VOTE: Do you support the Littlehampton bid for village green status?

A petition with 1,056 signatures was presented by campaigners to West Sussex County Council chairman Mike Coleman at County Hall, Chichester.

Residents and users of the field, David Lawrence, Ann Payne and Nick Sutton were supported by the town’s MP Nick Gibb and Nigel Peters, county councillor for the area.

The campaigners hope their renewed bid to have the land designated as a village green will succeed where a previous effort failed in October, when it was turned down by the county council rights of way committee. There are fears that the land could be sold off for more housing development.

Speaking this week, Nick Sutton told the Gazette: “We are not anti-development.

“We appreciate people need a roof over their head, but there are already thousands of houses being built or in the planning stage.

“To build on the last green space like this in the town would be irresponsible. It is used by all members of the community, of all ages, at all times.”

Although the number of signatures did not reach the 3,000 needed to secure a full debate at the county council, Mr Sutton believes the petition will be given added weight by the high number of local people signing it who are regular users of the field.

Campaigners also hope that the petition will bolster attempts by county councillor Bill Acraman, chairman of the rights of way committee, to save most of the land as a village green, with the rest kept for the site of a medical centre in the future.

Mr Acraman gave the campaigners fresh hope amid their disappointment at not securing village green status in October, when he told them he would back a renewed bid, under the Commons Act 2006, for the voluntary dedication of the land as a town or village green.

It is still possible the issue could be discussed at tomorrow’s full county council meeting, but if not, it will qualify for a debate at a county council select committee, the petition having been signed by more than 500 people.

Mr Coleman, who will be in the chair for tomorrow’s county council meeting, said he could not comment directly on the issue, but wished the campaigners well and was delighted to accept the petition on behalf of the council.

Do you support the Littlehampton bid for village green status?

You can cast your vote by clicking on the poll at the top right of this story.