One of Britain’s top Speedway teams forced to ditch home for new housing estate
One of Britain’s leading speedway teams is being forced to close down as a new housing development is set to rip through their track.
Peterborough Panthers, three times champions of England’s premier division, will close its doors after over half a century due to new planning permissions.
The new residential and leisure hub is set to be built over their East of England Showground site after landowners AEPG’s decision to rip up the events space.
The decision has left fans furious with the motorbike team having already held their final league match.
Husband and wife duo Kay and Richard Lewis have been part of the club for over 50 years and run the supporters’ trust.
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Speaking to Express.co.uk at the final home race against Kings Lynn, Kay said: “We are all volunteers, we will be devastated. We are very emotional tonight, my husband and I have been coming since 1970 when it first started… It’s a community. It’s one big family.”
She added: “I think we still can’t believe it’s happening.”
Fan Les Butters commented: “I’m totally sad because I’ve been coming for 53 years since I was 12 years old and now I’m 65 and I haven’t missed maybe two or three meetings a year
“I met my wife through Peterborough Speedway, my son is a Peterborough supporter and the rest of my family are so it’s disappointing really.”
AEPG has plans to build a new residential hub on the site which will include over 1,000 homes as well as a £50million leisure hub and a primary school.
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But, supporters passionately have since campaigned against the move with online petitions thrown together demanding the decision was reversed.
However, the cries were to no avail with Panthers bosses confirming the season would be their last at their Showground home.
But, supporters have turned on the AEPG with fans calling out the group for putting them in the situation.
Richard Hills said: “The Showground is supposed to be finding land. There are two clauses which say they have to find a suitable land for us to go into and it’s not doing that. The worry about it is the minute we stop here this will be knocked down.”
Wife Kay added: “They don’t like us at all. They want us out at the end of November now.”
Meanwhile, Mr Butters also stressed there was little that could be done due to the private ownership of the land.
He explained: “If this was a council-owned sports facility they should find a replacement sports area. But obviously, with the Showground now owned by the AEPG group, It’s a private enterprise. They can do what the hell they like with it. That’s their prerogative.”
Richard has claimed the Panthers have been offered a range of possible sites but admitted it was not as easy as jumping ship.
He added: “It’s having the money to put this infrastructure back into it. You’ve got a stand, airbags to find, fencing, it’s a big amount of money.”
Kay added: “For another venue you’re looking at pots and pots of money.”
A statement from AEPG provided to Express.co.uk reads: “We understand the disappointment at the imminent closure of the East of England Showground in its current form, which incorporates the grandstand used by the Peterborough Panthers.
“The charity, East of England Agricultural Society (EEAS), is the current landowner of the East of England Showground, who are in the process of selling the land. As part of the sale, the land needs to be clear of commercial operations or agreements. This includes the area of land the grandstand occupies and as the ownership of the land is predicted to change sometime in 2024, there is no ability to commit to a 2024 Speedway Season.
“The arrangement to run speedway at the Showground has only ever been on a season-by-season basis and there has never been long-term commitment on either side to continue.”
Three titles in 1999, 2006 and 2021 may make the Panthers the most successful sports team in the city, but it’s looking more likely this is the end of the line.
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