More than 100 of Aycliffe’s concerned residents piled into the church centre in Old Folkestone Road on Thursday to discuss the estate’s future.

People voiced their views on the removal of the children’s play park and the placement of 12 flats in the centre of Aycliffe, next to the King Lear pub site.

Fifteen-year-old Millie Cole, of Gloster Ropewalk, also spoke publicly at the gathering, as she has generated 117 signatures from residents who want the park to be replaced.

The 12 flats would provide accommodation for homeless people and they would be built by the Home Group company.

The community came into agreement that a new park should be built at the Sunny Corner end of the estate.

Town councillor Chris Precious said after the meeting: “It was good to see the estate coming together on something.

“We have a letter from Dover District Council saying they do not have a problem using that land.”

It will require grant funding and for the community to raise funds in order to maintain the equipment.

Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke said: “I’m really proud to be here tonight.

“I have been speaking to Dover District Council and they said that this whole play area thing has been under review for a long time.

“It is really important that this community comes together fast and say this is where it is going to go.

“My advice to you is make the decision that you are all happy with.

“In terms of the money, if you are applying for public funding and need a letter of support from me, I will give it.

"We need to have a decent, safe, modern playing area for the children to go."

“We need to have a decent, safe, modern playing area for the children to go.” - MP Charlie Elphicke

He added: “In relation to the development I understand it is very controversial.

“There is a level of confusion of exactly what that development is and who will be in it.

“I think it is important that the communities are levelled with and all levels of government are open and honest with people about what is going on.

“The concern about what is going on here is not acceptable.”

Ward councillor Jim Hood, of St Richard’s Walk, did not attend the meeting.

Cllr Hood said he had had an accident the previous day and he was too unwell to attend the meeting.