Campaigners were celebrating today after scoring a major victory in their battle to stop building on a popular seafront leisure area. Protesters had feared that this could open the floodgates to further development of Goring greensward, which they regard as protected public open space. 2,801 people signed a petition calling on the council to reject the proposed relocation despite warnings that the club could close.

The club wanted to move from its base to a site about 150 yards west, where a new HQ was planned partly within its existing boat compound. But the club sparked uproar by saying it also needed a small plot of neighbouring land outside the compound to bring the building nearer the coastal path, enabling race officials to have an unobstructed view of the sea.

Richard John, treasurer of the sailing club, said: “We need to be able to see the sea as far as Ferring to the west and Worthing Pier to the east. We feel it is essential there is a sailing facility in a place like Worthing. Our club is 100 years old. We also want to save the greensward, but to call this little bit of land greensward I am afraid is stretching the imagination a bit. If we are left where we are we shall have to close. Our club will not carry on.”

Frank Lee, chairman of the Residents’ association, said that “Residents have nothing against the sailing club. It’s a great feature of Goring, but if the council is allowed to give up this small piece of land it puts all of the greensward under threat.”