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Parking fears over plan for Starbucks drive-thru at Ashford Retail Park next to The Food Warehouse

Concerned shoppers fear parking issues at a popular retail park will get even worse if plans for a 24-hour Starbucks drive-thru are approved.

The coffee giant wants to build a unit next to The Food Warehouse at Ashford Retail Park in Sevington.

The Starbucks drive-thru is planned for this site at Ashford Retail Park
The Starbucks drive-thru is planned for this site at Ashford Retail Park

Its plan would result in the loss of 43 parking bays in the 535-space car park, which can reach capacity at weekends.

Starbucks, which already has four sites in Ashford, says it has “identified a requirement for additional representation” in the town.

But shoppers say they can already get their coffee fix as the site is currently home to Greggs, Costa Coffee and a cafe inside Dunelm.

Bruce Field, 65, who visits the site regularly from New Romney, thinks the plan should be rejected by Ashford Borough Council, which is considering the application.

“We need the parking, we can't do with less parking here because it is always busy,” he said.

The Starbucks drive-thru is planned for Ashford Retail Park in Sevington. Picture: KMG
The Starbucks drive-thru is planned for Ashford Retail Park in Sevington. Picture: KMG
How the Starbucks drive-thru could look in Ashford. Picture: Opfer Logan Architects
How the Starbucks drive-thru could look in Ashford. Picture: Opfer Logan Architects

“We have coffee shops already. It would put me off coming here, I would go to Folkestone instead.”

Kingsnorth resident Diane Gladwin, 61, agreed, saying it is sometimes impossible to find a parking space at weekends.

“I just don’t see the sense in it when we also have a McDonald's down the road,” she said.

“Sometimes it's a nightmare to get out of here, so it could be causing more havoc.”

Starbucks says it has a “shared spaces agreement” in place with the owners of the retail park, adding the loss of 43 spaces “will not result in a detrimental impact on existing parking provision”.

Shopper Bruce Field, from New Romney, says the parking spaces are needed
Shopper Bruce Field, from New Romney, says the parking spaces are needed
Brands already at the retail park include TK Maxx, Dunelm, Boots and Smyths
Brands already at the retail park include TK Maxx, Dunelm, Boots and Smyths

Two disabled spaces and a cycle rack will be provided outside the drive-thru, but no other Starbucks-only parking is planned.

If approved, the one-storey building will create between 20 and 25 new jobs and will be open 24 hours a day.

It would become the fifth Starbucks outlet in Ashford, joining those already in the town centre, Designer Outlet, train station and inside Cineworld.

The company says it feels its plan will “result in a positive enhancement to the wider retail park and surrounding area”.

But shopper Julie Perrin, from Sevington, said: “People struggle to find enough spaces to park anyway so this will make it even worse.

Julie Perrin says the loss of parking spaces will not help shoppers
Julie Perrin says the loss of parking spaces will not help shoppers

“I live locally so I witness it being a problem getting in and out at least twice a day.

“There is enough here that it doesn't need any more shops, it would be different if one was closing down and another business was moving in.”

South Willesborough resident Lesley Darlington, 56, fears removing the parking bays will make the retail park “too busy”.

“It's probably not necessary to have another coffee shop,” she said.

“It gets very busy here and traffic ends up queuing.

Starbucks wants to build the drive-thru next to The Food Warehouse, which filled the former Argos unit last year
Starbucks wants to build the drive-thru next to The Food Warehouse, which filled the former Argos unit last year

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

“At Christmas, I won't even park here, I'll park elsewhere and walk up because it gets so busy.“

Starbucks had previously wanted to open a drive-thru on the former Ashford International Sports and Social Club site in Beaver Road, but its offer to buy the land was rejected.

The former working men’s club could now be replaced with two blocks of flats.

Starbucks did not comment on its Ashford Retail Park bid when approached by KentOnline.

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