Plans are progressing for a BMX track on a former landfill site, after calls for regeneration for many years but some are unhappy about the idea.

The Queen Elizabeth Field, behind the Vineries estate in Gillingham, could be transformed into a place for youngsters to play if plans are approved.

The former landfill site, near Castlemaine Avenue, is used by dog walkers and as a cut-through. But it has been known to attract anti-social behaviour and there have been calls for something to be done to make it a more attractive and secure place for residents to enjoy.

In the application to the council Fiona Leadley, from Medway’s greenspace development team, said: “There has been a long-term aim of the council to improve Queen Elizabeth Fields despite the constraints of its former use.

The pump track is seen as the start of the improvements and the Greenspace Development team will continue to work with the local community, PACT Group and Scout group to improve the site for everyone. “The site does suffer with antisocial behaviour but there are no facilities there.

"With other projects it has been proved that with more people using a site there are more eyes and ears observing the goings on and unofficial surveillance by local residents.”

A grant of £25,000 has been secured from the government’s Local Growth Fund to pay for the new facility and an application will be submitted to waste firm Veolia to fund the remainder of the costs.

The track will include different sections for varying abilities, ranging from novices to more advance riders and will include mounds, banked corners and jumps. It will be constructed all above ground so no excavations will take place into the landfill.

The council has so far received three letters of objection, raising concerns about anti-social behaviour, motorbikes and the effect on wildlife.

The planning application says the track will be set within the park, away from surrounding housing, with the aim of causing minimal disruption to local residents.

There will be fencing surrounding the track, with a motorbike barrier at the gate designed to stop motorbikes gaining access.

The area will be covered by new CCTV which will be monitored from the council’s main control room.