A petition calling for a new community centre is set to be debated in a council meeting tomorrow.

More than 1,700 residents have backed the campaign, set up by Cllr Diccon Spain, to replace the Bockhanger Community Centre in Kennington, Ashford after the 50-year-old building was demolished in April.

The document was handed to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) earlier this year and is set to be debated at the full council meeting.

Cllr Spain, who is the newly-elected Labour councillor for the Bockhanger ward, is calling for a replacement hub with a community-run café and library to be built by the end of the year.

He is calling on ABC to work with Kent County Council (KCC) and stakeholders to build a modern and environmentally hub which will serve residents for the next 50 years.

Over the years, a number of community groups including a karate club, dance club and a nursery used the former building.

Residents have expressed a desire for a new community building, which would host a table tennis club for the elderly, a new karate club and a group for disabled residents and carers to share experiences.

On Monday, the hoardings erected during the demolition were removed from the site.

Full results of the council meeting will be available in next week's Kentish Express.

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford