I am very alarmed by the announcement that the new Kings School Free School is to be built on BHASVIC Field - school playing fields between Cardinal Newman Catholic School and Brighton and Hove Sixth Form College (BHASVIC).

The location was chosen by central government body the Education Funding Agency – who seem to have completely disregarded the fact that the land isn’t sitting vacant. The field is used by both schools and is much valued by the local community as an open green space.

I’ve written a letter of support to Friends of the Field, a group that’s fighting to protect the site, who point out that it’s the playing field and open green space for over 4000 school children and students at three schools, and is used by local community groups and residents for formal and informal sports and recreation.

I also plan to ask the Minister directly about this issue and will be writing to raise the concerns that I have.

An estimated 10,000 playing fields were sold off between 1979 to 1997 when the Tories were last in power and I am determined to help fight for Brighton and Hove’s school children not to lose access to the precious open spaces that remain.

The campaign is really building momentum, with the Friends of the Field e-petition gaining nearly one thousand signatures over the weekend.

Supporters of the campaign are gathering next to a banner on the Old Shoreham Road tomorrow (Tuesday 30^th) at 4pm – for more info see their Facebook page at https://en-gb.facebook.com/friendsoffield

It's worth noting that Brighton and Hove is badly in need of more school places but rather than decisions being taken in Westminster, I think the Government should change its policy on school funding in order to fund local authorities directly so that they can use their knowledge of local needs to provide schools accordingly.