The site, which Kent County Council is looking to sell off for housing development, is designated as a green field site in Dartford Borough Council’s Local Plan.

At a meeting with Stone residents in Alamein Gardens today, Dr Stoate, who was joined by Home Office Minister, Des Browne, said, “this is one of the few remaining green field sites left in Stone, and I for one am not prepared to let it get sold off for housing without a fight.”

“This is community land, which has never been developed before, and Kent County Council have absolutely no right to dispose of it for development. KCC should be looking to protect and enhance our green spaces – not to sell them off for a quick profit.”

“Sandy Bruce Lockhart and his fellow Tories at KCC like to portray themselves as the defenders of the environment and Kent’s green belt yet here they are trying to get rid of one of Stone’s prime natural assets. It is quite outrageous.”

No formal planning application has yet been submitted by the prospective developer but Dr Stoate made it clear that he would objecting in the strongest possible terms should an application be submitted to Dartford Borough Council.