Villagers voted overwhelmingly to oppose plans for a housing development next to a zoo.

More than 100 residents attended an extraordinary St Mary Hoo Parish Council meeting on Wednesday (February 21) to discuss an application by Esquire Developments for 44 homes off Fenn Street and the Ratcliffe Highway.

They raised concerns about the potential impact it would have on flooding and drainage, increased traffic, and added pressure to already stretched services such as GPs, dentists and school places.

The plans are for a 2.2-hectare site next to the Fenn Bell Conservation Project.

The land is owned by the project’s boss Andy Cowell.

He said he was selling the land due to financial difficulties and the money gained from the development would protect the future of the zoo.

Representatives from Esquire were due to attend the meeting to answer questions but parish councillors said they were told an hour before the meeting they would no longer be coming.

Instead, an open day is due to be held on March 19 where Esquire will respond to concerns and comments.

One woman said she struggled to get her children into school because each class already had a waiting list of up to 15 children.

She said she knew parents on the peninsula who were already having to travel as far as Dartford to find a school place and any families who moved into the proposed houses would only apply further strain.

One of the biggest concerns raised was about the high water table, which means typical drainage systems can’t be used.

Residents said the plan to direct surface water into drainage ditches, which was laid out in the drainage strategy and flood risk assessment documents, was not a sound idea as these ditches already fill up rapidly and additional homes would add an unsustainable pressure.

After discussion, the parish council, led by chairman Darren Summerfield, asked attendees to vote if they would like it to oppose the application.

There were no votes to support the plans and almost all of those attending voted to oppose the proposals.

The parish is to write to Medway Council and everyone at the meeting was encouraged to object, either via the planning portal or by letter.

The application can be viewed on the council's planning portal by clicking here and searching for reference MC/24/0291.

It was confirmed the plans would be debated at a planning committee meeting in June and the deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 7.