Manston Airport owner Anne Gloag should give the property to the people of Kent, according to Thanet Green Party councillor Ian Driver.

He said: “Instead of squeezing profit from the site, gifting it to the people of Kent would allow one last effort to develop a sustainable airport business.

“If this doesn’t work out the site could be used for a combination of agricultural, leisure, educational and health purposes which would help to create desperately needed jobs in the most deprived area of Kent.

“Anne Gloag is well known for using her wealth to help others – surely this is a unique opportunity for her to give something back to Kent other than an unwanted, unsustainable garden city in the garden of England.”