Shugborough Estate sports ban: Petition to save clubs reaches Parliament

The petition, signed by more than 1,100, was launched in the wake of the National Trust's announcement it plans to get rid of the pitches when it takes over the site later this year.

The trust, who are taking control of the site from the County Council, want to turn the pitches into parkland.

Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy raised the petition in Parliament on Wednesday.

The pitches have been in use since 1960 and campaigners have raised concerns that the sports teams steeped in history will be forced to fold without the pitches, as well as the fact that taxpayer money is to be spent getting rid of the facilities.

Jeannette Daly, a spokeswoman for the campaigners looking to save the sports grounds, said: "The eviction was met with shock and dismay by the sports teams and local people. People are angry and concerned that taxpayers money is now being used to pay the National Trust to get rid of it.

"National Trust members have also complained to the Director General Dame Helen Ghosh who has turned down the pleas to change their policy."

But the National Trust have hit back, insisting that although it is receiving money from the council, the move is actually saving the County Council and tax payers in the long run.

A spokesman said: "We are having a surrender payment from the County Council however it still saves them £35 million.

"What we have always said about Shugborough is that it is a grade one registered parkland, it is not a sports pitch or field.

"We have given the teams six months notice to find somewhere else, we did not want to uproot them mid-season. It is really not the Trust's role to provide sports facilities."

Presenting the petition in the House of Commons, Mr Lefroy said: "I rise to present a petition about sports pitches at Shugborough Hall in my constituency of Stafford. I pay tribute to Jeanette Daly who, accompanied by many others from the area of Great Haywood, Little Haywood and Colwich, has done a tremendous amount work on the matter. I declare an interest in that I am a member of the National Trust.

"The petition declares that the sports pitches to the south of Shugborough Hall are well used and a valuable asset to local and area teams;

further that the pitches have been part of a recreation site for decades;

further that the proposals put forward by the National Trust to close the pitches in order to create parkland would have a negative impact on sports provision in Staffordshire and make it harder for local people to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle; further notes that these proposals have not been consulted upon; and further that a local petition on a similar matter has been signed by 1,000 individuals.

"The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to call on the National Trust to work with the local community to arrive at a compromise where the sports pitches at Shugborough Hall can continue to be used by local sports teams."