Plans to demolish a petrol station to make way for a supermarket have divided opinion in a Kent village.

An application has been submitted to bulldoze the Northdown Service Station in Charing, near Ashford, and build a small food store in its place.

Trees would also be cleared from the site off the A20 Maidstone Road, but neighbouring business Charing Motors would be unaffected.

A new one-storey supermarket operated by a chain would then be constructed on the land, complete with a 21-bay car park and cycle storage.

A retail impact assessment submitted as part of the plans repeatedly refers to the store being run by national firm Co-op.

The company tells KentOnline it has no current plans to open on the site, but it adds, without further explanation, that it will be monitoring the application’s progress “through the planning approvals process”.

Bala Subramanam, the owner of Charing Stores on the High Street, believes a new food store would “absolutely” affect his business.

“I am very worried about these plans – I had to put prices up as we are already finding it difficult,” he added.

“At the end of the day, we are local while they are a huge chain. They can have far lower prices than us; I don’t know how I would be able to compete.”

Martyn Johns, the owner of GM&M Johns Family Butchers, is “on the fence” about the impact of the shop.

“Purely from the point of view of our business I would like to think that this won’t affect us as we have a loyal customer base – and there’s perhaps not as big an overlap between our meat and what a Co-op would sell.

“The village does need work. We’ve not got a Post Office or a pub apart from the micropub anymore. Hopefully people might come for the Co-op and then come into the high street for some meat and to look at the local shops.”

In planning documents – submitted by a Mr and Mrs Blake – it is claimed the introduction of a Co-op would not “actively or unreasonably adversely impact” local shops.

“The Londis and Charing Stores are convenience retailers and therefore do not offer the scale and range of a supermarket,” the document adds.

“Furthermore, the Londis closes at 6pm on all days, save as to Sunday where the store closes at 4pm. This would mean residents would likely travel to a nearby supermarket or organise a delivery instead of using these retailers. Therefore, the adverse impact will be limited as the Londis is unlikely to have been the preferred choice for shopping trips that the Co-op would accommodate.

“The independent butcher offers a specialised bespoke product and whilst it is likely Co-op will offer cheaper meat, the butcher will maintain a more premium product which consumers will continue to use regardless of the presence of the Co-op.”

Elsewhere in the village, some residents welcomed the idea of a new supermarket to service the area.

Ryan Greaves said: “Frankly, there are a lot of things that you can’t get in the village that you may be able to get in a Co-op – and that is what we’ve all heard it will be.

“I would like to think that those of us who do use the local shops will stick with them for a lot of things – but that doesn’t mean a supermarket won’t be a great addition.”

Susan May added: “Everyone who has spoken about the plans mentions Lenham and how they seem to have almost everything they need there, including a Co-op food and thriving independent shops. There’s a real feeling we don’t get that range of choice here.”

A Co-op spokesman said: “There are no current plans in place for a Co-op to open at this location.

“Co-op is aware of the application, and will monitor its progress through the planning approvals process.”

Charing Parish Council issued a comment on the Ashford Borough Council planning portal to say it backed the proposals.

A spokesperson for the council added: “The parish council supported the application as it fits within our Neighbourhood Plan.

“It is a retail business replacing a retail business and it will continue to support employment within the parish.”

A decision on the application is expected by the end of the month.