Staff at a Shropshire hotel have collected more than 100 signatures on a petition in a bid to keep their jobs and get planning approval for a marquee.The petition was launched after the owners of Tern Hill Hotel were refused planning permission for a marquee which had been on the site for about 18 years.

Members of North Shropshire District Council’s development control committee said the marquee could not have temporary permission granted again because the hotel management had failed to resolve a drainage problem.

Proprietor Anne-Marie Brennan said if the marquee could not remain in place then the hotel would not be able to function and the jobs of 21 staff were on the line.

She today confirmed the hotel has appealed the decision and a petition with more than 100 signatures in support of the marquee was being collected.

“There is an environmental meeting on October 2 where the drainage issues should be resolved, so we all hope it will come to a conclusion then,” she said.

“We have appealed the decision and the staff have all signed a petition to keep the marquee up and save their jobs. They are a good team and they work well together, but we will not be able to continue operating in the same way if we lose the marquee.

“We just can’t believe the stupidity of the people not letting us have a marquee,” she added.

Councillors last month refused permission for the marquee because the hotel proprietors had failed to resolve an inadequate drainage system, which they said would not be able to cope with the extra 350 people the marquee could hold.

Tern Hill residents also objected to the marquee.