A battle is on for the future of the last available stretch of land on a housing estate.
When Wards developed Grove Green, Maidstone, almost 30 years ago, they signed an agreement to set aside a patch of land for a community library.
That land was grubbed out but has remained undeveloped since 1982.
Repeated attempts by Boxley Parish Council to persuade KCC to build the library have never come to fruition. Finally in March last year, KCC said it was no longer pursuing the idea.
Now Wards has submitted an application to build 14 homes on the site, off Penhurst Close, angering some people.
The land is inaccessible after Wards sealed it off with a close-boarded fence eight years ago, but is officially designated as open space.
Parish clerk Pauline Bowdery said: “This is really the last bit of available land in Grove Green. It was reserved for a community use as part of the original grant of planning permission.”
The parish council would like to see it restored as a community orchard, the local Scout group is eyeing it as a potential spot for a Scout hut, and Grove Green is currently without a church, with worshippers having to meet in the primary school. Some have suggested the land could be used for a church.
Cllr Wendy Hinder (Con), who represents Boxley and is pictured left, said: “A lot of people are very upset about this. They feel that since it was set aside for community use, it should be used for a community use.
“The last thing we need in Grove Green is more housing.”