Villagers fear the countryside will eventually become “one big urban mess” as plans for new homes were revealed.
The owners of Ripple Farms Ltd want to build six properties along Chapel Lane, Ripple, near Deal, on land currently used as a car park by The Plough Inn.
The pub’s landlord says losing these spaces would be “devastating” for the business.
Meanwhile, residents fear the new-builds could lead to “chaos” on narrow country roads.
It has also added to wider concerns about the level of proposed housebuilding in the area.
In nearby Ringwould, nine houses are planned for a water bottling plant at a former nursery – while in Cross Road on the edge of Deal, Abbey Developments Ltd is also building 100 homes.
Mark Whittaker wrote on Dover District Council’s (DDC) planning portal: “More houses will add to the traffic and parking problem in Ripple, more traffic on the country lanes and further destruction of our countryside.
“Deal and the surrounding villages will one day become one big urban mess in the name of ‘growth’ and it needs to be stopped.”
Ripple Farms’ application was first put forward in 2022, featuring nine homes on land behind the car park.
But now new designs show the plan is for six homes to replace the car park, so a new one can be built behind.
The Plough Inn rents the spaces off the farm which are also used by residents in Church Lane who are unable to park outside their homes because of the narrow country road.
The pub’s landlord Brian Davies told KentOnline: “Six extra chimneys are potentially extra customers for me so I’m not against building as such.
“But if we lose the car park, it will be devastating for the pub.
“The car park is a lifeline and if the plans affect the pub drastically we could have to close.“
Resident of 20 years, Ian Levett, fears the road network will not cope if the plans are given the green light.
“It’s not that it’s too many homes, it is just in the wrong place,” the 66-year-old said.
“These are rural roads so extra traffic would cause chaos.
“If they build on the car park, there would be nowhere for the cars to go and there are at least 20 in there from residents, but it is for people visiting the pub too.
“The lane is so small, before the car park was built, fire engines couldn’t get through.”
One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Where are we going to park?
“We have been using that car park for more than 20 years. Residents have been given permission to park there at the landlord’s discretion.
“The location is not good, but also we don’t need any more cars in the village.
“We have had so many pets killed from cars bombing along here.
“Six homes will have at least two cars each, and in the morning and afternoons, traffic is a nightmare as it is.”
Plans show a new car park behind the homes would be set aside for residents and local businesses.
But another villager, who asked not to be named, worries this might change.
They said: “I think if permission is given it will be sold to a developer so those six homes could be scrapped and replaced with something else. They could get rid of the car park entirely.
“I did support the homes initially but now I’m not sure because I struggle to get into Deal because of all the new buildings.”
Ripple Parish Council has also objected to the updated plans.
It said: “The amended application, by seeking to build on the car park opposite the Plough Inn, is even more detrimental in the impact it will have on the residents of Ripple, particularly those living on Church Lane and other villagers who currently rely on the car park due to a lack of parking in the village.
“The Plough Inn is a popular pub and a registered Asset of Community Value.
“It is a major concern that the loss of the pub car park will have a very damaging impact on the viability of the pub and threaten the landlords’ ability to continue trading.
“If visitors from outside Ripple are unable to park, they will go elsewhere.
“Presently The Plough uses their very small car park in front of the pub for outdoor events in the warmer months which would become impossible and have a consequential loss of income.
“More traffic is not needed. The lack of village infrastructure means all residents use cars to undertake most day-to-day living; this is a necessity, not a choice. Schools, doctors, shopping, and entertainment involve a car journey and Kent County Council has withdrawn the village bus service entirely since the first application.”
Ripple Farms Ltd declined to comment when approached by KentOnline.