Two city councillors representing the Orton Waterville Ward in Peterborough have raised serious questions about the impartiality of local community radio station PCRFM in its coverage of the redevelopment of the East of England Showground. Both councillors say they were never invited onto the station to present their views, despite their repeated public opposition to the development plans.
The East of England Showground project, promoted by Asset Earning Power Group (AEPG), is among the city’s most contentious development proposals in recent years. It includes thousands of new homes, leisure facilities, a hotel, and green space. While developers and supporters argue the scheme represents a much-needed investment in housing and community infrastructure, residents and campaigners have raised concerns about overdevelopment, traffic, and the loss of cultural and sporting facilities such as the speedway track.
Amid this divisive debate, councillors are questioning whether PCRFM has fulfilled its duty to present a balanced range of views.
“I was never invited” – Cllr Nicola Day
Green Party councillor Nicola Day, who represents Orton Waterville, said she was concerned that PCRFM had failed to engage with her or provide a platform for local concerns.
“I represent many residents who have concerns around this development, and I was never invited on the show to represent these views and concerns,” she said.
Cllr Day emphasised that she had spoken out against the development consistently, both in council meetings and in other media outlets, but was unable to do so on her local community radio station.
“I spoke against the development on behalf of residents at both planning meetings and presented objections from statutory consultees,” she explained. “It does concern me that PCRFM doesn’t seem to have included a more rounded, balanced selection of views and voices on this important issue.”
Her remarks reflect growing unease among those who feel that community voices opposed to the development have not been adequately represented on local radio, even as developers and their supporters were given airtime.
“Residents have a right to be heard” – Cllr Julie Stevenson
Independent councillor Julie Stevenson, also representing Orton Waterville, echoed these concerns. She said that while some residents were supportive of the redevelopment, a significant number held serious reservations that needed to be aired.
“I am aware that while some residents are in favour of the plans to develop the showground, a great number have valid and serious concerns,” she said.
Cllr Stevenson acknowledged the distress felt by fans of Peterborough’s speedway team over the potential loss of the track but stressed that other communities were equally affected.
“Yes, the people behind the speedway team and their fans are worried and distressed, but so are the hundreds of people who already live on Orton Northgate and Orton Southgate. They have a right to be heard and as councillors we should take care to ensure all views are represented. I wish the radio station’s coverage had taken more care to ensure a fairer approach, which is what we all expect of PCRFM.”
Her comments underline the sense among some elected representatives that the station has not lived up to expectations of impartiality, particularly given its prominent role as a local broadcaster.
Questions over ownership and editorial independence
The councillors’ criticism comes amid wider scrutiny of PCRFM and its links to Conservative councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, a former leader of Peterborough City Council and owner of the station.
At a planning and environmental protection committee meeting on 14 October 2024, Cllr Fitzgerald was asked to declare interests before applications relating to the showground were discussed. He stated that he had previously liaised with AEPG while council leader but insisted he had not endorsed their applications and would consider them with an open mind.
However, just weeks earlier, on 6 September, PCRFM sent a letter to the council’s chief planning officer strongly backing AEPG’s proposals. Signed by station director and breakfast show presenter Kev Lawrence, the letter described the redevelopment as an “exciting opportunity” and urged councillors to approve it. It was written on PCRFM headed paper, which critics argue makes it more than just a personal endorsement.
The letter went further, making political points about the need for “placemaking” in housing developments and encouraging other decision-makers to “take a leaf out of the AEPG book.”
PCRFM has also hosted a number of interviews with AEPG representatives, providing them with a platform to promote their vision for the showground site.
Together, these actions have raised questions about whether the station has already aligned itself with the developer’s position and, by extension, whether its output reflects a fair range of views.
Code of conduct and impartiality
Critics argue that Cllr Fitzgerald’s dual role — as both a city councillor directly involved in planning decisions and the owner of a community radio station that has taken a clear stance on the issue — presents at least the perception of a conflict of interest.
The council’s members’ code of conduct warns against “fettering discretion in the planning process,” which requires councillors to approach planning matters with an open mind. Observers suggest that a broadcaster’s letter of support could be seen as lobbying, even if signed by another member of staff.
A divided city
The concerns voiced by Cllrs Day and Stevenson reflect the broader division within Peterborough over the redevelopment.
Supporters of AEPG’s proposals, including business groups and some residents, argue that the plans will deliver much-needed housing, jobs, and community facilities. They say the redevelopment could transform a declining site into a vibrant new district.
Opponents, however, highlight traffic congestion, loss of heritage and sporting assets, and scepticism about whether promised facilities will materialise. The reversal of the council’s original refusal of one planning application — following an appeal led in part by Cllr Fitzgerald — deepened mistrust among those who already felt the process was unfair.
Cllr Stevenson has previously described residents as feeling “betrayed” by the decision to overturn the refusal. Campaigners such as the Peterborough Speedway Consortium also argue that the city risks losing a unique sporting facility that could be revived.
PCRFM’s role in the community
PCRFM, for its part, has emphasised its service to the local community. The station has reported record audience figures in 2025, with more than 29,000 listeners tuning in online for an average of two hours daily.
Station manager Kev Lawrence has highlighted PCRFM’s commitment to supporting charities, local groups, and diverse musical programming, much of it delivered by unpaid volunteers. “We are proud to serve our community and aim every single day to make a positive impact,” he said.
But for Cllrs Day and Stevenson, the issue is not about the station’s general output but its specific handling of one of the city’s most significant developments in decades. They argue that a platform with PCRFM’s reach should reflect all sides of the debate fairly, not least the concerns of those living closest to the site.
What happens next
The matter has now been referred to the council’s monitoring officer, who has been asked to assess whether Cllr Fitzgerald properly declared his interests and whether PCRFM’s interventions compromised the integrity of the planning process.
PCRFM, the BBC and a councillor: questions over impartiality in Peterborough Showground saga
For now, the two councillors remain clear: PCRFM has not adequately represented their constituents’ concerns.
As Cllr Day put it: “It does concern me that PCRFM doesn’t seem to have included a more rounded, balanced selection of views and voices on this important issue.”
And Cllr Stevenson added: “I wish the radio station’s coverage had taken more care to ensure a fairer approach, which is what we all expect of PCRFM.”
