A MEETING between Tesco and Petersfield Town Council has paved the way for water meadows to be transferred into the ownership of the council.
The 11-acre meadows run from the back of the Tesco store off The Causeway, and between Borough Road and Grange Road.
Petersfield Mayor Jamie Matthews said: “There has been a really good discussion with Tesco, at which Tesco agreed that they are happy, in principle, to transfer the land to the town council.”
But that could take up to two years as the meadows, notorious for flooding, are part of a wider review by Tesco of all the land it owns.
Cllr Matthews said: “Tesco also wants to understand what potential impact there could be in terms of flooding on their store and car park. But they were reassured when we said the council and South Downs National Park Authority experts would work on a land management plan, so I am very confident the land will come into the ownership of the town council.”
Last year Tesco tried to sell the meadows, but couldn’t attract a buyer.
But the possible sale to developers saw students at The Petersfield School, next to the meadows, launch an online petition asking Tesco to give the land to the council. It attracted hundreds of signatures before it was sent to Tesco chief executive officer David Lewis.
Cllr Matthews said: “The petition really raised awareness that the meadows could be sold, and also showed the strength of feeling there is for them to remain a green space – which is what they are shown as in the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan.”