Locals air concerns about showground redevelopment

A company wants to build 1,500 homes at the East of England Showground

People living near a showground that is set to be redeveloped have aired their worries to a local politician.

A company wants to build 1,500 homes, a leisure complex, primary school and care home at the East of England Showground in Peterborough.

Nicola Day, leader of the Green Party group on Peterborough City Council, said people had raised concerns about health provision and traffic at a meeting.

She said some also wondered whether the planned development might be affected by the Labour government's proposed planning reforms.

'Mixed views'

Miss Day said about 80 people had attended a meeting she hosted to discuss the plan earlier this week.

"There were mixed views - some people like the idea, some have concerns," she said.

"The main themes amongst those who had concerns related to whether there was going to be a GP and dentist on the site, and traffic.

"There was concern about the amount of traffic coming from the site."

Nicola Day is setting up a steering group after being told about residents' concerns

She indicated that she aimed to raise concerns with developers.

"We're going to create a steering group," she said.

"We would hope to be able to work together and mitigate some of these concerns."

She added: "I'm not aware that Labour's new planning policy is going to have an effect. It's something we'll look at."

Some people were also concerned about the departure of the Peterborough Panthers speedway team, she said.

Asset Earning Power Group (AEPG), the company behind the redevelopment plan, said earlier this summer the project could create about 1,000 jobs.

The company, which operates the showground on behalf of the East of England Agricultural Society charity, thinks the finished product could add £55m per year to the city's economy.

AEPG has plans for a golf range, a lake, a hotel and a "family entertainment space".

But AEPG chief executive Ashley Butterfield said speedway was "non viable".