An American diner is to fill an empty shop on a busy A-road – despite fears the 24-seater restaurant will spark "parking chaos".

The former Essentials gift shop in Faversham Road, Kennington, will be converted after controversial plans were approved by Ashford Borough Council.

But neighbours say the area is already blighted by inconsiderate drivers visiting the Green Asian and Kennington Tandoori, which both operate from the same parade of shops.

They fear the situation will only get worse when the diner, which will also offer a takeaway service, opens its doors.

Parking will be available at the rear of the site, but bosses behind the plan say they hope most of the customers will live locally and will be able to walk to the restaurant.

The site will open from 8am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 3pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

In a statement submitted on behalf of applicant Mr M Miah by planning agent Chris McMullon, it said "premium burger and chips" using "locally sourced meat and vegetables" will be sold.

But frustrated resident Yingnan Wang – who lives directly opposite the unit – has shared her concerns over the plan.

She said: "This particular part of Faversham Road has already got a Chinese takeaway and an Indian restaurant so the parking has always been an issue, specially in the late afternoon when cars park in the bus lane while people collect food or pick up dinners.

"If this place is turned into the third restaurant, the parking will be chaos for the nearby community."

Ms Wang also has worries over the smells emanating from the site's kitchen.

"We are already suffering from the air pollution as the cooking smell from the Indian restaurant is very strong," she added.

"It runs into our rooms when we have the windows open and also in the back garden.

"Having another restaurant right in front of our property will just make it even worse.

"After all, considering this area is residential rather than a foodhall at the Ashford Designer Outlet, changing this place into a restaurant is not beneficial to the community."

In the planning application, which was approved by ABC this week, Mr McMullon says the scheme will make use of a redundant shop which has sat abandoned for months, creating up to 15 jobs.

"Our client is proposing to open the diner for breakfast at 8am and then serve meals throughout the day before closing at 11pm," he said.

"The area immediately to the front of the diner will be enhanced and improved to provide disabled access into the diner with the new toilet facilities being disabled friendly.

"It will not be detrimental to the amenity of neighbouring properties."

"Do we really need another eatery in this area?"

But Gerard Ferris, who lives nearby in Park Road, said it is "too large a concern for a residential area".

He added: "It will result in Park Road becoming impassable and the verges and bus stop being illegally used for parking."

Ray and Ursula Jones, of Faversham Road, agreed, sharing similar concerns over the plan.

They said: "This is a mainly residential area but in recent times we have within a short distance an Indian and Chinese restaurant and takeaway a fish and chip shop and a tea room.

"Do we really need another eatery in this area?

"No, we don't and recent government thoughts on unhealthy eating supports our view."

The new American diner is not connected to the RJ's Diner in Bank Street, which opened in February last year.

RJ's owner MDM 'Royal' Karim moved to the town centre after he was forced to close his authentic mobile diner from the 1940s in Kennington.

It had sat next to the Longacres Bybrook Barn garden centre for 20 years, but was delivered to its new owner in Wiltshire last year after Mr Karim was evicted from the site.

Before the new Kennington diner opens, ABC says details of the parking layout will have to be submitted and approved.

Despite residents' fears, ABC planning officer Katy Magnall said: "The proposed development will bring a vacant unit within a parade of shops back into productive use as a restaurant/hot food takeaway.

"A number of residents have raised concerns about the proposal in terms of the lack of parking and potential nuisance.

"However, KCC highways and transportation are satisfied with the plans and environmental protection have requested conditions to secure the provision and maintenance of the extraction system and guard against noise and vibration."

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