County showground chief George Jessel has called for unity after being re-elected chairman of Kent County Agricultural Society.

Mr Jessel, a farmer from Wye, survived the first contested election in its 80-year history after splitting the membership with multi-million pound plans to develop the showground site at Detling.

He was challenged by Malcolm Chamberlain on behalf of a group of members who fear the plans go too far and threaten the society’s survival.

But Mr Chamberlain failed to muster enough support and trailed Mr Jessel by 53 votes - 174 - 121. Only a small proportion of the 2,000-strong membership voted, but with a sizeable number of voters failing to endorse Mr Jessel, he is likely to face tough questioning from within as he attempts to spearhead change.

After the result was announced, Mr Jessel thanked members who voted for him - and those who did not. He called on them all to move forward together. "I appreciate how much people care - as I do - about the future of this society," he told more than 100 at the meeting.

"Rest assured, I am aware that the communication between myself and yourselves as not been good but it is important now that we have unification and we all come together to take the society forward."

Speaking later, Mr Jessel said it was important for the society to pull together and move into the 21st century.

"We’ve now hopefully put our differences to one side and can move forward as one body because we will achieve far more than as opposing groups.

"Our buildings are old and grey and creaking and we’ve got to do something about it. 2009 is going to be a challenging year but I think it’s important that we stand united."

The poll cost the society around £5,000, a sum it can ill afford after losing £317,000 on last year’s Kent Show and facing its toughest financial situation in decades.

KCAS has three plans for developing the site, ranging from a £27million scheme for an exhibition centre, equine complex and an Olympic equestrian training venue - run in partnership with Hadlow College - to a smaller project involving just the renovation of rundown buildings.