Plans to demolish Jaguar social club to build houses...

[dutchman]

Members of a social club in Coventry are livid over plans to build 14 executive houses in its place.



Bosses at the Jaguar Sports and Social Club, in Chorley Way, Radford, say business has been hit by the recession.

They want to sell the land for redevelopment and “consolidate” all activities at the Jaguar club in Browns Lane instead.

But patrons at the Radford site say they own the building, and that their demands for an extraordinary general meeting have been rejected.

Tom Hart, a member for 44 years, said: “This is our club, the members own the club.

“Why is it being sold without our permission?

“We have asked for an EGM but it wasn’t granted.

“The management committee is ignoring the members of the club.”

Another member, who did not want to be named, claimed the club was being “deliberately run down” with higher prices and shorter opening hours.

But he added: “Give us a chance and we could make the place work.

“We’ve got probably the best ballroom in the city, if not the West Midlands, and the snooker room is fabulous.”

A representative of the agent handling the application visited the club last night to discuss the plans with members, but said she could not comment on any legal issues.

Outline planning application for 14 houses will be submitted to Coventry City Council this month, and people have until June 28 to respond.

A club statement said: “Due to declining patronage and adverse trading results, a strategic review has been conducted to identify options that help to secure the long term future of the club.

“It has been concluded that the viability of disposing of Chorley Way and the consolidation of all club activities onto one site represents the best opportunity of achieving that goal.

“The potential disposal of the Chorley Way site for redevelopment opportunities is now being pursued.”

It goes on: “The Radford clubhouse lacks any outdoor space and is confined to offering only indoor leisure facilities.

"The extensive outdoor sports facilities that once surrounded the clubhouse were lost as part of the Daimler Green housing scheme.”

It said dance and fitness classes provided “minimal income streams” and that events such as weddings were “insufficient to sustain the clubhouse.”

[dutchman]

Coventry's Jaguar Social Club in Radford to be demolished

The Jaguar Sports & Social Club, in Radford, will be flattened to make way for the homes after permission for the housing was granted by the city council’s planning committee.

The club, in Chorley Road, has played host to hundreds of birthdays and weddings down the years.

Club owners promised to use profits from the homes to invest in its other club, in Browns Lane, Allesley.

The social club was once a vibrant centre serving hundreds of workers at the former Jaguar production factory which surrounded it.

Once the factory was demolished, it was replaced by the Daimler Green housing estate.

Former Jaguar worker Francis Fox, of Middlemarch Road, has used the club for 48 years. He said: “There are a lot of older people who use the club mainly for company. I can see them ending up stuck at home alone.

“It’s a long way for people to get to Browns Lane. I went myself by taxi and it cost £14, and the bus stop is a good 500 yards away.”

The Radford club boast a bar, snooker hall and function room which hosts clubs and fitness groups. It has parking for 88 cars and two coaches.

Jaguar Cars Sports & Social Club – which owns both sites – said the Radford club would have closed whether the housing application had been granted or not. It said the club was making a loss and suffering a dwindling membership.

Coun Kevin Maton, chairman of the planning committee, said: “I can see no planning reasons to refuse this but I’m very sorry to lose such a unique facility in the city. I’m disappointed we’re not being given another option to keep it running in some form. I think it seems the club has been deliberately run down.”

Council officers recommended the application be granted as residential use would be in keeping with the surrounding area.

Councillors cannot reject a planning application on the grounds that they would prefer a different use.

Planning rules dictate they must only consider the merits of the application in front if them.

Coun Maton questioned who actually owns the club claiming Jaguar Sports & Social Club is not an official limited company.

“In granting permission, we’re opening up thousands of pounds for them,” Coun Maton added.

“We need to follow this up to ensure promises of improved facilities at Browns Lane do happen.”