We don’t want flats crammed on tiny patch of land between our houses… young people will roam the street causing ‘mayhem’
FUMING residents have fought back against plans for flats crammed on a tiny patch of land between their houses.
Homeowners in Cornwall Close in Maidstone, Kent, claim that the proposal would cause "mayhem" in their peaceful village.
Developers submitted plans to construct five apartments in a cramped 20 metre by 26 metre gap between two terraced properties.
According to planning documents, the one and two-bedroom flats proposed would be finished in grey brick and zinc cladding, with a wildflower garden on the roof.
However, the application has since been rejected after disgruntled locals fought back against the potential housing.
Residents slammed artist impressions of the proposed flats an “eyesore” - claiming they’re not in keeping with the 1930s properties currently on the estate.
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Kevin Hill, 63, who has lived on Cornwall Close for two decades, said: “It’s going to be an eyesore.
“When I stand in my back garden at the moment, all I can see is trees - but we’re going to have a modern-looking, office-block style building that stands out and isn’t in keeping with the other houses.”
The childminder also raised concerns about increased noise pollution and disruption from construction work.
He added: “My biggest worry is the disruption from the building work.
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“The access to that plot of land is tiny, so the noise of getting machinery in and out is going to be horrendous.
“It’s more of an alleyway than a road, and they’ll be sending big trucks down there.
“You go into the back garden now and it’s peaceful, it’s quiet.
“But if you add a load of younger people into flats with no gardens there’s going to be noise, they’ll be roaming around.”
The proposal submitted by Sunday Afolabi of LWP Properties included plans for bicycle storage, but no car park.
Kevin said the area is already suffering due to a lack of amenities, which he believes will only get worse if more homes are built.
He added: “Where are all the workers going to park?
“If they’re parking up and down our road, that’s going to be a major issue.
“There just isn’t the amenities for it. We’re already on a hosepipe ban because there’s not enough to go around and that’s only going to get worse.
“And the council don’t maintain the area as it is. It’s going to be a nightmare.”
But the 63-year-old isn’t hopeful that Maidstone Borough Council will listen to residents’ concerns.
He added: “It’s all about money. We could jump up and down with banners or run up and down the street screaming, but it wouldn’t make a scrap of difference.
“If they’re going to make a good buck, they’ll do it.”
Retired insurance worker Hilary Winter, 88, owns the house next to the access route.
The great-grandmother-of-two, who has lived in her property for 40 years, is concerned about construction vehicles damaging her home.
She said: “I’m not happy about it. The only access to that plot is via a very narrow strip of land that runs alongside my house.
“I’m worried about all the construction traffic coming past, because once before an oil tanker drove up there and completely destroyed my fence.
“I’ve no idea how the dustbin lorries or fire engines will fit through if they need to get up there either. It’s going to be awfully noisy.”
Brian Spain inherited a house in Cheshire Road from his late mum and is currently trying to sell the property.
But the window cleaner is concerned the plans are putting off potential buyers.
He said: “My mum left me the house when she died and it’s currently on the market, but I think these plans are going to make it more difficult to sell.
“It could put off potential buyers because the new flats are going to take the privacy away from the houses along here.
“I reckon they’ll want to buy some of the gardens too."
Brian said he is also worried that the parking situation will get worse with more residents in the area.
He added: “I think it’s going to be absolute mayhem. It’s already quite bad along here.”
'NIGHTMARE'
Hayley Frankham, 49, is so worried that the proposed apartments will overlook her house on Cheshire Road that she’s considering moving.
The mum-of-seven said: “I’m not happy about it at all. I’m worried about the new flats overlooking our home and garden.
“If they get planning permission, I think I’ll have to move. We’ll have no privacy.
“But it’s all about money. It’s a shame that’s all anyone thinks about nowadays. They don’t care what we think.”
Mum-of-one Laura Barton, 39, raised concerns over the lack of parking provisions laid out in the proposal.
The veterinary practice manager, who has lived on Cornwall Close with her partner and daughter for eight years, said: “It’s already a nightmare to park around here because most of the houses don’t have drives.
“If there’s no car park for the residents of these flats, they’ll all end up parking along our road.”
While Jennifer Brown, 80, who lives with her daughter on Cornwall Close, is worried that more houses will bring an increase in anti-social behaviour.
She said: “I’m a bit worried about the new build being so close to our house because flats always seem to bring trouble.
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“They always seem to be noisy, you get people banging on the walls and playing loud music, and they attract antisocial behaviour.
“I’ve already had someone pinch one of my plant pots from the front garden.”