Plans for a new £2 million nature reserve have been given the go ahead despite concerns about loss of farmland.

Medway Council's intention to establish a wetland reserve on agricultural land in Hoo St Werburgh forms parts of its £14 million environmental enhancements as part of its wider plans for 10,600 homes on the Hoo Peninsula.

The 16-acre site stretches from the Medway Estuary and West Hoo Creek to Abbots Court Road to the south of Hoo.

It contains part of the Saxon Shore Way, the 163-mile coastal footpath connecting Gravesend and Hastings.

The council hopes the wetland habitat would support wildlife including skylarks, teal, shelduck, visiting winter birds, water voles, bats and reptiles, on a mix of fresh and saltwater wetlands.

There would be access for pedestrians off Abbots Court Road and the Saxon Shore Way.

The site would feature a ranger's station, a series of bridges and boardwalks to allow people to walk around and information boards detailing Second World War defences including anti-tank cubes and pill boxes.

Councillors discussed the plans at a meeting of the planning committee on Wednesday.

Ward councillor Ron Sands (Ind) said he disagreed with the plans, saying the lack of parking for cars and cyclists will disturb residents living in nearby roads.

He said: "You can't improve the natural environment by first destroying it.

"It's a fact that nature knows best; with nature, there's no rush and there's no confusion. This application is both rushed and confused."

He also said he was not pleased about the lack of detail provided by the council about its plans to divert the Hoo Brook into the new reserve.

He added: "The Hoo Brook is predominantly road and field run-off; road run-off which is often contaminated by petrol, diesel and chemicals from the farmland. In the last few summers, this brook has run dry.

"This constant plundering of our agricultural land is not only bad for the country, but for Hoo. It is taking away our agricultural heritage."

Planning committee vice chairman Cllr Chris Buckwell (Con) said: "I'm really sad that Cllr Sands feels like this about the application.

"I think, overall, this is so positive and innovative. There are vast areas of land on the Peninsula, as we know, and the suggestions made here in this application for what is proposed for this significant site, I think, are exciting."

Cllr Simon Curry (Lab), said he was not overly concerned about the lack of parking as he felt most visitors would be on foot, adding: "I think it's a very exciting project.

"What's being proposed here is a rewilding project, which we have not had in Medway and that's exciting in its own sense."

The council has already approved its own plan to create a country park between Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden which will be called Cockham Community Parkland and plans to establish another park neighbouring the MOD land at Lodge Hill.