Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Co-op and houses ‘will destroy village character’
Fears over impact of controversial mixed development
A long-running bid to open a new Co-op outside Canterbury is set to face another blow when proposals are decided on by councillors tonight (Thursday). Planning officers have again recommended a new mini supermarket in Chartham be refused after 450 villagers signed a petition calling for the development to be snubbed.
The applicant - Kent Sectional Buildings Ltd - was previously sent back to the drawing board after its original scheme next to the train station was rejected in 2018.
It has since revised and resubmitted plans to demolish the existing “eyesore” Tobin Motors garage and build a Co-op store in its stead.
The developer is hoping to fund the construction of the new supermarket and its 27-space car park by building five detached houses on undeveloped land 150 metres away in Church Meadow.
But residents have expressed fears over increased traffic at the level crossing and the commercial effect on the existing retail units.
Alan Mannings, who runs Shop on the Green, argues Chartham is in no need of regeneration.
“This will create a lot more traffic through the narrow roads of this village and also cause queuing on the A28, which is a fast-flowing road,” he said. “The building will also destroy the character of the village.” Mr Mannings previously warned: “No matter how loyal your customers are it doesn’t mean a thing when the big names arrive.
“I’ll always fight for my business but if the Co-op does open then it’ll have a detrimental effect.”
However, the applicants say the Co-op would “bring great benefit to the community”. “[The store] would be one of the village hubs and is particularly well situated next to the recreation ground and train station,” they said.
If it were to be given the go-ahead, the new Co-op would be open from 7am until 10pm. Highways chiefs say the store would not cause unacceptable increases in traffic and state it would lower the number of trips villagers need to make into the
‘This will create a lot more traffic through the narrow roads of this village’
city for their food shopping. Recommending the application be refused, council planning officer Olly Ansell criticises the unacceptable “urbanising effect on the countryside” as a result of the scheme. While not being fully concerned over the creation of a new Co-op, he details objections over the proposed five houses. His report states: “The proposed dwellings, by reason of their location, would consolidate and intensify residential development beyond the natural settlement boundary, thereby eroding the open and rural character of the village and its surroundings.”