CAMPAIGNERS in Jordans are still holding out hope for their own long-desired parish council.

The plan for Jordans to become a parish in its own right was rejected by Chiltern District Council at a recent meeting of the Boundaries and Electoral Arrangements Committee.

Adele Thorpe, who has been leading the fight to make Jordans an independent parish, want people to keep the idea alive.

She said: "Although the council are denying it, there is still a small chance for Jordans' people to do something.

"It is highly likely that the council will ratify the recommendations of their committee. We at least have a chance to show our feelings, and you never know democracy may prevail."

She wants people to write to the council to complain about the decision and Mrs Thorpe wants to speak at the next full council meeting on October 18.

The plan was rejected on the grounds that there was not enough interest from people in the area.

About 31 per cent of Jordans residents wanted Chalfont St Giles Parish Council to relinquish its powers over the village.

David Meacock, chairman of the committee, saw this as a lack of interest from less than a third of the population.

He said: "There was not a massive interest in the village. They still expected Chalfont St Giles to cut the village green There was no real independence desired."

But Mrs Thorpe has hit back at the claims and wants the people of Jordans to try again.

She said: "Upon receipt of a single letter through their doors during a holiday time with no chasing, we had a response from 38 per cent of households in Jordans village in writing of which 94 per cent were in support.

She added: "We have enough volunteers willing to stand as councillors and clerk to the new parish council."

She also said there were smaller parishes in the district and they had support.