‘Not our hidden gem’ shout locals as garden center faces residential CLOSURE

ADDICTED locals shouted “not our hidden gem” as their beloved garden center was threatened to make way for MORE homes.

The proposal to demolish the Dillywood Garden Center in Medway, Kent, has sparked a backlash as residents reject new plans for 12 four-bed houses.

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Fans have been singing the praises of the independent, ‘great value’ garden center for years, while raving about its ‘excellent’ tea and cakes.

The social center is now at risk as Medway Council considers an application from Planning Insight, on behalf of Provectus Developments.

The controversial developer wants to demolish the nursery in a bid to bring more housing to the area, as reported by KentOnline.

Their application statute stated: “The continued use of the site as a garden center is no longer feasible.

“The integrated development proposal makes efficient and effective use of the existing underutilized garden centre.

“The new homes would not result in significant damage to or loss of public or private land that contributes positively to the local character of the area.”

TRAFFIC HELL

But residents fear that even more housing will stretch the area’s already narrow roads to their limits and create travel chaos.

Elizabeth Turpin, Strood Rural ward councilor, explained: “Dillywood Lane is incredibly narrow so there may be an increase in transport.

“With multiple cars per home, this will probably cause problems, because it is not a location where you can really live without a car.”

Locals said it would be “a shame” if Dillywood were forced to pull down the shutters for good, destroying “job losses”.

Meanwhile, parish secretary Emma Johnson argued that new housing development would be “unsustainable” along the “single railway”.

The concerned official was concerned about the increased traffic flow “with limited passing places”.

“There were also concerns about development on green belt land, and councilors also wanted to ask whether the old Medway railway tunnel passes through this area and whether this has been investigated,” she added.

Frindsbury Extra Parish Council has also objected to the plans due to traffic fears.

HIDDEN GEM

A disappointed local resident said: “It’s a shame to see the garden center disappear, it’s a great shop.

“We have always used them because they are much cheaper than some of the other local ones.

“The people who work there are all so nice too.”

Another praised the location: “There was a nice range of gifts and plants and there was room for tea and cake.”

Someone else wrote: “The food is excellent, the shop itself is a hidden gem, by that I mean hard to find – but well worth the trip.”

“The cafe is fantastic and great value,” praised a fourth.

FEAR OF THE COUNCIL

It comes after developers originally submitted an application for 36 homes but were advised to scale back the plans.

Medway Council rejected the large number on several grounds, including road safety and flooding.

If Provectus Developments gets the green light, the controversial new homes will each have three parking spaces.

In addition, there will be another 48 bicycle sheds on the estate.

A decision is expected to be made on May 20.

It comes after locals in Kent were outraged by a neighbour’s ‘alien’ hut.

They claim the structure was built without permission and has turned their area into a ‘shopping centre’.

There have been angry protests after the property sales hut was erected in a Kent beauty spot.

Elsewhere in Kent, a hotelier was so concerned about the demolition of a neighboring pub for new housing that he bought it himself.