Fact: The East of England Agricultural Society is a registered charity and is governed by its charitable objectives which are to promote agriculture and rural life across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and beyond.
The Society funds a number of initiatives, from Kids Country, our children’s education programme, to our Scholars Programme, which drives leadership in the agricultural sector.
Fact: The East of England Agricultural Society continues to have a strong connection with Peterborough and across the East of England; our roots are here, and our future will be here. The Society’s new foundation will invest in education and rural programmes across Peterborough and the wider region, ensuring the Society’s impact is greater and more sustainable than ever.
Fact: Upon completion of the showground sale, all proceeds will be held in a permanent, evergreen foundation to expand charitable activities locally within Peterborough and across the East of England Agricultural Society areas of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. The fund is expected to award grants annually, securing the charity’s long-term legacy.
Fact: We made the difficult decision to end the use of the East of England showground for major events as organising these at the site had not been profitable for many years. Similar financial challenges have affected other showground sites nationwide.
Our goal has always been to use the land to create a lasting legacy that continues to support farming and rural communities through education, training, and innovation. There are no plans for events to return to the Showground in the future and the Society is currently considering next steps following the council’s planning decision.
The Society will continue to work with PCC and the local community in relation to the future development of this site and remains fully committed to helping deliver a positive legacy for the Showground site and so that it can continue supporting communities across Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, as it has done so for over 230 years.
Fact: EEAS was not able to sign the S106 agreement proposed by PCC and AEPG because that required a commercial deal with AEPG to be completed which did not demonstrate Best Value as required by the Charity Commission for the disposal of its assets. Additionally, the package of measures required by the S106 agreement was not considered deliverable as part of the development proposed.
Myth: EEAS walked away from significant monies by not signing a deal with PCC and or AEPG.
Fact: Various public assertions have been made as to the level of monies which could be received by the Society as part of the commercial agreement with AEPG but these assertions have not been accurately reported. None of the Society’s personnel or trustees will benefit personally from any agreement reached in respect of the future development of the site, all monies will be reinvested directly back into the Society’s charitable work dedicated to education and promotion all things food, farming and countryside, in the East of England.
Myth: Now the current planning with PCC has fallen through, the showground will be hosting events on the site again.
Fact: There are no plans for major events to return to the Showground in the future as these had not been profitable for many years and the Society is currently considering next steps following the council’s decision.
Fact: There has been no change in relation to AEPG’s current lease on a small part of the showground site, referred to in planning documents as the ‘blue’ land. AEPG retain a lease on this land with 21 years remaining and they must use the land for leisure purposes.
