Hundreds of fans turn out in bid to save Peterborough Panthers
Speedway fans attended a rally in the city centre this weekend
Hundreds of Peterborough Panthers speedway fans have turned out at a rally in a bid to save the club's home from redevelopment.
Supporters filled Cathedral Square on Saturday (18th November) as they look of keep the East of England Showground racetrack in use.
Panthers riders and club officials also attended, with speeches made by those including Andrew Pakes, Labour parliamentary candidate for Peterborough.
We spoke to Panthers fans on what the rally means to them:
"I'm pleasantly surprised; there's a couple of hundred here," said Richard Butler, a long-time fan of Peterborough Panthers.
"Hopefully we get people enthusiastic about the club and try to get people on board," supporter Callum said.
"We want to let as many people know we've been here for 53 years and we're not going to go quietly," fan Sarah added.
The rally comes just over a month since the club held a farewell meeting at the Showground to mark more than five decades of speedway there.
It was the final speedway event at the venue as plans to redevelop the area, including 1,500 homes and a £50 million leisure village, take shape.
The Panthers will need a new track if they are to race in the 2024 season.
Rally aims to make developers think of 'Plan B'
Peterborough city councillor Julie Stevenson, who helped organise the rally, said she wants the developers Asset Earning Power Group (AEPG) and landowners the East of England Agricultural Society, to have second thoughts.
"What we're hoping for is to attract new ownership and a stay of execution so the track can stay in place for a little while longer until the club has more stability because if the track goes, the club dies," she said.
"I hope the developers and the showground owners will have a heart and give us more time so speedway isn't lost forever."
Previously, AEPG said due to reasons such as falling attendances that it was "not commercially viable" to continue running speedway at the Showground.