Kentish Express Ashford & District
No homes planned for diner land
A garden centre has sought to allay fears houses will be built on a site previously occupied by an American Diner.
Residents raised concerns that the patch of land next to Longacres Garden Centre would become a residential development after the authentic 1940s restaurant moved to Wiltshire last month.
But bosses at the Kennington garden centre say they have no plans for homes - and instead want to relandscape the area. Company spokesman Mike Ainley said: “The Johnsons Garden Buildings business will expand onto it.
“Looking forward, we have lots of different plans and we don’t know quite what to do with it at the moment.
“I can tell you that there are no plans to put housing on it. “We’ve got other sites with land attached and we haven’t put houses on any of it.
“We’ll look to grow the business with it if anything.”
The American Diner which was camped by Bybrook Barn for more than 20 years will be returned to its former glory at its new home in Wiltshire.
The mobile restaurant left its long-term home on February 19 after being purchased by restorer Mark Wilkins, who now plans to refurbish it in an attempt to prolong its lifespan.
Mr Wilkins said: “I knew of the diner’s existence as I have been passionate about these buildings for many years.
“I last visited this particular diner about 10 years ago. “I became aware that it was for sale, and potentially at risk of being demolished if it could not be moved, via a contact in the USA who was contacted by the garden centre looking for any interested parties.
“The plan for now is to move it to a location in Wiltshire for restoration as it’s more than 70 years old and there’s work that needs doing.
“Once restored it will be moved to a final location and continue trading as a diner.
“I am very excited to own such an iconic piece of roadside architecture and pleased that we saved it from potential demolition.”