Astronomers say infinity and beyond is a now step closer after securing council support for their International Dark Sky Association (IDSA) designation bid.

The Ashford Astronomical Society (AAS) is hoping to make rural Ashford the first place in the UK to be given the official designation.

Ashford Borough Council’s cabinet members voted to back the initial scheme with £25,000 set aside to help with a public consultation and bid to IDSA.

It could see rural areas in villages such as Woodchurch protected from development and light pollution in the town’s planning policies.

"We’re hoping that the designation will lead to more visitors coming to the borough which will be a win-win situation for everyone" Society secretary, Jason Hall

Society secretary, Jason Hall, welcomed the support and says plans for a new science centre and observatory are still on the horizon.

He said: “We were very pleased the council approved it and it appeared to be unanimous.

“All members could see how good this could be for the area.

“We’re hoping that the designation will lead to more visitors coming to the borough which will be a win-win situation for everyone.

“It’s very important to protect dark sky areas from development. All over the country it doesn’t seem to be a consideration, but it’s important not to lose our dark skies and important for us that we can see the sky at night.”

Part of the council’s policy could also call for sympathetic lighting on all new housing developments and to protect rural areas for larger housing schemes.

The society has had to scale down its original plan for a 200-seater planetarium, science centre and observatory, but Mr Hall says new plans are now in place.

He added:“We have changed the plan to have something more sympathetic to the local area with less footfall.

“We are aiming for a smaller centre and we have the idea to make more income from things like camping.

“The aim is to have at least a scientific grade observatory with instruments that the public can use, with eight telescopes ready to go at any one time.”