Police were nearly called after angry members of the public repeatedly interrupted a planning meeting called to decide a bid for new homes on land owned by a zoo.

Medway Council ultimately gave the go-ahead for the controversial application which will see 44 homes built on land owned by the Fenn Bell Conservation Project off Ratcliffe Highway, St Mary Hoo.

But around 15 angry residents, who had huddled into the meeting to voice their disapproval, called the decision “a disgrace”.

The application, submitted by Esquire Developments Ltd, had been due for determination at a meeting on September 25, but members decided to defer until they had been to the site to better understand it.

They had concerns over the safety of the entrance to the proposed estate and about the drainage of the site, as well as whether developer contributions to local infrastructure would be enough.

The application returned to the committee on Wednesday this week (October 23), where residents of St Mary Hoo also attended and heckled from the public gallery.

One man in particular repeatedly interrupted councillors’ discussions and was asked to leave.

When he refused the meeting was paused and council officers said if he didn’t leave or cease his interruptions the police would be called and he would be removed.

At first he stubbornly refused and told officers to call the police, but after being asked to respect the committee and stay quiet while they deliberated he agreed and the meeting went on.

Committee chair Cllr Chrissy Stamp (Lab) said if there were any further interruptions the meeting would go into closed session and all members of the public would be asked to leave.

Councillors said the site visit had been extremely useful to understand the situation of the location, and many maintained their concerns about the safety of the proposed junction.

Cllr Michael Pearce (Ind) asked if officers had reviewed a new traffic safety survey which the St Mary Hoo Parish Council had commissioned.

When the reply came they had not he asked if a decision could be deferred again so they could.

However, the committee chair and officers said two previous surveys had been done and considered, and the deadline to make a decision on the application before it was taken out of the authority’s hands was fast approaching.

Cllr Chris Spalding (Ind), ward councillor for the site, said the new survey showed 80% of drivers were above the speed limit, which is higher than the council’s estimates, and said the proposed junction was unsafe.

He said: “The simple fact is there’s no clear visibility or sight lines when exiting, as we all found out when we did the site visit - you can’t look right, you can’t look left.

“The entrance is in the wrong place. Why? Because building one off the main A228 costs Esquire money.

“Members have a simple choice. Developer profit or public safety.”

However officers said the proposed junction was safer than one entering onto the A228 because that would require drivers leaving the estate to cross on-coming traffic on a road with a higher speed limit.

There are far too many people in their 30s living in their childhood bedrooms

Cllr Adrian Gulvin (Con) repeated the fact Medway faces housing shortages, which had been raised in the previous meeting.

He said it was unacceptable people were living with their parents into their 30s because they could not afford a home and so more needed to be built.

Cllr Gulvin added: “My view has not been changed by the site visit. Yes, that junction is not an easy one, but in my own area I could reel off dozens far worse.

“To me, the overriding issue is we are desperately short of housing. There are far too many people in their 30s living in their childhood bedrooms.

“That is not acceptable in a modern society.

“It all behoves those who’ve got good accommodation and a roof over their head to put obstacles in the way of those who do not.”

When it became evident the application would likely be approved, the leader of St Mary Hoo Parish Council, Darren Summerfield, shouted from the public gallery.

As he left the hall he yelled: “You’re a disgrace! An absolute disgrace! A joke! No wonder anyone respects any of you anymore!

“I resign, the parish council resigns! Shame on you!”

Cllr Pearce suggested, if the traffic safety study done by the parish council was not enough to delay a decision, that the survey be considered by officers and the developer so they could see the findings and possibly adapt the designs.

Planning officers and members agreed with this suggestion.

When it came to a vote, the application was approved with 12 votes for, one against, and one abstention.