A charity shop which has been in a town for 30 years is closing this weekend - to make way for a new hotel

The British Heart Foundation in Ashford, is due to shut for good on Saturday (October 8) after plans for the 92-bed venue were approved.

June Tumilty, Area Manager at British Heart Foundation (BHF), says after 30 years of business in the area, their lease has come to an end and the Ashford BHF shop will close.

"Our loyal customers, volunteers and donors have continued to support us until the redevelopment begins this month. We’d like to thank them and the town of Ashford for their tremendous support," she said.

“We would urge the local community to still bear us in mind if they are having a clear-out in the coming weeks. You can still donate pre-loved clothes, books and accessories at our Tenterden or Canterbury shop or via our new freepost service. You can also use our free collection service to donate furniture and homeware. Customers can shop online with us at our BHF eBay store.

“Each item bought or donated goes towards helping us raise vital funds for life-saving research into heart and circulatory diseases.”

The shop is just one of six in New Rents closing to make way for the development.

Ashford Borough Council approved the plans for the hotel, which will include a bar, restaurant and spa, in July.

There were 11 votes in favour of the proposals, and two against.

Speaking after the results had been revealed, Cllr Nathan Iliffe (Con) said he hoped the application would help regenerate and revitalise the high street.

“Yes, we will be losing some retail space, but that isn’t being used by the market anymore," he said.

“With the two hotels that have opened in the town centre, anecdotally I’ve heard the Travelodge is fully booked all of the time and Hampton by Hilton is much the same.”

The town centre's former Argos store, KPC Events, Betfred, PDSA and now-empty Game unit will also be flattened to make way for the hotel.

Designed by architect Guy Hollaway – who drew up the plans on behalf of applicant SPPF Ltd – the project will also include 10 flats on the top floor.

Despite plans being approved for the hotel, the owner of Ashford's oldest independent shop says he is not going anywhere.

The hotel is set to be located opposite Ashford Sewing Centre, but owner Jim Symes confirmed it will be business as usual for him.

"We have just spent more than £40,000 to get this up to a 2022 standard and we are staying here as shops like this are very few and far between now," he told KentOnline in August.

"We are not being knocked down and taken over.

"We have been here more than 40 years; we are the foundations and we are staying."

The operator of the hotel is not yet known, but it will offer three to four-star accommodation.

While parking won’t be provided for hotel guests there is an agreement in place with County Square for guests to use the centre's car park.

Meanwhile, 12 spaces will be provided for the residents of the flats.

It is unclear what the last remaining units in the area including PDSA and Betfred plan to do amid the changes, but Game has already moved inside Sports Direct and HomePlus Furniture moved to the former M&S unit.