Opinion is split over plans to revamp a town centre's green space.

Medway Council wants to make changes to The Paddock, which lays between Chatham Waterfront bus station and the Pentagon shopping centre.

A consultation into the plans was held between December and January and results shared last month.

The funding for the plans, which include measures to remove and replace five trees, will come from a grant from the government's Future High Streets Fund.

The proposals include new lawns, benches, and improved accessibility.

Chatham resident Bryan Fowler has written to all councillors urging them to scrutinise the authority's proposals.

The council and its development-arm Medway Development Company (MDC) previously confirmed the works would be carried out using Permitted Development Rights, which means there is no legal requirement for a public consultation.

This also means the plans will not be considered by the authority's planning committee, a matter which concerns Mr Fowler.

He also carried out a Freedom of Information request which confirmed just 78 people took part in the council's survey on the plans.

The Kitchener Barracks' resident said: "Really vital to me is what state is The Paddock going to be in at the end of it; is it going to be unrecognisable from that is it now?

"It does strike me that the development of The Paddock is almost being made up on the hoof, evidenced by the fact that in the last 18 months, we've had The Paddock renamed 'Paddock Island' and now it's being referred to as The Paddock again.

"It's got mature chestnut trees in it which are beautiful and it is a green space and furthermore, it's a much-used green space."

He is also concerned about the maintenance of a proposed water feature, especially as there is a risk of flowers and leaves falling into it.

He added: "I have no confidence that it will be maintained well. There doesn't appear to be a maintenance problem at the moment, in fact, they've just replanted the flower beds."

According to the Kent Gardens Trust, The Paddock was built on marshland which was reclaimed in the 16th Century.

Cllr Simon Curry (Lab) – who is also the chairman of Medway Urban Greenspaces Forum – says he too has concerns about the preservation of the fountain and about the amount of public consultation.

He said: "Some of the trees do need replacing. It would also be nice to see how it's going to be used as an area for public open space.

"The new flats are going up right next to it, adjacent to the riverside, and that means hundreds of new people and so they will want some open space.

"I think a bit more thought needs to go into the design and layout bearing in mind how much use it's going to get over the coming years with so many new people moving in."

Cllr Rodney Chambers (Con), portfolio holder for inward investment, strategic regeneration and partnerships, said another consultation will be carried out soon and contracts for the work would be going out in July or August, with work getting under way soon after.

He added: "It must start very quickly after that because the funding which came from central government as part of its town centres initiative is time limited and must be spent, as far as I can see, by March next year.

"I like the plans, I think it's an innovative way to retain the main features of The Paddock and also bring forward some significant proposals to create a centre for Chatham as part of its regeneration.

"I am not concerned about the water feature itself, I think its innovative. But I share Mr Fowler's concerns the ongoing maintenance and also making sure that the area is kept to a very high standard after it's been installed.

"But the assurances I've been given are there will be a very high level of maintenance and after care."