HUNDREDS of students have signed a petition calling for their university to halt the repurposing of sports facilities at its huge new multi-million pound sports centre.

The University of Essex Students’ Union has set up a petition - titled Save Our Sport - calling for university bosses to stop changes at the £12 million Essex Sport Arena.

The SU says the uni’s plan would mean hundreds of students who attends clubs at the centre would lose the chance to take part in extra curricular activities.

The petition states: “The university’s department of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science (SRES) is currently trying to take several spaces in our sports arena. This will displace over 400 students who are members of clubs that train here.

“The relocation of these clubs will result in the knock on effect to over 700 students, negatively affecting their university experience.

“The sports arena was built for £12 million as a way to improve sport at our university and as a tool to help improve this aspect of students university life and experience.

“In the round of capital planning prior to the arena’s build the SU decided the arena would bring more benefits to the wider student body than an SU building and the removal of this space would completely go against these views.”

More than 600 people have added their signatures to the petition in just a few days.

A spokesman for Essex University said there was “misunderstanding and confusion” over changes and reviews of how space was used took place regularly.

He said: “Our priority is always to ensure that our students have the space and facilities they need to experience a transformational education.

“These discussions specifically are looking at how we meet the requirements of our growing School of SRES and the ongoing demand of our student body for high quality sport and recreational space. We are confident the discussion taking place will balance all of these needs effectively.

“We are working with both the SU and students in SRES to ensure any misunderstanding and confusion is clarified.”

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