The town council has agreed ‘in principle’ to become the owners of a field next to the development of 80 homes off Common Mead Lane in Gillingham.

Ownership by the council of the Northern Field, as it is known, would effectively guarantee that the land could not be built on in the future.

If the town takes take on the site –  councillors voted in principle to do so last week – it would also receive just under £94,000 from developers Barrett David Wilson Homes to help maintain the area.

The Roman Quarter development, as it is called, was officially opened by the mayor Councillor Roger Weeks in August.

The town council is also set to take over ownership of and responsibility for a play area and a playground at the same development. The developers are offering to provide around £200,000 for the future maintenance of these two sites.

In a separate move, the council has announced that Gillingham has been awarded £57,182 of funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund towards improvements at the Town Meadow.

The proposal is to improve the surface in order to allow events to be held throughout the year. Accessibility paths will be constructed for easier access and the existing hard surfaced areas will be edged and improved. The project also includes the installation of additional benches and flower planters.

Work is due to start this month and will be completed by the end of the year.