Outcry over sports ban at Shugborough

The National Trust wants to stop the use of the site by football and cricket teams, which have used the pitches for decades.

The trust, which announced earlier this year it would take over running the estate from Staffordshire County Council, wants to use the space as a 'public amenity'.

Doubts have also been over whether charity events will be held at the venue but the trust has confirmed the lucrative Ironman 70.3 events will still be held at Shugborough for the next two years.

Councillors from neighbouring Colwich Parish and residents of Great Haywood have written to Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy about the situation and urged the trust to work with the community to come up with a compromise.

Parish councillor Victoria Jenkinson has signed the petition, which is being circulated around the parish and sports teams.

She said: "The pitches have been part of a recreation site for decades, situated in a far corner of the Shugborough Estate and crossed by public footpaths. The football teams in particular are struggling to find an alternative venue and, with the addition of new housing in our local area, there are likely to be many more young people wishing to join team sports locally.

"There are no spare pitches in Stafford and although it is our national game teams are having to give up due to lack of pitches.

"This situation has progressively worsened to the point that John Libourne of the Sunday League Football Association has said they cannot afford to lose any more teams."

Resident Ben Walters said there had been an outcry against the trust's plans by people living locally, families associated with the estate and those who currently used or had used pitches for decades.

He said the decision needed further thought and called for a review of the impact the changes would have on young people in the parish and future generations.

"There has been significant investment in these pitches," he said. "They are well used by three football teams, two cricket teams and amongst many other youth groups

"Primary, junior, high and special schools have also used the facilities and the international girl guide and scout movements have also held annual events there.

"The plan to return these vital sports facilities to 18th century parkland has shocked, disappointed and saddened residents of Great Haywood and the rest of Colwich Parish."

Andy Beer, the National Trust's director for the Midlands, said: "We have not seen or received a petition in regards to the sports fields at this time so we cannot comment further."