The 50-year-old Bockhanger Community Centre in Kennington was demolished in 2019 after surveys highlighted the poor condition and spiralling upkeep costs.

Two years later and the site is now grassland, but residents in Ashford want to have the centre rebuilt to make a real community hub and avoid the prospect of more housing being built on the land.

KMTV have been speaking to campaigners

Ashford Borough Council made the decision to demolish the centre as it was beyond economic repair and had been kept open longer than its expected design life.

The decision faced much controversy at the time with 1,700 residents signing a petition following the £150,000 demolition.

In October this year, ABC staged a hybrid event - held online and streamed for in-person attendees at Spearpoint Pavilion in Kennington - to consult with the community about the future of the site of the now-demolished Bockhanger Community Centre.

During this meeting, a number of angry audience members staged a walk-out as they felt they were there to witness a "smoke and mirrors" exercise.

Over the course of 50 years, the community centre served as a nursery and library, as well as hosting weddings and birthday parties.

Locals have formed the 'Bockhanger and Bybrook Matters' group to try and campaign for a replacement centre, so that the new generation can make even more memories on the site.

Ann Bayross from the group said: "It was very vibrant when I was young. I used to walk four-miles to come and play badminton here.

"It was only really over the last five years that it had deteriorated to such a state without any repairs.

"They knocked it down quite suddenly without any consultation."

Wendy Pole has also played a big part in the campaign, she said: "They used to have weddings, live music and sports, now there's nothing.

"They let it deteriorate to such a point that people couldn't use it.

"It wasn't safe to use, it wasn't warm and there were no decent facilities."

ABC have considered building housing with an integrated facility, but some residents are still unhappy with this potential plan.

The pair have been handing out surveys to piece together exactly what local people want to happen to the green space left behind.

Wendy added: "The survey we've put out has actually told us that a community hub is what people want.

"They want something on this site that they can have their children go to and they can book for parties."

Cllr Diccon Spain (Lab) has been involved in meeting regarding the future of the site.

He said: "There's always pressure to build more housing and obviously more housing is needed.

"But I think this site has always been for community use and there are other places that housing could go."

He continued: "I think that once this goes to housing, it's never going to come back.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to renew the community facilities that we've got on the site.

"I think it's absolutely vital that it stays focused on community use rather than housing."

In a previous statement, a spokesperson for Ashford Borough Council said: "We're working together to move this project forward positively.

"We will do everything we can to engage with the group."

A report on Bockhanger Community Centre is due to be presented to the council this evening.