ACTION has been demanded over a massage parlour operating in a quiet residential street in Canterbury.

Families and others living in New Street, St Dunstan’s, are appalled by the activity and have asked police to close it down.

They are worried by the visits of men all day and into the night at 12 New Street, an end-of-terrace house.

Observations from neighbours include drawn curtains at the front of the building and a red light at a rear window.

One said: “This is a quiet, respectable street. The property is busy in the early evening and after pub closing time.

“There is also a lot of activity at weekends. The worry for me is that many properties in this area are for let. If one operation succeeds then what is to stop others coming in to the street?”

Another said: “Men are parking outside the house all the time. There is a steady stream of men during the day and into the night at the property.”

After reporting the matter to the police six weeks ago, residents became concerned at the lack of any official reaction.

One said: “I became very worried because I did not see the police do anything after the house was reported to them.

“Several people living in the street are upset by what is going on.”

Another resident said: “The idea of this operating here is very worrying. This is a nice, quiet neighbourhood and there are young children living close by.

“I have a 17-year-old daughter and I worry for her at night. If she is coming home she may run into any kind of character going in there.

“That is the main concern for me, you don’t know who is going to come here now.”

Some residents have met ward councillor Sue Ashmore-Fish to express their concerns. She said: “I spoke to police about the problem. It is a shame that they responded only once a councillor became involved and did not react directly to the residents’ complaints.

“My main worry is for the elderly residents and young children living in the street. Also, there is a concern over the safety of residents with many people coming to the street who don’t live there. I am confident that the matter is being dealt with properly by the public safety unit, who are working closely with the council.”

A police spokesman said the property was under investigation by the police and council-run unit.

An advertisement in a local newspaper, not part of the Kent Messenger Group, makes clear reference to the street. The advert offers Oriental massages and gives two mobile phone numbers.

When a Kentish Gazette reporter rang, the phone was answered by a woman with an Oriental accent who said she had two girls working on that day. She described them as being aged 20 and 21 and gave their vital statistics.

She then went on to quote prices for sexual services and gave the address as 12 New Street, St Dunstan’s.

When the newspaper called at the address two young Oriental women answered the door. One repeatedly denied the house was a venue for sexual services and said she lived there with her sister.

No one is listed as living at the house in the latest electoral roll.

KM-fm's Jamie Stevens and Ben Biddulph have been investigating...