CAMPAIGNERS fighting the proposed closure of a school farm have been invited to meet the head teacher and governors.

Controversy has surrounded plans to close the farm at the Astor of Hever Community School at Maidstone.

Parents and residents have formed the Friends of Astor of Hever School Farm to oppose the idea. Last week, the Friends received a letter from Prince Charles expressing his support for their cause.

Headteacher Martin Carroll said he and the chair of governors, Paula Tucker, expected to talk with a small delegation from the friends, including chairman Norman Kemp.

A date has not been set for the meeting, but it is thought it will happen soon.

A spokeswoman for the Friends, said: "At that meeting we will be asking several questions about whether the farm will be able to be kept open until planning permission is granted.

"Planning permission, if it's going to happen at all, is a long way away. We need to get the school to agree to keep the farm open in the short term."

About 80 people attended the latest meeting held by the Friends in St Michael's Church Hall in Maidstone.

Kent County Council members Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem) and Cllr John Frisby (Lib Dem) both spoke in support of keeping the farm open, and promised to look into what happened at the governors' meeting at which the decision was made, after claims the LEA made the original suggestion.

Judith Wilson, an ex-teacher who owns farmland near Boughton Monchelsea, is the latest prominent person to come out in support of keeping the school farm open.

Mrs Wilson said: "I appreciate that the school desperately needs money, but to sell off the family silver is hardly the answer.

If the school needs the capital input that that is a matter for the Education Authority to deal with.

"Livestock units are money-absorbing activities and really need to be funded entirely separately from the school's normal budget."

Mrs Wilson has written to the chairman of the Kent Education Committee expressing her views and also to Richard Ashworth MEP to ask what European funding is available for farm units in schools.