Residents launch battle to save village '˜community centre'

Angry residents in Southwater say that the building - Easteds Barn - has always been intended for community use.

It’s the village’s second battle over the barn - in 2010 residents helped block a plan by Southwater Parish Council to hand the building over on a long lease to a nursery school.

Now residents want to stop the council from again trying to hire out the building on a long term lease. The barn is used by a number of local organisations for a variety of events including keep fit, karate and zumba classes, along with villagers’ weddings, anniversaries and birthday parties.

Protester Maureen Whitehead said: “I don’t think there’s one child in the village who hasn’t had a birthday party at Easteds Barn.”

Horsham Councillor Billy Greening is also among protesters and has gathered more than 800 signatures on a protest petition, stating: “Easteds Barn should remain open to the public as a valued community asset.”

The protesters - who have formed an Easteds Barn Action Group - maintain that the barn was donated to the village by developers for community use.