A meeting to discuss proposed changes to a much-heralded masterplan takes place next month.

Organised by Queenborough Town Council, it’s hoped representatives from Swale council and the Homes Community Agency (HCA), the Government body behind the project, will attend.

It will involve a debate on proposed alterations to the Queenborough and Rushenden regeneration plans.

The original proposal in November 2010 included the development of a marina and the building of up to 2,000 homes in town.

An amended plan, which has been opposed by Queenborough council, includes a reduction in the number of houses to 1,180.

It also omits the planned marina, which has been replaced with a waterside hub.

The meeting on February 2, will also include a discussion on the plight of traders at Klondyke Industrial Estate off Rushenden Road.

More than 30 businesses are reportedly looking for alternative premises after being served notices to quit the site to make way for the planned housing.

Owners have until August to relocate or risk being without a commercial base.

Lionel Robbins, Queenborough’s parish clerk, said a meeting held last month on the regeneration issue attracted nearly 40 residents.

He’s hoping for a larger turnout next month.

“The more people we get, the more chance we’ll have of gaining a groundswell of support for the original masterplan,” he said.

“We’d also like to do all we can to help traders at the Klondyke. We don’t want to lose businesses in the area.”

Mr Robbins said HCA representatives had already agreed to attend February’s meeting which takes place from 7.30pm at the Guildhall in the High Street.

In outlining Queenborough council’s opposition to the revised scheme, he said the overall regeneration had not gone ahead “as fast as originally intended”.

He said the recession when the plan was first drawn-up had done much to restrict finances, slowing the house and business unit building process.

A public consultation on the new masterplan ended last month.