It was called by town council chairman Colin Hughes, who wants to draw up battle lines to keep the school in Midhurst before the community is presented with a 'done deal'.

"We don't want to wait for a paper which explains which is West Sussex County Council's preferred site and then have to argue it from the back foot, trying to persuade people to change their minds," he told the meeting.

Midhurst Grammar School student, 15-year-old Sophie Lewis, received loud applause when she pleaded for the school to remain.

"It belongs in the town, it's an integral part of the community. Its children should not be banished outside the town and completely ignored," she told the meeting.

Sophie, who sits her first GCSE exam this week, added: "We received a £2m grant for the sports hall which has one of the best climbing walls around. If we move, what will happen to that?"

She found it hard to believe the school could be accommodated on the smaller site at Easebourne and was worried existing transport difficulties would be exacerbated.

"There will be problems, whereas here we have transport directly opposite the school.

"Midhurst Grammar School has excellent teachers and it's a very good site, even though some of the buildings need upgrading."

A former West Sussex County Council officer was also applauded when she told the meeting: "We need the school because it gives life to the town."

Midhurst Community Partnership chairman Jim Green wanted to know if there was an educational case for moving the school.

"The school is the heart of our community and Midhurst needs more people in the town centre, not fewer."

Midhurst County councillor Nola Hendon put her weight behind the town council's campaign.

"I am 101 per cent in favour of the school remaining here (in Midhurst). The empty hole it would leave in the town is certainly not what we want in a beautiful town like Midhurst."

Listening to the arguments was West Sussex County Council's director of education Robert Back.

Once again he stressed no decision on siting had been taken. There were issues of transport and access at Easebourne which was a smaller site, he said.

There were community views to be considered. "The school could be built on the Midhurst Grammar School site," he said, "I suspect it could also be built on the Easebourne site."

He said the meeting had produced very relevant comments: "It has been an extremely profitable evening for me to listen to the arguments."

Members of the public suggested taking the campaign forward by organising a book at the town council office for members of the public to sign and record their comments.

A survey of traders was mooted to assess the impact of the school leaving the town.

Young people should be canvassed through the schools, it was suggested, and letters and emails should be sent to county councillors.
The meeting also called for the setting up of a petition.

There has already been a tremendous response to the Observer poll, asking what the people of the area think about the siting of the proposed new school.

To take part in the poll see the coupon on the Midhurst and Petworth Observer on sale May 15.