A proposal to turn a popular allotment into a travellers’ site has been withdrawn.

Swale council planners had been asked to consider the plans for the site, which would have housed 14 caravans, at the Medway Road allotments in Sheerness.

Sheerness West councillors Angela Harrison and Steve Worrall moved quickly to urge residents to make their views known and the council withdrew the idea at a meeting on Thursday.

According to Cllr Harrison about 20 residents turned up to the meeting of Swale council’s local development forum, which was held at Swale House in Sittingbourne.

Medway Road has 120 allotments, some of which have been held by the same people for more than 20 years.

Cllr Harrison said: “Steve and I are both delighted, we really are.

“If we hadn’t picked it up quickly it would have gone through the process and come back to the committee next year and there would have been six months of residents worrying if it was going to happen.”

Cllr Gerry Lewin, Swale council's executive portfolio holder for sustainable planning, said: “The council sensibly gave early indication to councillors on the sites being considered.

"We received their opinions and further information from officers and can confirm that the site will not be considered.

"We value our allotment sites and welcomed the presence of so many representatives from the Medway Road site in question at the meeting on Thursday evening.”