The developer of controversial plans for Glebe Field in St Margaret’s has tried to address some of residents’ concerns.

Pete Halsall is a “green developer” looking to build about 25 homes on the land in Glebe Road, which is currently owned by the Bay Trust.

A public consultation meeting was held at the village hall last month which saw 200 people attend and give their views on the plans.

Mr Halsall said: “We were pleased that people liked the design and sustainability of the scheme and we took that as positive feedback from the meeting.

“We will now focus on not just retaining trees but a large part of the field as well.”

The land was bought by Fred Cleary in the 1970s who set up St Margaret’s Bay Trust as a way of safeguarding the area from development.

His grandson Alistair Gould, now chairman of the Bay Trust, said: “There were quite a lot of negative responses and some of that I can understand.

“The issue is the development should leave more open space at the bottom end of this piece of land. Armed with that he can now go back to the planning officer.”

Residents said they want the area to remain open to the Scouts, Beavers, Cubs, Brownies and Guides and used for the village fete.

The Scouts, who organise the fete, were told last year that they could no longer hold it at Glebe Field.

A resident of Royston Gardens, who wished to remain anonymous said many people feel strongly that this is a vital part of the village and should be protected.

“There has been no discussion with the parish council or any interested parties prior to this underhand sale of a vital village asset, including the residents of the flats.

“There were quite a lot of negative responses and some of that I can understand." - Mr Gould.

“The Bay Trust repeatedly claim to be all about the youth and community – their track record shows that they have taken away three established family gardens and now they have taken an essential piece of village life for it to be built on.”

The trust rented land as gardens for neighbouring houses for 14 years before the lease ended in 2013.

Bay trust volunteer co-ordinator Diane Gould said: “The plans actually provide for a permanent open space for community use on the Glebe Field land which the Scouts can use in perpetuity.

“The trust has been working to provide a brand new public open space on Sea Street at the centre of the village with the aim of providing much wider community benefit, particularly tailored to the needs of the adjoining primary school and local youth. The space here for village fetes will be roughly double that provided currently.”

New plans for the development will be made public in the next few weeks.