People's referendum over orchard

The orchard is the planned site for 558 new homes

Plans to remove an orchard to make way for a housing development have led campaigners to hold a people's referendum under a little-known Government act.

Villagers in Hoo St Werburgh are hoping to save Bells Lane orchard from being bulldozed.

Just one line of trees divides homes in the village from the orchard, which could be replaced by more than 550 new homes.

Protesters say the orchard serves as a home for a wide variety of wildlife.

Now the campaign group, Hands Off Kent, is holding the referendum under legislation from the 1972 Local Government Act and asking residents to vote on whether they want the building work to go ahead.

Campaigners say the orchard is a haven for wildlife

Hands Off Kent spokesman Alex Hills said: "Councillors are democratically elected officials.

"They have got to stand for election again at some time. How can they then ask people to vote for them when they ignore the democratic vote of the electorate?

"The clearer the majority the bigger the message to Medway Council."

He said the land was earmarked for new homes under the council's local plan, but that protesters still hoped to block development.

Medway councillor Ken Bamber said: "I think it's completely unnecessary. They are planning to build 558 houses.

"If you go out to Grain, there is a brownfield site that has not been developed for 20 years now, since BP moved out of there - and they've chosen this lovely piece of ground.

"We are hoping someone will listen and decide not to build on it, but I think we are clutching at straws."