Campaigners have won a reprieve in their fight against plans to cover 60 acres of land in Waterham in polytunnels.

At Swale Borough Council’s planning meeting on Thursday night, councillors voted to defer the application while the Environment Agency carries out an ecological study.

Retired boxer Barry McGuigan who lives in Dargate is one of the objectors to the scheme put forward by Hernhill Nurseries, part of the S&A Group.

Cllr Bryan Mulhern said the flood risk from the proposed polytunnels should be investigated and the residents of Seasalter consulted too.

"I said that Canterbury City Council should be consulted because people who live in Seasalter Road could be at risk from flooding as well as the people who live near the site," he said.

"If there was a flash flood, the water wouldn’t be absorbed by the soil because of the polytunnels."