SHEET villagers are hoping to thrash out a deal with Petersfield town councillors to safeguard the future of the Millennium Meadow. Members of the Sheet Village Association want to set up a Millennium Meadow Trust to maintain the land and agree a long-term funding deal with town councillors in a bid to end the "annual divisive argument" surrounding grants. Association chairman Andrew Platt told members on Friday that the issue had become a "running sore" between Sheet villagers and the town council. "It happens every year and it does nothing for our relationship with the town council, nor theirs with Petersfield people." He told the annual meeting that trees planted on the meadow continued to thrive, a hay crop had been taken last year, and hedges had been maintained. "The meadow continues to be a truly magnificent recreational amenity very well used, not only by the people of Sheet but the residents of Petersfield as well." But he said the work came at a price and "we have had a very unhappy ride with Petersfield town council in securing funds to maintain the amenity". So much so, he reported, that the committee had had to work out other ways of raising money and had recently agreed to allow up to three private functions on the meadow to raise funds. Mr Platt said he had attended a meeting of Petersfield Town Council when grants were allocated. While the council still owned the meadow, it had not contributed regularly towards its maintenance, he said. "The meadow is regularly treated less favourably than other groups such as the Friends of Petersfield Heath and Rotherlands," said Mr Platt. "At the last meeting, £350 was given to us, which was 41 per cent of what we asked for despite other grants being met in full, and at the same time Petersfield town council was projecting an underspend in grants – we found it difficult getting our heads round that one." He said Sheet Village Association had written to the council suggesting solutions to the "annual divisive argument" but at present the council did not agree with the association's position. "These matters are under debate and in the fullness of time I hope a contribution will be made. We would ask for funding to be done on a regular basis so that we can plan. We have suggested five years, they have come back and talked about four, but there is still no promise." Mr Platt also reported that the association wanted to establish a trust to which the town council might feel able to transfer the ownership of the meadow.
