Villagers fear there could be “carnage on the roads” if plans for a holiday park and horse stables are approved.

Plans have been submitted to repurpose the site of a former garden centre in Rochester Road, to the north east of Aylesford village.

The plans include seven mobile homes with space for four camper vans, as well as stables and a stable yard area.

According to the proposals, the holiday park will be suitable for families and for dog owners, providing affordable self-catering facilities.

The existing house that is currently tied to the plant nursery will remain associated with the business use of the site, and site security and management will be provided for visitors and the horses.

The applicant says it is seeking a change of of use because it cannot compete with large supermarkets and destination garden centres in the area.

These alternative places provide plants at very low prices which the nursery cannot achieve and at a destination venue where visitors spend more time, it is argued.

But Aylesford Parish Council says this is not accurate because “it has been several years since plants were sold from the site”.

Outlining its opposition to the scheme at a committee meeting held last Tuesday (June 20), the parish council said there is “absolutely no need” for the holiday park.

To view the plans click here and search for the application reference under 23/01072/FL.

Objections to the application also include suggestions the road is unsuitable for extra traffic.

One resident told planners: “There are caravans already on this site and with more horses this will be carnage on the roads.”

“This has not been a plant nursery for years.”

Meanwhile, others fear allowing the building of a residential property within the open countryside might set a precedent for more homes ”outside the confines of the village” where there are no similar properties.

It comes after plans were recently approved for more than 500 homes on an old quarry site between Bull Lane and Rochester Road, just north of Aylesford village.

“The site can be clearly seen from the surrounding countryside impacting on the strageic gap and village setting,” one resident said.

“If this further development in an aready overdeveloped area is allowed it would make a mockery of other persons abiding by the rules, policies and laws set in place.”

But the applicants believe the park would ease the shortfall of tourist accommodation locally and say the proposed facilities would be suitable to the rural area.

There are a number of footpaths nearby for rambles, as well as various visitor attractions nearby, such as The Friars Monastery in Aylesford and the Kits Coty Countless Stones.

The plans are expected to be discussed in late July after the consultation period is over.