Kentish Express Ashford & District
Rugby club’s plan for extra parking
Bosses want to create overspill site in lane
Plans for expanded car parking at Ashford Rugby Club could help ease issues on neighbouring streets.
Bosses have applied for planning permission to turn a section of unused land at its ground at Kinney’s Lane in Kennington into an overspill car park.
The club, which has about 500 members, regularly experiences issues with capacity for parking, especially on Sunday mornings when its junior sides are also playing.
This in turn causes inconvenience for people living nearby, with one neighbour describing the situation as “ridiculous” in a comment on the plans.
The club says that if the proposals are given the green light then there will be greater scope to stage events and tournaments which will help support its financial viability for the future.
New parking will be created on a section of wasteland south of Kinney’s Lane, which has become overgrown and has attracted fly-tippers.
The planning application, submitted by agents Hobbs Parker, says: “This would be an extension to an existing car park.
“The site has been overgrown and unused for decades and during that time has regularly been
used for fly-tipping by the local community, including building rubble.
“With planning permission, the club intends to clear up the area to stop this practice while providing additional car parking space to alleviate the current situation.”
Ashford Rugby Club was founded in 1885 and has been based at its current ground at Kinney’s Field, off Canterbury Road, since 1980.
On our Kentish Express Facebook page, readers had mixed views on the plan.
Helen Stevens wrote: “Good use of the land it would make a big difference.”
But James Law said: “I don’t know why they can’t extend the existing car park to the left. Seems that space is wasted and its a better layout.”
Nic Stuart said: “The area was levelled and trees/shrubs cut down a while ago. On Sunday it was used for parking by the rugby club as they had a big event on.”