Hopes raised for speedway racing revival in Peterborough

Campaigners say they are battling to secure a site either at the East of England Showground or elsewhere in the area.

The upbeat message comes in the face of a new blow for speedway enthusiasts after Peterborough Speedway Ltd went into liquidation.

According to documents published by The Gazette, the company, Peterborough Speedway Ltd, went into liquidation on March 16.

The listing states the move followed a general meeting of the business at which it was agreed the company should be wound up and that Joint Liquidators, Hayley Watson and Richard Bloomfield of FRP Advisory Trading, be appointed.

Brian Connolly, spokesperson for the campaign group Forever Panthers, explained the move had followed a year in which racing had not been able to take place in Peterborough, leaving the company without a source of revenue.

Peterborough Panthers speedway team ended a 53-year spell at the East of England Showground in October 2023 as owners the East of England Agricultural Society and its then land promoter AEPG, sought the go ahead for a 1,k500 homes and leisure village development on the land. The plans entailed the removal of the race track and viewing area.

But Mr Connolly said: “But we are still battling on.

"We think it is possible that speedway racing can return to Peterborough, if not at the Showground then at another location.

"But we also think speedway could feature in development plans for the East of England Showground and that such a feature could help unlock development potential of the site.”

Interest in a return of speedway has been fueled by the announcement by the East of England Showground Services (SGS), part of AEPG, that it is seeking ideas from the public for large scale entertainments that could return to a section of the Showground.

SGS has a 20 years lease on 50 acres of the Showground that was to have formed the leisure village site in the unsuccessful planning application last year.

Ashley Butterfield, chief executive of AEPG, said: “The Grandstand area used for speedway is not part of the area leased by East of England Showground Services.

"The East of England Agricultural Society control that area and they can be contacted by email on [email protected]”

The Society has been approached for a response.

The EEAS has been consulting with nearby residents about possible housing development on the venue.