A resident fears that South Ashford is being transformed into a “ghetto” because so many homes are being converted into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

Ronald Etherington, 67, has lived in Gorse Mead off Brookfield Road since 2003, but says the community spirit of the area has been destroyed.

He says at least 20 properties have been converted in his area since he moved in, with newly sub-divided homes seeing the conversion of living rooms and garages for new bedroom spaces.

He said: “There has been a domino effect with anti-social behaviour. We’ve had them smashing up pallets to put on their bonfires at 2am on a Sunday night.

“Some of these houses now have six or seven bins outside. It does nothing for the street scene. There is discarded furniture in the road and all the extra rubbish it generates.

“I’ve been fighting this since 2003. Despite the controls the problems have got worse. It might not be a problem in planning terms, but the social damage on this community has been like a cancer spreading. Nobody is prepared to put a halt to it.

“When I asked the council what they are doing to enforce it, they said there is no case to answer, and that there are better ways to spend public money.

“I could understand if it was just one or two houses in an area, but not 20. I’m told that a number are still under investigation.

“It’s disgraceful that rogue landlords are ignoring planning and building regulations in the certain knowledge that the council won’t enforce against them.

“The result of this council’s inaction has had a devastating effect on this community by turning what once was a clean and half decent housing estate into a ghetto of ill managed HMOs and sub divided family homes.”

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk