The petition, Stop the Proposed Demolition of Earls Court Exhibition Centre, has been launched by the AEO and can be signed at . It is asking for the planning application to be ‘called in’ for a public inquiry.
Karim Halwagi, chief executive of the AEO, claims the threat of losing Earls Court is detrimental to local businesses, will lead to massive job losses and threatens London's economy.
He said: "Earls Court is an iconic and historic building. It is the only event venue offering 60.000sqm of space in this particular area of London and is home to high-profile exhibitions like the Ideal Home Show."
The venue was used to stage the volleyball during the Olympic Games.
The petition states: "The residents of the existing estates oppose the scheme, but have little or no control over their own destiny. Earls Court attracts more than two million visitors; 30,000 exhibitors; brings more than £1bn per year to London; sustains thousands of jobs and is key for London’s economy. London is short of event space, when the UK aims to promote itself as a global business centre but is losing revenue and trade to other countries."
It also reveals that the plan will substantially contract the event industry and reduce the number of visitors to London.
Developers want to bulldoze the 77-acre west London site to make way for 8,000 new homes.
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