A COUNTRY park could be given a new lease of life – by being turned into a landfill site.

This is one idea that Gravesham Borough Council has come up with to eventually transform Northfleet Country Park in Thames Way into a landscaped and pleasant environment.

Currently the overgrown and derelict grassy area is mainly used by dog walkers who negotiate a couple of worn pathways.

But by allowing a company to dump waste there for 18 months, the council thinks it could then agree a deal where the ground was left in an improved state afterwards.

Consultation took place with residents earlier this year when members of the public made suggestions about what they would like to see done with the scrap of land opposite the new North Kent Police Station.

Gravesham council said the next step is to produce a draft landscape design and look at funding and financial options with both public and private sector organisations – including the landfill option.

Cllr Mike Snelling, leader of Gravesham council, said: "We are working on a scheme where we can get extra landfill there, and when they finish they will do the landscaping and work necessary to turn it into an attractive country park.

"The next phase is looking for the funding, which we will be doing over the next six months."

He added that no company has been identified for such a scheme yet.

Kent county councillor for Northfleet and Gravesend West, Cllr Leslie Christie, said he was not happy with the prospect of the park being turned into landfill.

He said: "Clearly we would like to see better use made of Northfleet Country Park, and would have concerns about traffic movements linked to any landfill site."