NEARLY 2,000 people have now signed a petition calling to save a historic sports and social club from Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘car park plans’.
And the campaign is now calling on national sporting bodies and the council to protect Land Rover Sports and Social Club’s playing fields for community use.
As we reported, JLR eventually wants to reclaim the entire site in Elmdon and it is understood it wants the playing fields for a staff car park.
Now social club bosses have called on Sport England, the Football Association (FA), the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Solihull Council to oppose the plans.
The social club’s secretary Jo Paling said: “The club understands the core planning principles of the National Planning Policy Framework are to improve health, social and cultural well being for all.
“The Local (housing and development) Plan for Solihull clearly sets out the importance of formal and informal physical activity and the provision and protection of sports facilities.
“This is further re-enforced by the adopted Playing Pitch Strategy this year which provides a clear evidence base for planning decisions affecting sports pitches and ancillary facilities.”
The club says it is difficult to imagine it continuing without the playing fields as the clubhouse relies on money from many sports teams who play on the field.
A JLR spokesman said: “JLR is having ongoing discussions with Sport England to consider a strategy of creating new and enhancing existing sports fields in the Solihull borough.”
