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Police have listed a string of concerns over council plans to install eight retail kiosks on a busy street in Canterbury.
Officers believe the mini outlets along Station Road West will result in a rise in pickpocketing, road rage and graffiti, while also attracting nuisance climbers who will clamber over the huts.
The force’s objection comes as the city council bids to maximise the high commuter and visitor footfall between the Canterbury West railway station and St Dunstan’s Street.
It is lining up baristas, florists and barbers to set up shop in the kiosks backing onto the recently-opened £9.1 million multi-storey car park.
But the scheme is facing stiff opposition, with critics blasting the application as “embarrassing” and “totally inappropriate”.
In its objection, Kent Police says the small gaps between the avenue of huts will attract yobs and become a place for people to urinate.
The comment reads: “The secluded spaces are likely to attract criminality and anti-social behaviour and increase the opportunity for crime including, anti-social toileting, fear of crime, conflict on the narrowed pavement area and nuisance.
“If the kiosks are sited flush with the car park structure, particularly as the kiosks have flat roofs and as they would be sited close to trees, they will no doubt attract climbing - which is already a problem within the area.
"The addition of kiosks is likely to significantly reduce the pavement width, especially when people are accessing the kiosks, shopping or looking into them and that would increase the potential for crime, e.g. purse dipping and shoplifting.”
Police say turning Station Road West into a shopping street will “likely increase pedestrian and vehicle conflict in the area” by increasing casual parking problems for those waiting to pick up passengers from the railway station.
The force also says the timber-clad huts will need to be of high security standard and require a full alarm system.
Other objectors say they are “appalled” by the council’s plan and stress the new businesses will be unwanted competition for surrounding struggling firms.
Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “We thank the police for their comment, which will be reported to councillors when the planning committee meets to decide the application in due course.”
