‘This shows a lack of research’

When the Kentish Express revealed in December that taxpayers are set to pick up the rent cost, ABC said a business rates exemption meant the ratepayers would not foot the bill for the first three months. Three months have now passed, but it is not clear when taxpayers will incur the cost as ABC says it is in discussions with the valuation office “as to when liability is likely to start”. The authority would not go into any further detail when asked by the Kentish Express this week.

Sue Body, who lives in Smeeth, says she is disappointed to see the units are still empty.

When the Kentish Express asked shoppers in the town for their views, she said: “I thought they’d get it together a lot quicker and that it would be a social place to meet up with friends.

“I think it’s a good idea to look at independent shops, as I don’t think we want the big brands in there. “I went to the cinema once and the lifts weren’t working, but overall it’s fine. “Saying that, you’ve got the advantage of going to the other cinema out of town with nice restaurants nearby, whereas there’s nothing here.”

Andy Hope, from Egerton, says the development is an “absolute ghost town”. He said: “It’s a shame that there are all those units without anything in them. “We’ll just have to wait to see what happens.

“It shows a lack of market research - they’ve not researched the viability of the project before going ahead with it.

“They haven’t done that, and it’s the same with the ring road.

“We just think the council is out of touch with reality. “It hasn’t looked into what it needs to be successful. “The development looks nice but there’s no one in it - it’s an absolute ghost town.

“I think they should go for shops instead of restaurants, we have enough of those in the town.

“They just forged ahead with it without taking people’s views into account.”

A new sign at the cinema