COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

One of Coventry’s biggest former social clubs is now at the centre of a row over what should become of the old building.



More than 500 residents have signed a petition opposing plans for shops to be part of a complex replacing Tile Hill Social Club in Jardine Crescent.

The former boss of the social club has unveiled plans to transform the large building into both shops and flats.

Tile Hill Residents' Association are calling for shopping units to be taken out of the plan, claiming it could encourage youths to congregate in the area. They also fear a large supermarket chain could come in and kill off smaller shops and businesses in the area.

Terry Harvey, chairman of the residents' association, said: “We definitely don’t want more shops.

“If you have shops there it will become a magnet for antisocial behaviour at night. The plan doesn’t provide any parking other than for the residents in the flats they are going to build.

“We’ve got a nice shopping area here and we’ve got two of most things. We’ve two hairdressers and two supermarkets. What businesses are worried about is a big superstore coming in like Aldi.”

Kuljeet Sapra, 32, ran the club for six years before making the decision to close in November 2009.

The Telegraph reported in May his claims a new retail premises would increase the numbers of shoppers,
benefiting existing shops in Jardine Crescent.

Residents were shocked when removal men began ripping out fixtures and fittings from the club.

The current state of the premises is a far cry from the heyday of the bustling club which served the large surrounding estate of Tile Hill from 1962.

Mr Harvey said: “It’s been vandalised to the point that it is dangerous. We’ve got 15ft high double-glazed windows and people are getting in at night and throwing chairs through the glass.”

There was a belief among some residents that there was a clause in place preventing the club from being demolished without plans for a replacement community facility on the site.

But Mr Harvey said: “In the plans there is permission for a ‘community room’ but we’re well aware that will never happen because no-one will finance it.

“It would have to stand on its own two feet.

“We would have to have something like a pub there but no-one has got the money to run it.

“It was a thriving hub of the community but now there is nowhere for the older people to go and meet.”

Homes and shops to be built on site of former Tile Hill Social Club

Nearly 30 new homes, apartments and shops are to be built on the site of the former Tile Hill Socal Club.

The development has been given the go-ahead by planning chiefs at Coventry City Council and will breathe new life in to the currently bare land in Jardine Crescent.

A total of 17 houses, ten apartments, two retail units and a car park will be build at the site of the former popular club.

The application to the city council from Rowley Construction and Property Services Ltd stated that the plans offer “good quality accommodation with a retail opportunity via the two shops to serve the site and local residents”.

Site of former Coventry social club to be used for flats for disabled people



Accommodation for disabled adults is to be built in Coventry on the site of a former social club.

Planning bosses at Coventry City Counci l have given the go ahead for the supported accommodation on the site of the former Tile Hill Social Club in Jardine Crescent, Tile Hill.

There will be 28 flats designed for disabled adults who need some help with day to day life.

For adults with autism and acute learning difficulties there will be separate accommodation with more intensive support.

It will include four flats, six rooms with their own bathrooms and a communal lounge, kitchen and dining room.

There will also be areas set aside for staff.

A car park will provide parking for staff and visitors and any residents who own cars.

Planners don’t expect many of the residents to drive.

The car park will include charging for electric cars.

Council planners have given planning permission on condition the accommodation is only occupied by disabled adults.

Manchester based company HB Villages is behind the development.

London based care company Lifeways is to provide day to day support and the buildings will be managed by not-for-profit Yorkshire-based Inclusion Housing.

Tile Hill Social Club opened in 1962 and became one of the biggest social clubs in the city.

But in line with a trend across the city membership declined and it went into private ownership rather than being owned by its members.

In 2009 it closed down suddenly with owners saying it was too big to be viable.

In 2011 more than 500 residents signed a petition opposing plans to replace the club with shops and flats.

People were worried about large discount supermarkets putting existing local shops out of business.

The plans were rejected by the council.

The building, by then badly vandalised was demolished, but the site remained fenced off and empty.

In 2015 Rowley Construction and Property Services Ltd gained planning permission to build houses, shops, flats and a car park on the site.

But the development didn’t go ahead.