COUNCILLORS are battling to save “the last free greenfield site in Hove” from being developed.

Conservative representatives for Hangleton and Knoll Dawn Barnett and Nick Lewry have vowed to “fight hard” to save Benfield Valley from the development proposed in the City Plan Part 2.

The document, which will be debated at a council meeting next Thursday, proposes Benfield Valley is developed to make way for 100 homes.

Councillor Dawn Barnett, who has represented the area since October 2004, has pledged to save the site.

The Argus:

She said: “Benfield Valley is the last free greenfield land in Hove and we will fight all the way to save it. It has wonderful ecological, historical and archaeological value.

“Children use the site for educational purposes with many school groups visiting the area.

“There is significant ecological value and it is a wonderful habitat for dormice and other animals.

“There is also the historical value of the site – you can see the piggeries from the manor site. We have fought to protect Benfield Valley before and won every time and we will fight again.”

The Conservative Group is also fighting to stop the listing of 16 greenfield sites on Brighton and Hove’s urban fringe for development.

Councillor Nick Lewry said the valley was of great value to people and should not be sacrificed to meet housing targets.

The Argus:

He said: “We have had two or three companies wanting to build there in the past and we’ve fought and won each time.

“We will fight again to protect this greenfield land for future generations.”

Benfield Wildlife and Conservation Group, formed in 1991, said the area is one of the very few remaining green tongues of open land remaining in Brighton and Hove, linking the city to the Downs.

Conservative Robert Nemeth, who is co-ordinating the Conservative amendments to City Plan Part 2, said: “Nick and Dawn should be commended for what they are doing and Conservative councillors stand together with them. We cannot support sacrificing our valuable green space to make up for Labour’s failure on housing policy.

“These sites all have significant environmental value and the Conservatives will always stand to protect them for future generations”

Labour’s lead member for planning policy Councillor Nick Childs said: “The last Labour administration delivered over 200 council homes. This administration pledged to build 800 additional council homes over the next five years and we are on course to meet that target.

“Ninety per cent of the land allocated for development in City Plan Part 2 is on brownfield land. We have removed 93 per cent of the urban fringe sites identified by the Planning Inspector as possible development sites, to protect our green belt.”