Villagers “can’t wait” to welcome back a barbershop after its abrupt exit.

Aman Tuku will be returning to Teynham after a year away.

He ran Teynham Cutz with his brother Samuel Ketema for almost seven years at 65-67 London Road opposite Crispins Fish Bar.

They had to move out last April after a new landlord took over the premises and told him he “wanted four weeks to renovate the building and improve the facilities”.

However, the building was converted into flats leaving customers frustrated over the loss of the only barber’s in the village.

But Aman, who also owns TMC Barbers in Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne, says this is now in the past and he “can’t wait to get back home”.

“We have been looking to get back to Teynham since we moved out and are looking forward to welcoming back our customers,” he told KentOnline.

“It has given me some sleepless nights because we want to get back to the village as it has been so supportive of us.

“Customers have been travelling from Teynham to come get their hair cut in our Sittingbourne shop.

“I would like to thank them all for their loyalty and support and for sticking with us for such a long time.”

The 32-year-old’s new shop will be at 133 London Road, on the A2, next to Teynham Library.

It used to be a shop called Flooring Gallery run by Comprehensive Coverings but it closed last month.

The company, run by Jason Howe, is still operating but is now solely online.

Aman says the site is larger than his old one and he will use the extra space to install sun beds.

One customer who is looking forward to the return of Aman and Samuel is Darren Overy who lives in Teynham.

He has been travelling to Sittingbourne to get his haircut and says people in the village “want the barber’s back”.

The 40-year-old added: “I keep coming back here because they are the best barbers around.

“It’s a friendly atmosphere here and they always get my haircut right.

“The whole village was outraged about the situation that saw them leave and wanted them to come back.

“I can’t wait.”

Teynham Cutz's former home has now been transformed into flats.

Work began last summer and an application for retrospective planning permission was lodged in February.

Retrospective planning permission is the granting of approval after works have started or been completed.

If an applicant is denied permission they may be told to reverse the changes that have been made.

Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.

The applicant, Jamie Tatler from The Accommodation Team South East Ltd, told KentOnline at the time: “We removed the barbershop because it had no amenity space fit for purpose.”

He added: “The barbers were not removed and replaced with a studio flat, it simply increased the size of the flat already there and the planning application submitted is for a change of use to remove the commercial element within the building and changes to the frontage of the building.

“I have had to reduce the number of units within the property due to the fact it was not safe or fit for purpose and whilst there will be plenty of people that will argue it has been there for years and there’s not been a problem I would rather be defending this decision than one where a fire had broke out and people’s lives were in danger or worse.”

But Cllr Julien Speed (Cons), who represents Teynham and Lynsted at Swale council, says planning officers are now looking at the case and believe it is important planning rules are upheld.

He said: “It’s good news the barbers are coming back to Teynham as they were immensely popular and people were really unhappy when they were effectively booted out.

“There is still uproar in the village about how the shopfront which has been there for at least 100 years and is part of the conservation area was ripped out.

“It is out of keeping with the character of the rest of the area and planning officers are looking at this with the owner.

“It is important that planning regulations are not ignored or people will begin to disregard the planning laws completely.”