There are 27 petitions in totalHundreds have signed a whopping 27 petitions against demolition of a Bedworth pub, once ran by hero miner, to become a Co-op.
All 27 petitions, including one from the Bedworth Society, share the same objective - they oppose the plans to turn the former Cross Keys pub into a Co-op store.
They cite many reasons, including the fact it should remain and be marketed as a pub.
One of the petitions also cites how the pub was once run by Israel Marshall, who saved hundreds of lives during the Exhall Pit Disaster in 1915.
It is one of the oldest pubs in the town and the building dates back to the mid-1800s.
Concerns about extra traffic have also been raised and others say the new store would have a detrimental impact on local businesses, such as Sedgies newsagents.
Jas Singh, who owns Sedgies newsagents in Heath Road has been co-ordinating the campaign to stop the closure of the pub.
He has raised concerns from residents who see the pub as a key meeting place for social gatherings in the town, as well as local business owners like himself who fear the new store could affect trade.
The pub is said to no longer be viable and the marketing company said it had been looking to find new owners but no deal has been reached. Mr Singh disagrees with this though.
He said: “People in this area are very angry about this application as this will deprive the community of a much needed social gathering place.
“Many new houses are to be built in this area and this being the only pub left in this area and for a company to say it’s not viable is a complete fabrication, the pub has seen trade double as the rugby club down the road closed down and its members moved in here.”
Both the Victorian Society and the Bedworth Society state that the building should be considered as a non-designated heritage asset and states; ‘its loss would irreparably and unjustifiably harm the character of the local area, depriving it of a heritage asset of high local significance’.
But, despite the huge strength of local feeling against the plan, it is being recommended that it is given the go-ahead.
A previous application for the site was refused by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council but it was lost on appeal by an independent inspector, forcing the council to pay costs and the go-ahead was given.