Fears are growing again that a patch of green space near a town centre could be under threat of development.

Kent County Council owns nearly seven acres behind Bower Mount Road in Fant in Maidstone.

The land was once part of the Astor of Hever School Farm.

The farm closed in 2004 and the school itself was renamed as St Augustine’s Academy in 2011.

In 2008, part of the farmland was developed as Astor Park, a collection of around 20 houses, but the bulk of the land has remained redundant – except for daily use by local dog walkers.

Fant and Oakwood Independent Councillor Paul Harper explained: “KCC has twice tried to have the land earmarked for development – first when the 2017 Maidstone Local Plan was being prepared, and then again in the recent Local Plan Review.

“Both times the site was rejected after considerable local opposition was voiced.

“But recently surveyors have been seen measuring up the land, which has naturally sparked fears among residents that KCC is going to try again.

“Even though the site is not allocated in the Local Plan Review, KCC could still submit a planning application for it as a windfall site.”

It is thought the plot could accommodate up to 60 homes.

In the past, development has been opposed not only on the grounds of loss of green space, but also because any access would be via a very narrow, one-vehicle-wide lane into Astor Park, and then onto Oakwood Road.

Oakwood Road is heavily used by thousands of youngsters every day walking to the various schools and colleges on the Oakwood Park educational complex.

Cllr Harper said: “Adding potentially another 120 vehicles going in and out on this road would be a recipe for disaster.”

A petition signed by 280 people was presented to Maidstone council urging members not to grant planning permission for this site. The petition, which was read out by Cllr Patrick Coates (Fant and Oakwood Independent) on behalf of residents, urged the council to instead make the land available for public use.

The council “noted” the petition and reassurred residents that the site was not included in the new Local Plan Review, which has now been adopted.

Cllr Harper said: “The next step will be for us to approach KCC with a view to persuading them to grant the public a lease or licence on the site.

“It would be perfect for an area of community woodland or a community orchard, or – who knows, with global warming – even a community vineyard.”

Simon Fielding lives close by in Bower Mount Road. Mr Fielding, a former special health advisor to the government, is the chairman of the board of trustees of the College of Medicine.

He said: “I signed the petition because the experience of Covid has taught us the benefits to health of outdoor exercise.

“This patch of land would be ideal as somewhere for local GP practices to implement green social prescribing.”

But he has another reason too. He said: “My daughter went to Astor of Hever and enjoyed working on the farm where she was Head of Ducks.

“I remember when KCC closed the farm, Sir Paul Carter, who was then head of the county council, promised us all that the farm site would be preserved for land-based education.”

A KCC spokesman said: “The land has been declared surplus to our operational requirements and has been promoted for residential-led redevelopment during previous Local Plan calls for sites exercises.

“Kent County Council staff regularly visit vacant sites and properties as part of good estate management practices.”