There are concerns that a playing field on a site earmarked for a new school could be sold for housing – despite previous assurances it would be protected.

A Kent County Council consultation has started which proposes selling nearly 3.5 acres of land “not required” when the proposed Halfway Houses is built on site of the former Danley Middle school in Halfway.

In 2011, we reported on the local authority’s plans to lift a Section 77 Order protecting a playing field at the Danley Road.

A community campaign was launched to stop this going ahead which claimed a victory when then county councillor Ken Pugh said he was given “100% assurance” that the land would not be used for housing.

Mick Galvin, vice chairman of Halfway Residents’ Association, said he was horrified when informed of the potential sale.

He said: “That 3.5 acres certainly would be used for housing. We have got far too many houses promised already for Halfway and the infrastructure cannot cope now.

“I don’t want to see any more housing in Halfway without the infrastructure to support it.

“The green belt land is meant for playing fields. It has got to be kept for playing fields.

“If the school is built and five years down the line they need to expand they are not going to be able to.”

He urged residents to voice their opinions by taking part in the consultation.

A public notice says money raised by selling the playing field would be put towards the funding of the new school and would be invested firstly in providing new sports facilities and supporting infrastructure and then towards the cost of new classrooms.

Halfway Houses is planned to move to Danley Way in 2016 after the Department of Education announced it would receive funding through its Priority School Building Programme.

n Anyone who would like to respond to the consultation should write to Property Group, Kent County Council, County Hall, Maidstone, ME14 1XQ.