him constantly with something sharp), we’re just waiting for his little pinky to react.
“We all know what a fighter Simon is and if anyone can rise to the challenge, then he can.
“Thank you for all your messages of support and please keep them coming, as he loves reading them.”
The following post had previously explained the background to the 59-year-old’s sudden illness:
“Last weekend, on 11/10/24, Mum and Dad flew to England to celebrate Mum’s 60th birthday. Unfortunately, Dad experienced multiple TIAs on Friday and Saturday. He was assessed and treated, then discharged with recommendations for further investigations once they returned home, as nothing showed on the initial scans.
“On Saturday, we had a lovely afternoon celebrating Mum’s birthday with family. However, that evening, Dad suffered a serious stroke and was admitted to the high dependency ward. He remained there until late Wednesday when he was moved to the stroke ward. Throughout this time, he had a total of three CT scans. The first two showed nothing but the scan on Monday revealed the area affected by the stroke. It impacted the right side of his brain, which affects the left side of his body.
“We’re focused on his recovery and will keep you all updated.” Speedway Star sends ‘Crossi’ our very best wishes for a rapid recovery…
speedway in Peterborough has been refused. It may come back, that’s not in our control, or the applicant may rejig it.
"But it means the alternative land use sought by the applicant can’t now proceed in the way the applicant sought. The applicant can’t do with the land what it said it wanted to do, so something has to give.
“We hope that means a meaningful dialogue and conversation about the future of speedway at its natural home in Peterborough can now take place.”
After the decision was announced, a spokesman for AEPG told the local Peterborough Telegraph: “We were delighted the officer’s recommendation was approved for the major application. We will continue to work closely with the council’s planning team on the next steps progressing the development of the Showground.”
Poole, with Vinnie Foord third from left, on their track walk at Oxford.
Picture: TAYLOR LANNING
October 26, 2024 speedway star 3
