VILLAGERS are claiming a small victory after the County Council decided to withdraw plans to sell off part of a children’s playing area to the highest bidder.

Croesgoch residents launched the Save Our Street campaign after receiving a letter from Pembrokeshire County Council outlining plans to auction off two parcels of land at Morawel and use a third to create a parking area for residents.

A council spokesman said: “Two of the plots – flanking the entrance to the estate - have now been withdrawn from the consultation and will remain open land.”

Rob Meredith-Barrett from the campaign group said: “Whilst this is a win for the green area at present, we still need to process our application to register this land as a village green and preserve it for the continuing use for the children of today and the future."

He and the other campaigners are now urging residents to complete an Open Spaces Society Questionnaire in support of their application to register plot B as a village green.

Mr Meredith-Barrett added: “Collectively we have enough memories of this area being used for over 50 years, but we need to convert those memories into evidence for it to have any effect in saving this land for the continuing use as a village green for the community, both present and future.”

Fellow campaigner Sara Murphy said: “We have already proved that we can be heard so it's time to shout a little louder and get Pembrokeshire County Council to leave our street alone.”