A former golf course is to be transformed into a community parkland after a planning application was unanimously backed by councillors.

The 43-hectare Deangate Ridge, on the Hoo Peninsula, is set to have picnic benches, information boards, cycle routes and a total of 2.5km of paths for people to enjoy.

Medway Council formulated the proposal to open up the site for public access and to protect its wildlife.

Councillors of all political colours on the council's planning committee voted to give the parkland the go ahead at a meeting on February 14.

Cllr George Crozer, leader of the Independent Group - the three ward councillors for Hoo St Werburgh and High Halstow, where the site is located - said they supported the plans but criticised previous administrations for the decision to close the golf course.

He welcomed the designation of Deangate Ridge as a registered asset of community value, which means no part of the area, including outside the site for the community parkland, can be used for housing.

Cllr Crozer also asked that the remaining land which had been part of the golf course that was not included in the parkland plans be returned to use as a golf course.

He also asked that Deangate Ridge be designated a country park, like Capstone and Riverside.

The Deangate Ridge Golf Course closed in 2018 despite opposition due to low membership numbers and increasing losses.

Cllr Gary Etheridge (Con) asked about provisions to make sure the parkland catered for people with accessibility issues and chief planning officer Dave Harris said these details would be added later in the process.

Extensive environmental testing of the site in November found the site is home to a variety of species, including great crested newts – the rarest species of newt in the UK.

Experts also found species of birds such as the mistle thrush, house sparrow, skylark, song thrush and nightingale – all on the conservation red list.

The council said protection of the site’s biodiversity was one of its key priorities in the development of the plans considering the area borders a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

The proposals were supported unanimously by the planning committee and plans will now progress and detailed versions of the layout of the parkland will be designed.