Tension for Peterborough Panthers fans as future remains in doubt
It's unclear if developers will reconsider their plans for the Showground
Last updated 22nd Nov 2023
Many Peterborough Panthers fans turned up in their numbers to support a rally in favour of keeping speedway at the East of England Showground alive.
Hundreds painted the city red and black, the Panthers' colours, on Saturday as they made their point heard in Cathedral Square.
Councillor Julie Stevenson, who sits on Peterborough City Council, helped organise the rally and wanted the event to lead towards a "stay of execution" for the club.
But it's unclear if the message will get across.
We spoke to Panthers fans at the rally on where they now see the club's future:
"They haven't got planning permission and that could be years away," Richard Butler, a long-serving Peterborough Panthers fan, said.
"I know we're hoping but if it does (go ahead), that would suck because there are more things than speedway that go on at the Showground," one supporter said.
"I would prefer to stay at the Showground; it is one of the best tracks in the country," another added.
"We want everyone to get what they want"
Carl Johnson is a co-promoter at Peterborough Panthers and part of a consortium bidding to take over the club.
He wants the developers to understand how much of an impact their plans would have on the club's fanbase and wider community.
"We want to work with everyone and want everybody to get what they want, and what we want is to continue at the Showground where we've been for 53 years," he said.
"Speedway is a community and they're taking away people's way of lives and I don't think they (the developers) understand that.
"I'm not one that's easily defeated; we will continue to work hard, push for what we believe is right for us, the speedway and the city."
The call comes amid plans to redevelop the area including 1,500 homes and a £50 million leisure village at the 165-acre Showground site.
Developers Asset Earning Power Group have previously said it's "not commercially viable" to continue running speedway at the venue beyond the 2023 season.
In a statement, AEPG said that in the last few weeks Keith Chapman, current Panthers owner, has been removing the track, pits, fences and other items at the Showground.
It added that the "costs involved in running the site and maintaining the grandstand for the sole purpose of speedway are non-viable for the landowner (East of England Agricultural Society) and the site operator".