Fencing to secure Milton Rec
Published
Thursday 14 August, 2025
Updated
Thursday 14 August, 2025
More than 450 metres of fencing will be installed at Milton Rec to help prevent illegal encampments.
Swale Borough Council is acting after three separate incidents at the popular local park over the summer.
The council will be using funding set aside for open space improvements to pay for the installation of knee rail fencing around the park to prevent vehicles being able to drive onto the grassed area.
Cllr Dolley Wooster, chair of Swale Borough Council’s Environmental Services and Climate Change Committee, said:
“So far this year Milton Rec has seen three illegal encampments, and residents have expressed their concerns on how it impacts their use of the recreation ground.
“Each incident also costs local council taxpayers thousands of pounds to remove, along with the costs of cleaning the site, waste removal and carrying out repairs.
“We need to follow a number of legal steps – welfare checks, legal notices and, when necessary, court applications - which takes up valuable resources.
“We want to prevent further incidents and have been trying to find ways to retain the original use of the park.
“After looking at different options we have decided to install knee rail fencing to stop vehicles getting onto the park, without losing the formal but open feel of the area.
The wooden fencing will be around 50cm high and will span the perimeter of the park, blocking off unprotected areas.
