Villagers oppose pub homes development

Plan for houses in car park backed by city council

Plans to build new houses in the car park of a pub have been met with fierce opposition.

A planning application has been submitted for two semi-detached houses at the back of The Anchor Inn in High Street, Littlebourne, which has been recommended for approval by city council planners.

The Grade Ii-listed watering hole is currently boarded up, and the owners are yet to reveal what is happening at the site.

But the plan for houses in the car park, submitted by Stuart Pettet, has proved controversial, with residents raising a number of concerns about road safety and the impact on the heritage of the site, which is in a conservation area.

Others have pointed out the loss of parking to the pub would mean drivers parking in the already limited spaces in roads nearby.

A total of 44 objections were received during the consultation period.

Resident Valerie Eames said she could vouch for the traffic and parking problems, having lived in Bekesbourne Lane for 20 years.

“There is already a planning consent for a largish development behind Littlebourne Road, which will generate a large amount of extra traffic into the village on what is quite a dangerous road,” she said.

“For the safety and well-being of the existing residents of Littlebourne, this application should be rejected.”

Jonathan Berry, of letting agentcy Berrys Canterbury, which acts as an estate manager for property near the car park, said there were acute parking problems for residents in the area.

“Bekesbourne Lane is well recognised as an extremely busy link road connecting the A257 to the A2, and the existing on-road parking seriously restricts traffic flow and increases congestion,” he said.

“Therefore the situation should not be allowed to be exacerbated by more vehicles having to park off-site.”

A similar application submitted for the site last year was withdrawn.

Members of Canterbury City Council’s planning committee have been recommended to grant the application subject to safeguarding conditions.

They will discuss the plans at a meeting at The Guildhall on Tuesday at 6.30pm.

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE

Picture: Chris Davey The Anchor Inn in Littlebourne