A PLAN to dig up the main football stadium at Sittingbourne's Central Park sports complex and turn it into a speedway track is facing a barrage of opposition. Borough councillor Dick Calvert, who represents nearby residents, says he is appalled at the proposal and is urging Swale council to reject the scheme.

Another Murston ward councillor, Clive Wherrell, says he will fight the scheme all the way and is campaigning to get it stopped.

Stadium operators want to redevelop the stadium by stripping the football pitch and replacing it with a 309-metre track costing around £250,000.

The operators say "significant" amounts of money have been promised by Sky TV for coverage of speedway events and Central Park bosses are hoping the change of sport will help boost turnover.

The football pitch is currently used by Sittingbourne Football Club but they say the stadium is to big for them anyway and they are planning to move to another pitch nearby.

Chairman of the football club Andy Spice is backing the speedway plan but there has been angry reaction elsewhere.

Cllr Dick Calvert (Lib.Dem) said: "I am appalled at the proposal to replace the football pitch with a speedway track and I hope the council will be persuaded to turn down the application. The people most affected would be residents of my ward. All of these people would suffer even more from the noisy environment of speedway. It is bad enough having to put up with greyhound racing several times a week. Speedway is much noisier, whatever anybody says.

"What a waste of a fantastic football ground. This would be a sad day for Sittingbourne."

Cllr Wherrell (Lib Dem) said: "I am totally opposed to this plan as are many local residents.

"I missed this week's full meeting of Swale council because my phone was ringing non-stop with local people wanting to vent their anger. My wife also took several calls during the day."

"About 550 houses are earmarked for this area in the Swale Local Plan, so house prices will be severely affected. Murston will become a dumping ground if the scheme goes ahead. I am starting a petition against the scheme and any volunteers who want to help with it should ring my home on 01795 473370."

MD'S PLAN FOR SPEEDWAY TRACK - SEE SPORT SECTION