Vandals have once again attacked a historic derelict building and former nightclub as redevelopment plans continue to be halted due to ongoing water quality issues.

The bridge at the Flour Mills in Ashford was targeted on Saturday evening and owners of the site have now cordoned off the area.

A set of fencing which was in front of the bridge, blocks which were on the ground, as well as chairs from inside the building, were thrown into the river.

The walkway across to the entrance of the former Liquid nightclub has been ripped apart by vandals and left with huge gaps along it.

The site, at the bottom of East Hill, is owned by Oliver Davis Homes which plans to convert it into a set of flats.

After Ashford School sold the site to the developer in 2021, Oliver Davis submitted an application for it to be converted into flats just six months later.

The plans for 53 flats with a mix of one and two-bed duplex units, and one and two-bed apartments and studios were approved by Ashford Borough Council in July 2022, but an environmental issue is stalling the development, as well as thousands of new homes across Kent, from starting.

In October 2020, government advisers at Natural England called for planned construction across swathes of east Kent to stop after high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous were found in the water at Stodmarsh Nature Reserve, near Canterbury.

The pollution had been caused by wastewater entering Stodmarsh's lakes, which are fed by the River Stour.

As a result, Natural England said new developments must not "add the burden of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen".

In July, a long-awaited solution was finally announced. The government revealed housebuilders can offset the damage caused by harmful substances seeping into the county’s rivers and lakes by buying “nutrient credits” to fund mitigation measures, such as new wetlands or woodland.

Since the Stodmarsh pollution issues came to light, Natural England has been instructing local planning authorities not to grant approval for new housing without mitigating measures.

The new nutrient mitigation scheme, launched by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and Natural England, is designed to “unlock” the barrier to building work.

Once given the green light, the former flour mills in Ashford will also become Oliver Davis Homes headquarters.

The ground floors will include a residents’ lounge and working space, cafeteria and large gym.

While the building isn’t listed, Ashford councillors recognised the imposing tower’s history and wanted to preserve the main structure when assessing the plans.

The long-standing landmark in Ashford was built in 1901 and first owned by miller Henry Sturges Pledge and was H.S Pledge and Sons flour mill, before becoming a nightclub.

In 2021, KentOnline had an exclusive tour inside the venue which Liquid and Envy had moved out of in 2014.

The site has since fallen into more serious dereliction and has faced multiple attacked of vandalism and trespassing over the years.