A popular green used by dog walkers and families for more than 50 years which was suddenly fenced off has failed to sell at auction.
Residents were angered after the land, off Ashford’s Quantock Drive estate, was blocked off earlier this month with no prior warning.
The site, which sits next to a play park, has been used by neighbours since the estate was built in 1974.
Although maintained by Ashford Borough Council (ABC), the 1,000 sq m plot was purchased by Bluesky Properties Estate Ltd in 2022.
Last week, it went under the hammer with a guide price of £10,000 but so far, a buyer has yet to come forward. It remains on the market.
Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con) said: “My guess is that the market just wasn’t interested because of the risks around development that the village green application has created.”
It comes after Cllr Bartlett submitted an application to Kent County Council (KCC) to declare the space a village green – a move which would prevent future development on the site.
He put forward the village green application in May and it has already been backed by more than 70 people.
Later, when the fencing was erected, ABC said notices about the village green application were removed by contractors and instead replaced with paperwork reading ‘not public land’ and that ‘trespassing could result in legal action’.
Cllr Bartlett, who represents Mersham, Sevington South with Finberry on ABC but was previously on KCC, says he thinks the land owner wants to sell the site off for housing.
“Village green applications are a perfect example of how we as residents can use existing legislation to protect our diminishing green spaces,” Cllr Bartlett said.
“But the owners want to sell it and I think what they’re trying to do is if anyone drives by the site and looks at it before the auction, they may see the fencing and think it’s easier to develop than it is in reality.
“Looking at the plot, they’re probably thinking maybe two homes could be accommodated.”
In order to register a plot of land as a village green, KCC says it must be shown it has been used by local people for sports and recreation for at least 20 years ‘as of right’.
A decision will therefore be made by its regulation committee later this year, where, should the application be successful, the fencing will be removed.
Meanwhile, 40 residents gathered at the green earlier this month to show their frustration at the situation.
Residents were joined by Ashford MP Sojan Joseph, KCC’s Ashford Central Reform representative, Pamela Williams, and ABC representative Cllr Andrew Buchanan (Ind).
“The land has been enjoyed by residents and children at the three schools located in the near vicinity since the estate was built in the early 1970s,” said Cllr Buchanan.
“A lot of people are very concerned and upset, which is shown in the number of residents who showed up.
“Councillors on both ABC and KCC are investigating whether any planning rules have been broken and the fencing also appears to block a public right of way to one of the play area gates.”
