Residents fear for 'last piece of green space'

Residents in a Kent town are concerned the "last piece of green space" where they live could be sold off by the county council and lost to housing developers.

Kent County Council (KCC) is currently "inviting comments on the proposed disposal" of three acres of open space in Riddles Road, Sittingbourne, which was declared surplus in July.

Resident Ben Conway told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he only just discovered the plans but was clear "we need to protect this green space".

A spokesperson for the council said it had "no operational use for the land but no decision has yet been made" regarding disposal.

Conway said: "This is the last little oasis of calm in the area, the last piece of green space.

"We want to keep it as it is but KCC plans to to sell it off, presumably to the highest bidder."

He said about half a dozen of 150 doors he had knocked on knew about the plans, and claimed KCC's communication had been "totally non-existent".

Retired Border Force officer Tony Gray, who has lived in the area for three decades, said he feared the area "becoming a bit of a concrete jungle".

"What will happen to the wildlife if it gets pushed out?," he asked.

The site lies opposite allotments which are adjacent to the Ufton Court Farm housing development where nearly 300 homes are currently being built.

The town's Labour MP Kevin McKenna said KCC "should not be selling Sittingbourne assets" when the council is in the process of abolishing itself under local government reorganisation (LGR).

He said his team was putting together "a letter of questions" ahead of the public consultation deadline.

A KCC spokesperson said: "We are presently inviting comments on the proposed disposal of open space land at Riddles Road in Borden.

"The land was declared surplus in July 2026, meaning KCC has no operational use for the land but no decision has yet been made to dispose of the site, pending the outcome to the notice.

"People have until midday on 24 September to register their comments through the Open Space Notice."

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