A planned council debate on a controversial new 'Garden Town' was postponed at the last minute.

Councillors on Folkestone and Hythe District Council were due to discuss the future of Otterpool Park - set for land near Hythe - tonight at cabinet and full council.

But the topic was missing from the two agendas published ahead of the two meetings.

And the leader says discussions on the 'complex matter' will be delayed until the council has "all the necessary information".

Cllr David Monk (Con) said: “Our ambitious plans for an exemplary garden town at Otterpool Park are significant to the district.

"External financial experts have yet to complete their analysis.

"This is a complex matter and we’re not prepared to make a decision until we have all the necessary information available to us.

"This will now be discussed at a future meeting."

Otterpool Park is destined for open land around the former Folkestone racecourse and close to the villages of Newingreen and Lympne.

It will include 10,000 new homes, a new hotel, health centres, restaurants, shops, offices and new schools, if given the go ahead.

The council and Cozumel Estates are behind the project and an outline planning application for the first 8,500 homes was submitted earlier this year.

There have been many objections to the scheme since it was first announced, including two protests, more than 100 objections and an official objection from Hythe Town Council.

The scheme was originally due to be discussed by members of FHDC's cabinet in July, but this was also postponed.

In August, the council revealed it has purchased Westenhanger Castle for £2.9m and plans to make it the 'centrepiece' of Otterpool Park, despite the scheme not yet being granted planning permission.

The authority plans to restore the historic tithe barns, flood the currently dry moat and create a public park around the medieval castle, which was once used as a hunting ground for Henry VIII.

But the move was criticised, with some questioning if it was the best use of the taxpayer’s money.

Last week a new 'Otterpool Park Working Group', made up of members of the council, met in private to discuss the 'progress to date' for the development.

Topics on the agenda included land and acquisition, planning, proposed approach to financial planning and any other current issues.

Members also discussed the next steps for the scheme.

But further details can not be revealed as the meeting was not open to public and press.

It is not known when the scheme is next due to be discussed by cabinet and the full council.

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