Angry shopkeepers claim demolishing a run-down hall which has stood for 50 years will hurt their trade.

The Bockhanger Community Centre in Kennington is to be replaced with either turf or hardstanding until a decision about its redevelopment is made.

It will cost Ashford Borough Council (ABC) £150,000 to demolish the site, which is home to Bockhanger library and is said to be in a state of disrepair.

Sunny Dhanda, who runs the post office and convenience store in the parade of shops next to the centre, says the demolition will have a negative impact on his business.

"We need the centre open for the community," he said.

"Since it has been closed, trade has gone down for the businesses in the area because people that used the centre would come into the shops.

"Why was the centre allowed to become unsafe? I've been here for 17 years and never seen any maintenance done on the centre or anything done to update the square."

"The area needs a revamp and it needs it as soon as possible - we need a new centre rather than an empty space."

Kentish Express contributor and historian Steve Salter says the closure is "extremely disappointing".

"I disagree with the demolition of the centre as every community needs one for people to use and enjoy," he said.

"If you look at other areas that have a centre, they are utilised.

"No building is beyond economical repair - to demolish it is extremely disappointing and a let down for the area."

Disappointed neighbours have now started a petition to preventing the centre from being demolished.

Resident Jenny Blunt, 68, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years complained about a lack of consultation.

She said: "We are going to be left with no community - I've been to many events in the hall and it's home to the library which is a very valued asset.

"There hasd efinitely been a lack of consultation with residents.

"We don't know what is going to happen after they demolish the hall but we want them to replace it with a smaller hall that can be used by everybody."

The demolition decision was finalised at an ABC cabinet meeting earlier this month.

Cllr Graham Galpin, portfolio holder for corporate property, said: “Demolition of the facility is the sensible option given the considerable expense of rebuilding the hall, the closeness of other community facilities in the vicinity and the limited use the hall has been put to in recent years.

“The council will also oversee the cleaning and minor upgrading of the shop exteriors in Bockhanger square.

“The demolition won’t take place before November as we are working with the library to help them relocate.

“We have had some public consultations, including sessions in the hall recently, but we received very little feedback.”