Angry residents are demanding plans for a “food village” are snubbed amid concerns it will stink out their homes and attract rats.

The bid to convert a disused plot in New Ruttington Lane, Canterbury, into the home of six takeaway-only mobile kitchens has sparked considerable opposition from locals.

Businessman Simon Underwood, who is behind the £200,000 project, insists the units will not blight neighbouring homes and will comply with all the necessary regulations.

But neighbours fear the site will waft the smell of food into their properties, while also attracting vermin and disturbing them late into the night.

In a letter sent to Canterbury City Council, Holley Sanchez, of Clyde Street, said: “It would generate noise, pollution, vermin, rubbish and smells directly next to our home.

“We are concerned it will attract vermin, such as rats, flies and seagulls.

“I don’t want my child growing up next to six kitchens running every day of the year late into the night with the associated noise, fumes and potential anti-social behaviour.”

The cooking units will operate as so-called “dark kitchens” - places that sell food exclusively through delivery - which have attracted criticism for the cramped conditions in which employees work.

And Ms Sanchez is worried that those planned for Canterbury Food Village will have the same issues.

Campaign group The Canterbury Society has also lodged an objection as it harbours concerns over the “balefulness” of the scheme.

Meanwhile, resident John Cantelo, also from Clyde Street, believes the proposals demonstrate a “lack of sensitivity and consideration for those living in the area”.

“Dark kitchens are notorious for the noise, stench and infestations of vermin they produce,” he added.

“This is why they are generally sited on industrial estates well away from residential areas.

“The units will be working for much of the day and well into the night. This is not acceptable.

“This proposal is without merit and in the wrong place.”

Mr Underwood says the development will allow foodies within a four-mile radius of the site to order in a Chinese, Indian, pizza and fish and chips all on the same delivery.

The project will see the cooking areas filled with a number of firms, whose dishes will be available on an app allowing customers to order grub from all of the eateries at once. Mr Underwood stresses the eateries will also be served by the likes of Deliveroo and JustEat.

Defending the scheme, he said: “We’ll spend a lot of money and using very sophisticated filters on the roof of each kitchen so they won’t send out smells.

“You alter the filters by cuisine, so there should be no odours at all. We’re looking at doing this properly.

“The times comply with those of all the restaurants around the corner, and we’ve specifically done it so cars aren’t allowed onto the site, it’ll just be bikes.

“We’re making sure the standards are met both environmentally and for food hygiene.

“Nobody employed by the food village will be on zero-hours contract, but I can’t talk for the other companies, like Deliveroo. These will be much nicer environments to work in than your standard commercial kitchen.”

“We’re making sure the standards are met both environmentally and for food hygiene..."

Papers submitted to the city council show the village will operate between 11am and 11.30pm each day “to match the operating hours of takeaways and restaurants in Northgate”.

Up to 25 people are expected to be employed at the site, in addition to the fleet of riders paid to pedal food to punters.

Mr Underwood added: “The only way vermin would be an issue is if there’s bad waste management. We’ll sort that on behalf of the kitchens to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“The bins will be secured and we’ll have companies take the rubbish away properly.”

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