Peterborough speedway campaigners hold hope if Showground status gets go-ahead
Councillors are due to consider whether it is an 'asset of community value'
Last updated 3rd May 2024
Campaigners fighting to keep speedway at Peterborough's East of England Showground are holding hope the battle isn't over.
It comes as the city council accepted a nomination for the venue's grandstand to be listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).
If ACV status is granted, which would be for five years, it could decide whether or not the showground, the home of Peterborough Panthers Speedway since 1970, can be fully demolished.
Carl Johnson is on a consortium hoping to stop redevelopment:
"It will be a big feather in our caps (if ACV status is granted)," he said.
"I appreciate they (the landowners) can do what they want, but until the planning has been approved, we've still got a case to fight.
"What we've got there is an asset to the city; I appreciate we need more houses, but look at the houses being built just around Peterborough without this development, it's huge.
"Hopefully we'll get to meet the people we were promised to meet before the local elections took place, so there's good things hopefully going forward for us."
What is currently happening with the plans?
Demolition works have already begun at the East of England Showground as part of plans to build 1,500 new homes, a school, hotel and a leisure village.
Asset Earning Power Group (AEPG), the company behind the plans, say redevelopment will create 500 jobs and also include a 4,640 square metre indoor entertainment centre.
A Peterborough City Council spokesperson said the authority is due to make a decision on whether or not to grant ACV status by 20th July.
Previously, AEPG said it's "not commercially viable" to continue running speedway beyond last season, citing reason such as falling attendances and less events held on the site.