MORE THAN 1,800 people have signed a petition aimed at getting a water meadow owned by Tesco handed to Petersfield Town Council.

The petition was sent last Friday to Tesco chief executive officer David Lewis, South Downs National Park chairman Margaret Paren, and Petersfield Mayor Jamie Matthews at Petersfield Town Council.

The 11-acre meadow is between the Tesco store off The Causeway, Borough Road, The Petersfield School (TPS) and the back of houses along Grange Road close to the town centre.

It is owned by Tesco, and was offered for sale earlier this year, sparking concerns a developer might buy it.

The petition was organised by head boy at The Petersfield School Callum King and environmental prefect Annika Loh.

Callum said: “Herne Junior School and Petersfield Infant School helped promote the petition, which closed with 1,826 signatures.

“It has now been sent to David Lewis at Tesco, and it asks for the meadow to be donated to the town for use as a protected green space.

“I can’t see why Tesco wouldn’t donate it, it makes perfect sense to give it to the council to manage on behalf of the town, and I hope the chief executive does the right thing.

“It is a water meadow and floods, so it can’t be built on and it makes environmental and social sense for Tesco to give it to the town.

“Both TPS and Petersfield Infant School could use it as an outdoor classroom, and Petersfield environmentalist Louise Bevan is helping look for funding for outdoor classrooms.”

The meadow was the grazing land for the slaughterhouse complex which was demolished to make way for the Tesco store.

Other than paths to the town from TPS and Grange Road which cross it, the meadow hasn’t been used since Tesco bought it.

Town council spokesman Steve Field said: “We tried to arrange talks with Tesco about the meadow when it was put up for sale, but still haven’t had any response.

“The council would be very happy to take it over for the town, and certainly wouldn’t develop it.”

No one at Tesco was available to comment as the Post was going to press yesterday (Tuesday)?afternoon.