ANGMERING HALL FURY

More than 120 people have signed a petition opposing the building of the centre on land given by the estate's developers, at the junction of Nursery Road and Rowan Way.

The parish council insists that the centre will go ahead as planned, but has called a special meeting next month to discuss the proposals, after a sizeable group from Bramley Green raised concerns at the August council meeting and handed in the 124-signature petition.

Developers gave the land for the centre, complete with services, and 50,000 towards construction costs, as a condition for the planning permission for the estate of 600 homes. The parish council has been setting aside cash for the remainder of the costs.

Council clerk Ray Huskisson said: "The parish council is committed to the community centre. The site was given to the parish by the developers, and outline planning permission was granted when the whole of Bramley Green was approved.

"That is the only place it can go. We desperately need the community centre. The village hall is over-subscribed '” we can't even book it for our own meetings. This will be a facility for the whole village, not just for Bramley Green. It is being paid for by all the parish, and will be used by all the parish."

Mr Huskisson said the problem seemed to be coming from new people moving into Bramley Green and saying that the community centre had not shown up on the legal search made by their solicitor when they were buying their home.

"It's up to them to take that up with their solicitor," he added.

There had also been complaints about anti-social behaviour by youths drinking in that area, particularly on weekend nights, said Mr Huskisson, and police had been informed.

Petition organiser Pam Andrews, moved from East Preston to Rowan Way, with her daughter Victoria Winn, four months ago. "I was so incensed," said Mrs Andrews. "I had just moved in when I found out about the community centre. There was nothing on the search.

"Other people we have met have said the same thing. People have got used to looking out across a nice green and this would be quite a big building, taking up nearly a quarter of the park.

"I've nothing against the centre, but it's just in the wrong place, here. There are only 25 parking spaces on the plans and that won't be enough. People from the village won't walk here, they will drive and park on the roads."

Out of 130 people Mrs Andrews approached with the petition, all but six signed.

People were concerned that the centre would lead to more anti-social behaviour in the area. "Even if it's run properly, there will still be people talking as they go home, and banging car doors.

"I could get more signatures on the petition, as more people are coming up to me and asking to sign. I want at least 100 people to turn up from the estate at the meeting next month '” if enough do go, the council will have to listen to us."

The special meeting will be at St Margaret's Church Hall at 7.30pm on Monday, September 11, following a shorter meeting of the parish council at 7pm.