A GREEN space at Kings Hill, Kempsey, will be lost if Festival Housing Association pursues a plan to build seven homes for rent.

The village needs more affordable housing, but the scheme has not won any support from Kempsey Parish Council.

Members heard that the housing association was proposing to build two bungalows and five three-bedroom houses in blocks of two and three.

Chairman Joy Clee, who had met representatives of Festival said the association wanted to use land it owned rather than buy new land, because its funds were limited.

"I told them quite clearly that there was no way I could support it," she said.

Members were worried that land designated as green space as part of a development could be built on 10 years down the line.

They said it had been intended as a family area and somewhere for the children to play.

John Michael wondered where else it could build if the council objected to this proposal.

"It does concern me that we are keen to promote low cost housing, yet we object to every idea put forward," he said.

Unsuitable

Another Festival Housing proposal, to allow younger people to rent flats at the Firs, was also opposed.

The flats, said to be unsuitable for elderly people because of steps and different floor levels, were originally used as warden's accommodation in a very sheltered development.

Mrs Clee said the housing association would make use of tenancy agreements to ensure that tenants had no children or pets.

Members agreed that a compromise was needed, but Micki Howes-Jones said Festival's compromise was too radical and the age gap would be too great.

It was agreed that it would be better to reduce the required age of prospective tenants to 55.