@Harry_Peet

Campaigners calling for improvements to their village have won a key debate on the future of their village which has been blighted by indecision.

The 1960s-style Village Centre in New Ash Green, which includes shops, offices, a primary school, library, health centre, community hall and youth club, has become run down after a 15-year stalemate involving its three landowners.

Units have become empty and other parts dilapidated, with some residents claiming the area is becoming overrun with vermin.

Now 1,000 signatures have been collected demanding action to revitalise the centre with much-needed maintenance, triggering a debate at Sevenoaks council.

The area, which comprises Upper Street South, Upper Street North and The Row, was once at the centre of regeneration plans, but a breakdown in the relationship between private landowners has left plans on the shelf.

Victoria Barnard, 29, started the petition after several failed attempts to sell her home following infestations by rats, mice and cockroaches.

She said: “I bought my flat in 2007 and ever since it has deteriorated and got worse and worse. We are trying to sell our property but no one can get a mortgage because of the state of the centre. People have looked into renting out their units, but because it is so derelict people would have to spend thousands of pounds.

“It’s disgusting and a health risk for the people who live here.

“In my flat we have had rats, mice and cockroaches.”

Ownership of the land is split between the Co-operative, Richmond Lodge and Gable Holt.

Residents claim the trio refuse to spend money to improve the area, instead focusing on blaming one another for its decline.

Mrs Barnard, who has tried and failed to contact the landowners on numerous occasions, said: “The landowners just blame each other and don’t want to spend money on the centre. And the council just keep washing their hands of it.”

In 2013, pest controllers were called to empty units near the Coop store, where they found buildings infested with rats, but no action has been taken since the inspection.

A Sevenoaks council spokesman said: “We share residents’ concerns about the condition of the Village Centre and we have been in regular and recent dialogue with the three private landowners to lobby them to regenerate the area.

“Running in parallel, we are using all available powers to ensure the landowners continue to maintain their centre. We have investigated breaches of planning control and served notices requiring the owners to improve and clean up the centre, which they duly did.

“We have helped the New Ash Green Town Team to secure £10,000 in Portas Pilot funding to make better use of the empty shops and led on a Christmas event with a free ice rink to encourage more shoppers to the village.”

The New Ash Green Village Association, a non-profit company set up to maintain land within the village, says it has battled landowners for more than 15 years to make improvements.

The group’s chairman, Alan Pett, accused the trio of playing a waiting game to allow them to eventually build homes on the land rather than invest in the village.

Mr Pett said: “The companies are doing just enough to get ahead of the game. It’s like having a fight with a pillow as nothing ever happens.”

A spokesman for the Co-operative Group said: “We are fully aware of the situation at New Ash Green and, indeed, one of our estates team visited the centre earlier this week.

"As a landlord we are fully aware of our responsibilities and that is why we are trying to open up communication with the others who must also play their part if the overall condition of the centre is to improve.”

Attempts were made to contact Richmond Lodge and Gable Holt but there has been no response.