Plans to transform one of the last-remaining businesses in a village high street will make the area irreversibly "poorer”, residents fear.

Developer David Challinor has lodged plans with Canterbury City Council to turn plush restaurant Kathton House's former Sturry base into two properties.

He believes the scheme will "bring life back to an at-present redundant building" - but 11 locals disagree and are urging the authority to snub the project.

Campaigner David Wadmore says the proposals will set back the Canterbury village - leaving its high street with a post office-cum-chemist, Chinese takeaway, vape shop and two dentists.

"Losing yet another commercial property can only be disadvantageous to the community," he explained.

"By permanently losing the shop we will also create more pressure on the limited parking available.

"The village needs all the facilities it can get. Granting the change of use will be irreversible, and the village will be poorer for it."

Kathton House closed its Sturry High Street premises after 12 years in March, as it moved to The Tyler's Kiln in Canterbury.

Employees say the lack of passing trade in the area was one of the reasons behind the relocation.

Cllr Louise Harvey-Quirke refused to comment on the application directly due to her role on the planning committee.

But she says there were "businesses throughout the high street" when she first moved to Sturry in the 1990s.

"It really was the centre of the village, and it was well used," the Conservative said.

"Then as time has gone on, a lot of those properties have become residential.

"I know that my constituents are crying out for some kind of coffee shop in the village, somewhere warm where they could socialise.

"We are seeing fewer and fewer places for people to meet and be together."

Fellow Sturry councillor Georgina Glover also thinks it will be "very sad" if the old Kathton House site is turned into homes.

Turkish restaurant chain Aspendos is set to move into the former Middle of the Road tavern on the A28 nearby.

Despite this, resident Peta Butcher argues the area has been left with "very few amenities, having lost three pubs and a butcher's shop".

“The centre of the village boasts two dentists, a defunct pub, a vape shop, hairdressers, and a chemist," she added.

"There is no pub or restaurant or café - so if this restaurant is to be turned into flats it will mean there is no central community hub.”

Paul Gray, of Vape Minds a few doors down from the former eatery, says many of his customers wish the village "had more businesses".

He believes a new venture "would be viable" at the old Kathton House site.

"The change of use will provide two valuable dwellings in the housing market and bring life back to an at-present redundant building..."

"When we opened some local people wanted us to be a fish and chip shop, but we bring our customers into the area," he said.

"There are benefits to having your business outside the city walls, with cheaper parking for customers and cheaper rents for bigger shop floors."

In papers submitted to the city council, Mr Challinor argues his plans will "maximise" the building.

He also says the two homes created will be "valuable dwellings" benefitting the village.

"The proposal seeks to maximise the use of this property which is empty," the document states.

"The change of use will provide two valuable dwellings in the housing market and bring life back to an at-present redundant building to the benefit of this village.

"Future occupiers will support local facilities and increase the available workforce needed to help the local economy recover."