Petition against demolishing Rushden snooker club signed by 1,700

More than 1,700 people have signed a petition to save a snooker club that has stood for almost a century from demolition.

Developers have applied to knock down the Windmill Club in Rushden, Northamptonshire, to redevelop the building in to 17 affordable homes.

It was built in 1927, and players such as Kyren Wilson and ex-world champion Peter Ebdon have practiced there.

The petition said the building had been "serving the community for decades".

The site is not a part of the Rushden Conservation Area or protected as a listed building.

In a planning statement, the developer said: "Over the years, the demand for the club has waned, reflecting a community preference for alternative amenities.

"The operational costs of maintaining such expansive structures have surged, driven by rising energy, staffing, and food and drink expenses."

It said the plans would "rejuvenate the area" and bring "significant benefits for the community".

But the online petition said: "Its loss would mean more than just losing a physical structure; it would mean losing a piece of our shared heritage.

"Furthermore, redevelopment often leads to increased traffic congestion and environmental degradation - issues that we in Rushden are already grappling with."

In a post on Facebook the snooker club said it was "absolutely thriving", and the application was put in "even with over four years left on our lease".

There has been no date set for the planning application to be heard at North Northamptonshire Council, but a consultation on the application closes on 18 February.

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