Controversial plans to extend a business park’s working hours to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, have been refused.

Ashford Borough Council’s planning committee voted down a condition change at Carlton Road Business Park last month after a high number of objection comments were received on the plan.

The business park, which is owned by ABC, officially opened on the former Rimmel site on the Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate last year, but only three of the 28 warehouses and industrial units are currently occupied, with four under offer.

Bosses say perspective tenants have been put off signing leases because the current planning permission does not allow them to operate from the premises at all times.

ABC tried to solve the problem by extending the working hours, but Cllr Bernard Heyes (Con) criticised the move.

He said: “I think the application to change this in these business units is totally unacceptable - these units are very close to a residential area.

“In the original application it states quite clearly the working hours would be restricted... and the reason stated is that it would be to protect the locality.

“So what’s changed?”

Cllr Paul Clokie (Con) suggested that if approved, the use of reversing “beepers” should be restricted at night - using “searchlights” to safely manoeuvre instead.

Cllr Neil Shorter (Con) noted most vehicles are fitted with beepers rather than searchlights, so that could be unenforceable.

Despite this, he proposed a motion to approve the 24-hour operation at the 43,000 sq ft business park, which was bought by ABC from Gallagher Properties for £7m in 2018 in a bid to ease pressure on the Ellingham Business Park in South Ashford.

Ultimately proposing to refuse the motion, Cllr Diccon Spain (Lab) said: “This site is particularly close to a residential area.

“We’ve got to maintain respect for residents - their comfort and their peace and quiet.

“I think to make operations 24 hours is completely wrong."

Cllr Heyes, who lives in Kings Avenue which is close to the business park, criticised the application in a comment he posted on ABC’s online planning portal.

The agents marketing the premises, the Altus Group, said removing the restriction on working hours would “most definitely improve the marketability of the units," adding tenants need 24/7 access to their units.

But Cllr Heyes said: “These units are very close in proximity to a densely populated residential conurbation.

“Sackville Crescent, Kings Avenue, the western end of Godinton Road and the lower part of Western Avenue are extremely close to this location.

“All the existing industries on Cobbs Wood are closed on Sundays so why should an exception be made for these industrial units which are adjacent and the closest part of the industrial estate to the residential area in question?

“I find it amazing that a typical user of these industrial units would want to operate outside the existing hours of 6am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 6am to 4pm on Saturdays.

“I think this application for change of condition would have dire consequences for the quality of life for the residents in this area."

Following the meeting last month, ABC’s deputy leader Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con) said: “I very much doubt this is the last we have heard of this matter but in the meantime myself, Cllr Heyes, Cllr Dara Farrell and Cllr Charles Suddards will try and get a planning policy drafted and adopted for Cobbs Wood.”

An ABC spokesman said following the decision by the planning committee, officers are reviewing the situation regarding permitted operating hours.

“It is clear that more needs to be done to better understand what is likely to be considered as acceptable when it comes to extending opening hours at the site,” he said.

The spokesman confirmed the position regarding the number of units occupied, or under offer and subject to ongoing negotiations, was unchanged.

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