On-line fight over stadium

The petition has been created by Lesley Bateman whose children are members of the Cannock and Stafford Athletics Club, which uses the stadium – based on Pye Green Road – on a regular basis.

Under current plans Cannock Chase District Council wants to sell-off the stadium for housing in a bid to finance its multi-million Chase Leisure Village plan.

Although the stadium will be sold council bosses have pledged to build a similar facility at Blake Valley Technology College.

The petition has so far attracted only 11 signatures but in her submission to the website Mrs Bateman said: "Cannock Stadium is home to the Cannock and Stafford Athletics clubs, one of the country's successful clubs in both the Junior and young athletes league. The local council are selling the land to enable the development of more houses in an already overcrowded, built up area.

Dedicated

"We as a club wish to have our stadium left alone to enable the children, some of whom could represent the country in the 2012 Olympics, to develop into the promising athletes that they are. We have a team of dedicated coaches who have given many years to the club.

"The Government wants to promote healthy children yet it allows its councils to take away their facilities."

In a plea to the Prime Minister she says: "Mr Blair, if you want to do one thing right before you finish your term, then stop this closure."

Gary Denning, spokesman for the athletics club said: "The council has promised to create a facility at Blake School that is like-for-like with Cannock Stadium. What this petition shows is that feelings are still running high. Every time we go down to the stadium everyone wants to know what is going on."

* The website address is: www.petitions.pm.gov.uk/athletics