A WOMAN may have to sell the farm she is trying to save because she is £97,000 short of the price of a neighbouring piece of land.

Beverley Smit, 52, of Cranbourne Farm, Copt Hall Road, Cobham, bought the land in order to stop travellers buying and moving onto it.

The seven-acre piece of land was for sale at auction for an over-inflated £147,000 and Mrs Smit bought it on behalf of villagers in Cobham and Sole Street.

Fresh from the shock a group of travellers had purchased the green belt land they moved onto last month in Whitepost Lane, Sole Street, villagers agreed they would join forces to buy the land.

But the main backer who pledged £50,000 has backed out and Mrs Smit fears she and her husband might have to sell up if she does not recoup all the pledges and the shortfall by the November 28 deadline.

She said: "I felt sick when the main backer pulled out and thought what an idiot I've been, but I'm so trusting. I just hope people help to pay for this piece of land which I bought on everyone's behalf.

"If we can't get the money we'll have to keep the loan going and sell the farm. It is ironic because this was to save a bit of it and I might lose it all," she added tearfully.

The independent financial adviser, who has lived on the 44-acre livery for five years, spent last week phoning the 30 villagers who made pledges totalling more than £30,000.

One woman has paid £30,000 for a fifth of the land and the total amount raised will determine how much of remaining land will stay in the village's hands to be covenanted and protected from being developed.

Gravesham MP Chris Pond said: "I am looking urgently at this matter and will do everything I can to help.

"People should not have to go to these lengths to protect their quality of life it is unacceptable."

The news comes as the travellers have been hit with the threat of an enforcement notice, after they installed septic tanks, which is against the conditions of the site.

An emergency meeting was to be held in Cobham last Monday to discuss raising the money.

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