Residents fear multi-million-pound plans to turn a bus station into a public square will create an “antisocial behaviour hotspot”.

The site in Bouverie Square, Folkestone, is being transformed into a green space using cash from the government’s Levelling Up fund.

Council bosses say it will make the area safer for pedestrians and new CCTV will help deter yobs.

But this week passengers at the bus station raised concerns about the amount of money being spent and the negative effects it could have on the area.

Maureen Else, who uses the station about three times a week, is worried the new park will be a hub for antisocial behaviour and that buses in the town will become more unreliable.

“Trying to get a bus from Folkestone at the moment is already dreadful. I can only imagine how much worse this will be once they get rid of the station,” the Greatstone resident said.

“I think this money should be spent on more important things. The town centre is dying and these funds should be used to sort out the many empty buildings in the high street.

“When this park is built it's just going to be a free-for-all here. There will be endless amounts of antisocial behaviour.”

Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) successfully bid for almost £20 million for the project, which would also see road networks reconfigured.

The authority plans to make drastic changes to the route from Folkestone Central railway station and revamp the road layout of nearby Middelburg Square to accommodate new bus stops.

The proposals would transform the bus station into a green space with a play park, cycle paths and seating areas.

But Joseph Maynard, who also uses the station regularly, believes the area will be “dangerous” at nighttime once built.

He added: “My first thought when I saw the plans was the amount of kids that would be riding e-scooters and bikes in the park.

“I think very little thought has been put into the impact on the elderly people in the area.

“The park is going to be a dangerous place, especially at night.”

Others writing on social media expressed concerns that the new public square would resemble Pencester Gardens in Dover.

Folkestone bus station has been in operation since 1955.

Since then, it has been a hub for people travelling in and out of the town.

But not everyone thinks the demolition of the station is a bad idea.

James Galaszia, 50, says it will be “great for the town”.

“There are not many places for kids to congregate in Folkestone,” he said.

“You are going to get antisocial behaviour no matter what is here.

“The station is already a victim of it as it is.”

Carol Buckle, who has lived in New Romney for the past year, thinks the bus station is “incredibly run-down”.

She went on: “I actually think the green space will look really nice compared to what the bus station is like at the moment.

“I don’t go out at night, but I have grandchildren who might end up going there. I would be worried about them.”

FHDC has responded to some of the concerns raised and says it will be working with police to “minimise” antisocial behaviour.

A council spokesperson said: "The new designs will revamp the tired bus station area and create a green public space that residents can be proud of.

“Kent Police, the Design Out Crime team and other stakeholders have been consulted to ensure the risk of antisocial behaviour is minimised.

“CCTV and lighting will be used where appropriate and effective design will mean natural passive surveillance is maximised in the space. Our plan is to create a space which is used frequently which people want to spend time in.”

The project, called ‘Folkestone – A Brighter Future’, is aimed at updating the town’s road network, which was originally designed for when ferries sailed to and from the harbour.

The council spokesperson added: “The current set-up for buses is not fit for purpose because it was not designed for the bigger buses we have today.

“The new linear design for the bus stops is safer for pedestrians, more accessible and the additional planting and new set up should also lead to improved air quality.”

A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: "We welcome the levelling-up investment for redeveloping Folkestone town centre and we have been working closely with the council to ensure that the needs of bus passengers are taken into account at every stage of the design, build and operation process."