Residents asked for views on park redevelopment

Residents in an area of Kent are being asked for their views on future plans for a park to include sports pitches, green spaces and play areas.

A masterplan for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Park, previously known as Discovery Park, in Ashford, has been drafted by the local authority.

Ashford Borough Council says the park will be for all residents to enjoy.

A spokesperson said: "It will be a new, major open space and recreational area which will include sports pitches, indoor sports buildings and play space, as well as areas of informal greenspace and areas for wildlife."

The masterplan for the park, which will link Chilmington Green to Court Lodge, says it "will take many years to develop".

The Chilmington Green development, approved for up to 5,750 new homes being built in phases, identifies the park as a requirement to meet the recreational and sporting needs of the development, to encourage walking and cycling.

"The latest figures from the developers suggest that Chilmington Green will not be complete until around 2048, so the park will not be fully realised for decades," the council said.

But documents said there was a need to set out what was likely to happen to the park, "to provide a degree of certainty, based on known information".

A consultation on residents' views is open until 18 July.

A drop-in session will also be held for residents to see the documents and ask questions, with a date to be confirmed.

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