Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis has accused MP Edward Davey of "scaremongering" after proposals to pave over part of Fairfield recreation ground were included in a town centre redevelopment document.

The Kingston and Surbiton MP raised concerns over the plans, set out in the Eden Quarter Consultation document, that suggest an "area of hard landscaping" on the green space.

He said: "It is the permanent paving over of part of the Fairfield, that precious green space, and that is wrong. I was gobsmacked when I saw it [the plan].

"Why would you want to pave over the Fairfield? People will be shocked - that’s an area where we have festivals like the May Merrie.

"This is an attack not just on our precious green spaces but on a traditional iconic part of our town."

But Conservative leader Councillor Davis insisted the Fairfield "will always be green".

And he took a swipe at the Liberal Democrat MP, by accusing him of scare tactics ahead of next year's General Election.

Coun Davis, who stood unsuccessfuly against Mr Davey in 2005, tweeted: "Must be election coming as Ed Davey starts scaremongering campaigns on Fairfield and recycling. Lib Dems tell lies, people will not forget."

The tweet is in reference to Mr Davey's Save Kingston Hospital campaign of 2010, when the Lib Dems claimed the then-Labour Government had secret plans to close A&E and maternity services after that year's General Election.

Lib Dem activist Dan Falchikov was later overheard on a train claiming to have "planted" the story to win votes by Daily Mirror political editor Kevin McGuire.

Councillor Kevin Davis told the Comet: "There will always be the Fairfield - it will always be green.

"It is not going to go. There is no interest to cover up the Fairfield -that will never happen.

"There is a proposal to tidy up the corner of it. It is a very small area. It is a proposal but nothing is decided."

The proposal itself states: "The park should have a new entrance in the north-west corner with an area of hard landscaping that runs across to the front of the library gates.

"This area can be used for markets and other events."

It adds the Monday market currently running out of Cattle Market could move to the area outside Kingston Library on the Fairfield.

Marilyn Mason, co-chair of the Kingston Environment Forum said: "We would be very sorry to lose any green space." 

A Liberal Democrat petition against the paving over of part of the Fairfield to make way for a market, has gathered more than 100 signatures.

Mr Davey added he was not against the building of new homes in Kingston and that much of the proposal focused on developing the area had "good bits".

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