We are bitterly disappointed and disgusted to learn that the council is considering allowing the development of Robsack Meadow.

The land is in-between the Churchwood nature reserve and the virtually untouched Robsack wood. Both of which have been found to house important wildlife, hence the status of a nature reserve being granted.

Construction of any properties on the border of both of these vitally important protected areas would surely compromise the benefit of having such? Rather than local residents interested in the local nature making the trip to view the areas, both will just turn into a cut through and a playground and they would slowly degrade into the familiar tatty 'urban woodland' that borders the development of tile barn, Tesco's superstore and the top of Churchwood.

Maybe this is the council's intention? Once the nature reserve is scoured bare and all that left is damaged trees, bare earth, dead wildlife and litter the council can then argue that the reserve is not providing a benefit and allow development of this as well?

They state a shortage of housing and lack of suitable land as a reason to consider this again. This will require the destruction of ancient woodland just to allow access to develop the area let alone the tearing up of the meadow for just 32 extra properties. Seems quite a loss for such a ridiculously small benefit? It will break the natural corridor between the two areas mentioned above, meaning that wildlife will find it harder to go between and make the decline of the then isolated Robsack wood happen even quicker, I refer you again to my comment above.

Especially now that there is a disused school a short distance up the road. One that already has access, and utilities and is of a considerably larger area and therefore overall benefit to the sustainability of the town. Both in the number of properties that can be built and also by not disturbing the wealth of irreplaceable nature of the town.

I would suspect that the council does not own this land so therefore is unable to profit from the development of the school so is just looking to profit from selling off another irreplaceable and important asset owned by the residents of Hastings and St Leonard's with the bonus that they also get 32 more properties to meet government new build targets!

This meadow is too important to loose, so please leave it alone!