Fight to save playing field in town centre

East Sussex County Council wants to dig up the Joff field, off Roderick Avenue, and turn it into all-weather pitches for the new Peacehaven Community School.

Ian Watson, of Edith Avenue, was so incensed at the plan he and other residents spent this week distributing flyers through people's doors, urging them to complain.

They hope to visit at least 500 homes.

He said: 'They plan to build school offices, garages for school buses, storage areas, changing rooms, six hard court tennis and football pitches and fence the land off solely for school use.

'Where will children play in the future - in the road? There is a public right of way across this field which we will lose. The land has been used for carnivals and community events for at least the past 50 years.'

John Hodgson, of Capel Avenue, said the town was already deprived of amenity land. 'I recognise the need for additional facilities for the school, but the Joff is a gem. It is a central and well used piece of recreation land in the heart of the town with the second highest shortfall in recreational land in the Lewes district.

'These additional facilities should be located elsewhere so as not to worsen this shortfall of informal recreation land.'

The Lewes District Local Plan allocated around 11 hectares of land to the east and north of the new school for open space and sports pitches, said Mr Hodgson.

He added: 'That is precisely where all these all-weather facilities should be sited. That way we all win - the school gets it new pitches and the community retains the Joff field.'

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said the town would benefit from the development. 'This piece of land is not a public right of way - it has always been held by the county council for educational purposes.

'As part of the development of Peacehaven secondary school we need to provide additional recreational facilities.

'Far from being to the detriment of the local community these all-weather facilities will enhance what is available as they will be open for hire at evenings and weekends.

'The county council will be improving sporting facilities which will be good for both the school and the community.'

The council will make it final decision on the land at a planning meeting on March 12.