PEOPLE living in Borough Hill in Petersfield have been reassured by town councillors that development at the play area is unlikely to go ahead. Four attempts have been made by developer Mr Hartnell, who wants to build six houses at the site, and after four refusals by East Hampshire District Coun-cil's planning committee, he was said to be appealing against the latest knock-back. At a meeting of Petersfield Town Council's grounds committee last Thursday, several Borough Hill residents aired their concerns to councillors. Janet Ranson, of Borough Hill, presented a 171- signature petition, of people upset at the prospect of development on the land, to councillors. It was signed by residents in Borough Hill, Borough Road and those who use the park. Ms Ranson said they had yet to canvas residents in Cranford Road and other neighbouring streets, suggesting many more signatures could be added to the petition. Janet said: "Our main concern is to stop him (Mr Hartnell) ever being able to develop on this land." Councillors questioned whether the land had been used for more than 20 years as a village green with public access, as that would give protection to the land from future development. Part of the land is owned by the town council, which maintains it by mowing the grass at the top end of the field, and Mr Hartnell owns the other part. A fence runs along one end of the field to separate it from the railway line, which is owned by Network Rail. Ms Ranson told councillors that she had lived in the area since she was two, and that the land in question had definitely been in public use for more than 20 years. In a letter to the council, she said: "It would appear that if the play area were to be granted village- green status, then Mr Hartnell would not be able to gain permission to build on his land." Grounds chairman Bob Ayer, also a EHDC councillor, said 11 reasons had been given by the district council planning committee for refusal. "It would seem to me that the chances for a successful appeal would be quite slim," he said. "But I can understand your (residents') anxiety." He said Borough Hill was not inside the settlement- policy boundary of Petersfield, making it less likely to be developed for homes. He said: "The fence is not inside the policy boundary for Petersfield. I cannot see much potential for development. One needs to think about protection of this land in general. "We have to make sure that land sits within the settlement policy boundary." Councillors said they would look into whatever costs were involved in securing village-green status as a measure to prevent against future development at the site.