A campaign has been launched amid fears there are plans to build a road through an area described as a "treasured green lung" on the Hoo Peninsula.

It is feared the proposed infrastructure to support a multi-million pound housing and regeneration scheme could destroy wildlife, including the protected site at Lodge Hill, the UK's most important home for nightingales.

However, Medway Council leader Cllr Alan Jarrett says there are currently no plans to develop the site and the authority is committed to protecting green spaces.

In a consultation document for the proposed government-funded development, the council wants to construct a spur road from a new roundabout in Peninsula Way which campaigners say would slice through the Deangate Ridge sports complex in Hoo.

It would also impinge on neighbouring land at Lodge Hill, the former military barracks which has been declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSS1) by Natural England.

The revised road and transport network is part of a £170 million Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) which the authority has secured to build 12,000 homes and a £63 million railway station.

It is feared the Deangate site at Dux Court Road, which includes a former golf club and sports complex, has been earmarked for luxury housing.

Stalwart campaigner and chairman of High Halstow Parish Council, George Crozer, has launched a two-pronged attack on the New Routes to Growth consultation paper.

Mr Crozer has approached organisations such as the RSPB, which played a major role in protecting the nightingales by stopping major development at Lodge Hill. The charity declined to support the authority's application to the HIF and is said to be keeping a close eye on the proposed development on the peninsula.

Mr Crozer has also focused on the needs of the people living nearby, having succeeded in getting the land registered as an asset of community value providing recognition of its importance to the social wellbeing and social interest of the local community.

Mr Crozer said: "It would seem they are just paving their way for more housing. I understand more housing is needed but it has to be sustainable.

"Deangate has been an important and much-loved community asset since 1972. Since 2003, it has been an integral part of the adjacent Lodge Hill SSSI for nightingales. Developing with Deangate is a red line for both local communities and the RSPB."

Becky Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, has written a response about regeneration plans.

She said: "The Hoo Peninsula is a really important place for the RSPB. We have been managing nature reserves in the area since 1953 and have fought some considerable battles to save it from harmful developments.

She added: "For us, the crux of the matter is that Lodge Hill is an SSSI and is meant to be protected. As far as we can see, the national planning guidance is clear - SSSIs are a last resort for development.

"The bottom line is that if Medway Council allocates Lodge Hill, then nowhere is safe.

"Medway Council needs to accept it and be proud of it and come up with a plan B for Lodge Hill, something that looks after the nightingales and offers something good for the people of Medway and beyond."

Cllr Alan Jarrett, Medway Council leader, said: “There are currently no plans to develop the Lodge Hill SSSI site.

"In fact, we are committed to protecting Medway’s green spaces and our plans for the Hoo Peninsula include creating accessible open space. In addition to this, we are working with Natural England to learn further about how we can protect the area’s existing habitats.”

The details in the "New Routes to Good Growth" document are just proposals at this stage and the consultation has been extended until Tuesday, April 6, giving the public and any interested groups the opportunity to formally give their feedback.

Council officers defended the decision to close the Deangate Ridge Golf Club in April 2018, which had made a loss of more than £1.5 million over the past seven years and had membership of fewer than 300 people.

After three petitions attracted a total of nearly 4,000 signatures, mainly focusing on perceived lack of consultation, the majority of committee members agreed to refer the decision back to cabinet.

"We are committed to protecting Medway’s green spaces and our plans for the Hoo Peninsula include creating accessible open space"

Deangate's demise was "called in" by members of the Medway Labour group who wanted the matter to go to full council rather than the cabinet. The group raised questions about how quickly the decision was reached.

There are also ambitions by some villagers to make Deangate a designated country park in a bid to stop it being redeveloped.

Mr Crozer said: "The area plays a vital role in the community, providing an essential wildlife sanctuary and an area for public recreation providing a treasured green lung for the entire local Hoo Peninsula community, now facing unprecedented major development."

You can find the consultation here.

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