Village green status will not be challenged

Steyning Parish Council met in private at an extraordinary general meeting last week to discuss the village green and a separate idea to perform a ‘land swap’ with Abbey Road Open Space.

Councillors used the confidential session to discuss the legal advice it had been given on the possibility of deregistering the MPF as a village green.

The MPF has two village green registrations, the first of which was granted in 1974 (VG65) and the second in 2013 (VG 93).

A statement issued on Tuesday said: “After considering this legal advice, the following was agreed.

“This council will not deregister VG 65.

“This council will not apply to the High Court for a rectification of VG93.

“This council shall not consider a ‘land swap’ of the land occupied by the bowls, tennis and cricket clubs at this time.

“The council has been advised of its legal duty regarding the management of the village green, its users, the clubs, clubhouses and facilities, and has agreed to a working party of the council to look into all aspects of the management of the green and then to make its recommendations to full council.

“The council is committed to ensuring that the clubs continue to prosper and grow and that they, and the people that use the MPF, do so ‘lawfully’ and all for the ‘better enjoyment’.”