The vice-chairman of Ebbsfleet FC has fired a broadside at Kent County Council over what he claims is its negative attitude to the club’s multi-million pound investment in the community.

Peter Varney used his programme notes for Saturday’s match to take the county council to task, saying that the authority was a “regressive organisation that frustrates rather than encourages development.”

He cited the club’s decision to replace windows in the new stand after they had been broken by vandals five times.

The club also rebuilt a concrete bed outside the Snap Fitness Gym – removing hundreds of stones that were being used by the vandals.

The work replacing the windows was carried out under strict safety conditions but within 24 hours “we received a negative email from KCC raising the issue at the 11th hour” questioning the work “in an accusing way”.

Other work involving putting in bollards on behalf of the council had involved the club having to deposit the same sum as the cost of the work “in case we don’t undertake them properly”.

He told the KM Group the demands made by the authority reflected the bureaucracy involved in dealing with it and was an example of its lack of support.

“Northfleet is a very poor, rundown area and we have come into this and are investing heavily in the area. Our experience is that Gravesham council has been absolutely fantastic supporting us, [but] all we get from KCC is negativity.”

“If someone is prepared to invest in the community, maybe you should give them some support,” he said.

“We [the club] are talking about investing in a very poor part of Kent so do not put obstacles in our way.

“We are trying to rebuild the area and bring jobs. We have a big community programme – some of the social problems round here are very serious.

“What we are saying is if you have people prepared to invest in the area, maybe you should support them.”

A Kent County Council spokesman said: “Any developer undertaking works on the highway – such as installing bollards – is expected to follow standard practice, which is the case here.

“On completion of the works, 75% is returned to the developer with the remaining 25% being returned after a year of maintenance of the works.

“This ensures that the works are undertaken to the required standard, and, if they are not completed, KCC can complete them without using public money for the private benefit of a developer.”

“With regards to the overhang, the issue with the glass was raised with Ebbsfleet and Kent County Council was assured that there would be no danger to the public below.

“We are continuing to work with Ebbsfleet and their representatives to ensure that this is the case.”