Feelings were running high at a meeting of residents fighting to save a school playing field.

Save Our Sheppey (SOS) action group was formed after angry Islanders learned Kent County Council (KCC) has started the process to change the status of a playing field at the old Danley Middle School site, meaning it could be sold.

More than 50 people went to a meeting organised by SOS at Sheerness Golf Club in Halfway last Wednesday evening.

As well as members of the group and residents from Halfway, Sheerness and Minster, KCC’s deputy member for children, families and education, Cllr Gary Cooke, was there as was MP Gordon Henderson’s agent John Burke.

SOS chairman Gillian Berry reinforced the importance of everyone writing to Education Secretary Michael Gove with their objections.

Mr Cooke explained that KCC had hoped to raised £1.9m from the sale of the Halfway Houses Primary School site, which would pay for the cost of refurbishing Danley Middle School, which is estimated to be £2.2m.

However, KCC now expects to only make between £1.2m and £1.4m, leaving a £1m shortfall which is one of the reasons for selling off the playing field.

A letter from KCC said the land is publicly owned and suggested it hadn’t been used by them.

Residents responded to this by saying if it’s public, they want it back.

Mr Burke explained that public land means it’s owned by KCC on tax-payers’ behalf.

Other residents asked if Sheppey can afford to lose school space when there are more houses planned but Mr Cooke argued that they can’t keep rate payers paying and schools open “waiting for children”.

Other concerns included the lack of employment and drainage problems on the Island.

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Mrs Berry encouraged everyone to put their comments forward about these proposals before the deadline, which is Tuesday, March 14, at 5pm.

For more information about the four options which are being considered for Swale, go to www.swale.gov.uk/pyo

People were also encouraged to go to a Minster Parish Council meeting at Friendship House in Minster on Thursday, April 7, where a proposal by The Crown Estate to build up to 150 houses on land between Belgrave and Rosemary avenues in Halfway will be discussed.

Residents were treated to a rendition of the Save Our Sheppey song, which was penned by Sheppey Folk and Blues Club member Chris Stearns, and his SOS band.

The band wore Save Our Sheppey T-shirts which cost £10 each and are available by emailing Chris with your contact details and size.

All profits will go towards the SOS campaign.

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Mr Burke also explained that it was no good for residents just to object but rather give a constructive reason for what the land could be used for.

He suggested residents start lobbying Swale councillors to buy the land from KCC so it can be used as public open space.

Mr Cooke said that for the playing field to be used for any other purpose than education, the section 77 will need to be lifted.

He was also asked if it was too late for the playing field to be opened up to the public, but Mr Cooke said there is a security issue with that.

SOS member Harry Aldridge said: “Danley was closed down – a lovely school – and they are kicking us in the teeth again.

“They said to [former borough councillor] Mike Brown they would never sell off that land. They have lied to us. How can we ever believe them?

“Stop dumping houses on us; give us new roads, new drains, a swimming pool and above all, a town we can be proud of again, just like Faversham and Sittingbourne.”