I was delighted to learn this morning that the Government has responded to the fantastic efforts of local campaigners by dropping plans to concrete over BHASVIC playing fields to make way for a new school.

In a letter addressed to the Council and copied to me as local MP, schools minister Lord Nash confirms that the proposal to build the new Kings Free School on fields used by Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC) and Stanford Junior and Infants Schools, has been ditched and an alternative site will be sought.

This is great news for the Friends of the Field group and for all those who fought to protect this much valued land, currently used by more than 4,000 students.

The campaign had really gained momentum in the last few weeks, with local protests gathering, a group of us doorstopping Number 10 with a 5,500-signature petition, my Early Day Motion calling on Michael Gove to drop the plans, Questions to the Minister, a Parliamentary debate planned for tomorrow, and Brighton and Hove City Council Green Group passing a Motion opposing the imposition of new school sites by government on local communities.

It’s proof that pressure from local people does make a difference, and that by working together we can force the Government to listen.