There is a war brewing at Warden Bay on the Isle of Sheppey.

Neighbours have formed a rival residents group to take on the parish council in a battle for a community garden instead of a ball park.

Parish councillors are poised to take over derelict land from Swale council on a 125-year lease and want to install a multi-use ball park.

But mum and grandmother Lesley O'Brien said: "Many of us want a community garden instead. We have been to all the parish council meetings but our ideas were dismissed.

"So we have formed the Warden Bay Residents Association and come up with an alternative. Our vision is for a garden where all are welcome. It will inspire play, foster environmental care and help health and well-being to flourish."

The public will have the chance to study the plans and quiz the people behind it this Saturday in Warden Bay car park from 11am. The controversial patch of land is at the corner of Cliff Drive and Imperial Drive.

Mrs O'Brien said: "It is near to the beach and a prominent focal point. But it is surrounded and directly over-looked by several houses. We think it should be a place which is visually pleasing and does not encourage overly noisy use.

"In our plan, there will be willow shelters, paths, grass, flowers, wildlife, bird boxes, bee and butterfly-friendly plants, orchards, art and sculpture trails and sundials."

The land was acquired by the borough council as a public open space provision under a Section 106 agreement with a developer and cannot be used for anything else.

The parish council wants to build a 32m x 21m multi-sport ball court on the site for basketball and football. It will be surrounded by a high net fence and will not be flood-lit so there will be no night-time disturbance.

Cllr Pat Sandle, chairman of Warden Parish Council, said: "We have consulted residents and had plans drawn up.

"There are around 500 young people under 16 in Warden and the only play area we have at the moment is at the village hall which is only accessible for a lot of children along a busy road that does not have a pathway in some places.

"As soon as the land is transferred to us we will be able to begin the process of seeking grants. We can't do that until the land is ours."

The ball park is likely to cost £70,000.

The new association claims to have 80 members and a committee of eight. Some stood unsuccessfully for the parish council in the May elections.

For more details of the rival garden plan, email wardenbayra@gmail.com or visit the Warden Bay Residents Association's Facebook page.

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