Horsham residents buy their ‘village green’ ... to stop it being built on

Members of the Cootes Farm Community headed a campaign to buy the land off Cootes Avenue and Merryfield Drive to stop it from facing any future development.

And they rallied support from neighbours who clubbed together to raise enough money to buy it at auction - for £33,250.

Cmmunity spokesman and Trafalgar Neighbourhood Council chairman Martin Boffey said: “It’s like an early Christmas present and something to lift people’s spirits in what has been a difficult year.”

The campaign to buy the land - officially listed as a village green - was launched in November when community members were informed that the land was up for sale.

Cootes Farm Community sprang into action and wrote to all nearby residents.

“Over 40 households donated money in varying amounts, and in the auction last Thursday I managed to place the winning bid,” said Martin, “Although the guide price was £2,500 the winning bid was £33,250 - right at the top of our budget - but we got there.

“The land will now be safely in the hands of the community.”

Cootes Farm Community chairman Steve Swain said many had been galvanised into action following the plans to develop Rookwood Golf Course. “People thought ‘Goodness me, they are going to build on everything.’

He added that the community hoped to celebrate their victory in buying the land in style next year. “We’re hoping to have our summer fayre - which we have had since 2011 - there next year with lots of celebrating, hopefully being the other side of covid.”

2011 was, in fact, when the Cootes Farm Community was first formed after a ‘Royal tea on the Green’ was held to celebrate Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.

The event was a huge success so the organisers decided local community events should be a regular feature to bring people together.

Meanwhile, Martin paid tribute to a group who look after the green alongside the community.

“Cootes Green in particular was made the lovely place that it is today by the hard work of the Cootes Pond Conservation Volunteers over many years, beginning in the 1980s,” he said.

“In that time they won awards in recognition of their efforts - and even had a visit from the legendary David Bellamy.”