Controversial plans for a row of retail kiosks on a busy Canterbury street have been refused amid fears they would become "sitting ducks" for arson attacks.

Concerns over vandalism were among a string of criticisms aimed at the council's vision to install eight timber-clad huts on Station Road West, on the approach to Canterbury West.

The proposals - drawn up by the city council in the hope they would create an "engaging streetscene" - were thrown out by the authority's own planning committee on Tuesday evening.

Police had issued a damning verdict on the scheme - suggesting the huts would spark a rise in pickpocketing, nuisance climbing and graffiti.

But despite the force's strong objections and an accusation from a resident that it was "one of the worst-ever planning applications", council officers recommended the project be green-lit.

Had they been approved, the pavement leading up to the train station would have been narrowed to cater for the kiosks.

Speaking at the decision meeting, Cllr Ashley Clark (Con) said the scheme would "clutter" Station Road West - a street used by an average of 8,000 train commuters twice a day.

"It's not exactly Paris I know, but Paris prides itself on having wide, tree-lined boulevards," he said.

"They don't go round cluttering things up with this sort of thing.

"This isn't the Champs-Élysées, but please let's not have another cluttered assault course for guide dogs like we currently have on the main street in Canterbury.

"We must take this seriously. When it comes to matter of crime I'd rather listen to the police than our planners."

Cllr Clark also queried where the traders would go to use the toilet, suggesting they would end up having to keep a makeshift pot under the counter.

Fears over the kiosks, which would back onto the multi-storey car park, becoming a "sitting duck for vandalism and even arson" were raised by Cllr Michael Dixey (Lib Dem).

"There was a single representation supporting this scheme, and judging by the number of people who have contacted me about it, there is huge opposition," he said.

Speaking in favour of project, the authority's head of transport and environment, Richard Moore, told the committee the huts would be "robust and secure".

He also stressed that a number of enquiries had been received from business owners interested in setting up shop in the kiosks.

"We want the first and last impressions of people leaving from the high-speed rail station to be one of a thriving and vibrant city," he said.

Despite the planning team's efforts to ge the scheme rubber-stamped, 11 councillors voted to reject the plan, while two abstained.

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