THREE residents are standing up to the might of a £300m redevelopment project.

They believe a charitable agreement made more than 100 years ago could be enough to disable the plans.

The residents have applied for an injunction against Dartford Council to stop it using land in Central Park in the regeneration of Lowfield Street.

The redevelopment includes plans to build a 120,000sq ft Tesco store, more than 900 new homes and other commercial outlets.

Objectors say the developments will encroach on a 9,700sq ft patch of land given to the people of Dartford for use as a public recreation ground.

The contested plot is part of Kidd Legacy land donated to the Dartford Urban District Council by its then chairman Lieutenant Colonel Charles Newman Kidd in 1903.

It was bestowed on the condition it was, in Lt Col Kidd's words, used "in perpetuity as a public recreation ground and for no other purpose whatsoever".

The agreement made the Urban District Council of Dartford legally liable for the land, which relates to the public access road from Lowfield Street to the park and some land nearby, as its charity trustee, a responsibility which was passed to Dartford Council.

However, Dartford Council sold the piece of Kidd Legacy land to property purchasing firm St James Investments for £275,000 in June 2004.

Darren and Alison Riley, both 33, of Willow Road, Dartford, and 68-year-old pensioner Jo Shippam, of Marcet Road, want to prevent the land being used in the new development.

They also want the council to buy back the land and ensure it is used in the manner Lt Col Kidd stipulated.

Mr Riley said: "We want to kick Dartford where it hurts. We are doing this for families to enjoy time with their kids."

Mrs Riley said: "They shouldn't have sold the land without a public consultation. Tesco is not leisure."

The trio applied for an injunction requesting that all movement to the development is halted until an inquiry and they will be attending a pre-trial hearing at Dartford County Court on March 6.

A council spokesman said: "The application by Darren Riley shows a distinct lack of knowledge over the Kidd Legacy history and we have now received the notice from the court."