Plans for a huge five-storey car park which will be lit up at night have been approved - despite its appearance being described as "horrendous".

The multi-storey complex, to be built on the current Station Road car park behind the Hollywood Bowl in Ashford, will provide 500 spaces.

Councillors waved through the outline planning application at a meeting last month, where the design of the structure was criticised.

Cllr Bernard Heyes (Con) had serious concerns about the facility's design, saying: "You wouldn't expect a multi-storey car park to be attractive but this is a horrendous building.

"The officer's report states it will enhance the viability and will ensure the area is an attractive place to work.

"It may be an attractive place to work but this building's not attractive."

Cllr Heyes' colleagues noted the current drawings of the car park show an indicative design, which could be ironed out later in the process.

Ashford Borough Council, which owns the land, is behind the multi-storey scheme, with bosses saying the car park will include 24 disabled spaces and 120 will feature charging ports for electric cars.

Chiefs say access to the site will remain via Station Road, with the junction widened to accommodate a two-lane exit arrangement, separating traffic turning left and right.

Currently, the existing ground level Station Road car park offers 120 spaces.

The council says the new car park will fit into the character of the area as office blocks at Kent House and Stourside Place already go over five floors.

A steel mesh will enrobe the structure, which will be lit at night with a variety of coloured lights including pink and green.

Council bosses need to find more capacity as spaces will be lost in Vicarage Lane car park if the proposed redevelopment of the Mecca Bingo site goes ahead.

The council hopes to partially demolish the ex-Odeon, flattening the rear of the property and knocking through the former entrance in the Lower High Street to make a pedestrian route leading to a new public square on the car park.

The space - nicknamed Odeon Square - is set to feature a large outdoor cinema screen surrounded by cafes and bars.

Cllr Brendan Chilton (Lab) gave the view that the access road to the back of Hollywood Bowl - where the multi-storey car park will go - is "particularly short, and all you need are three or four cars parked along there and it'll be jammed".

He said: "If you have 500 vehicles all trying to get in and out at the same time, I think you're going to have some severe traffic issues on that road and Station Road.

"We all know the main town centre's basically a logjam all the time as it is."

A planning officer stated that Kent Highways had been consulted and issued no concerns.

Cllr William Howard (Con) said: "I'm happy to support this application, 120 spaces will come with charging points and there will be future-proofing to expand on that as the use of electric cars grows.

"I'm happy to propose the officer's recommendation to approve."

Cllr Neil Shorter (Con) later seconded this motion, the only one proposed.

Cllr Jessamy Blanford (Con) suggested the whole of Station Road needed to be made more visually pleasing, suggesting an organised landscaping and tree-planting programme.

She also suggested renaming the street, as it doesn't lead to the station - a move met with general approval among the committee.

Eventually the vote was taken and the car park was approved by nine councillors, with four abstaining.

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