Plans to double the number of car boot sales being held on an open field have met a mixed response amid concerns over parking, litter and “urinating” punters.

Organisers of the Farmboys Country bootsale in Foxhounds Lane, Southfleet have applied for planning permission to increase the number of fairs held on-site from 14 to 28.

It follows a council-led enforcement investigation into the bootfairs which found the number of days for which the land could be used had been exceeded.

Many visitors who attend the “very popular” Sunday and bank holiday Mondays events travel from as far as Rochester, Sidcup and Essex and support the planned increase, saying it is a great way to get fresh air and shop without “breaking the bank”.

But, in equal measure, several people are opposed to the expansion amid fears it will lead to an increase in litter and fly-tipping.

Concerns have also been raised over noise pollution and an already “nightmare” parking situation with others feeling strongly the excess events should not be permitted on green belt land.

Neighbours living close to the site say they fear their peaceful weekends could be disturbed and the events are becoming “more invasive”.

“We are the only house opposite the boot fair, so this really affects us,” one resident wrote in an objection letter to Dartford council.

“We have lived in our property for over 24 years and enjoy the peace and quiet. However this is becoming more invasive on a Sunday.

“The parking is a nightmare as cars do not park in the field and park down Park Corner Road and Foxhounds Lane. We are unable to leave our property due to the number of cars.”

They also claim to have provided evidence to the local authority of cars leaving their rubbish and parking on verges destroying the flowers and hedgerows.

And in another incident, even claim to have witnessed people “urinating up our fence line”.

Another neighbour agreed.

In a letter to the council they complained of stall holders queuing to get in and blocking the roads for up to an hour.

“It makes Foxhounds Lane completely unusable for local traffic,” they added. “One of the access points to the site is on the junction of Foxhounds Lane and Park Corner Road, creating a dangerous access point.

“The boot fair needs to be held in a suitable location, not Foxhounds Lane.”

But supporters, who come from across Kent to the events, are keen to see the events expand.

In a letter of support one Gravesend resident said they were “definitely in favour”.

“Family and friends look forward to this sale with so many facilities and shops closed down in our area it's somewhere you can go to that doesn't cost a lot of money,“ they said.

…With so many facilities and shops closed down in our area it's somewhere you can go to that doesn't cost a lot of money

“It's helpful when you have young children and can't afford the shopping centre prices.”

Another regular visitor added: “I have enjoyed being able to feel a part of a community.

“It is so refreshing to see all walks of life and age of person interacting with each other.”

However, after reading several of the negative comments, organiser of the bootfair proposals, Ronnie Mulock, of South East London and Kent Promotions, defended the application.

“We collect all litter in the lane once a sale is finished,” he said in additional correspondence lodged with the council’s planning team.

“On average this is a maximum 80 vehicle sale with a designated parking area with an attendant and two-way entrance with right of way for incoming vehicles to guarantee no queues.”

With regards to the verge parking criticism he said this had only happened once in five years.

The bootfair boss also denied there was any noise from music and the generator on site can only be heard within 50ft of its location.

His response added: “Although I can understand why some people would make negative comments due to the fact they don't want anything at all in their local area except grass, the bias and fiction in those comments are something I don't understand as some of the people who commented actually attend the sale.”

Despite these assurances, Southfleet Parish Council said it was against the proposal due to complaints received by residents.

Chairman Cllr Ian Brown said: “We objected to the application due to local residents’ concerns with traffic congestion, noise and litter disruption.”

He added: “This includes the noise nuisance generated by amplified music and plant equipment, a lack of parking management at the event and the increase in fly-tipping.”

The application has received 14 letters in favour and 10 against at the time of writing.

The field is opposite another which is subject to a controversial planning proposal to build a 10-acre energy storage plant.

Energy firm EcoDev was seeking permission to erect the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility off Foxhounds Lane.

But villagers claim this would “destroy” farmland and ruin the green belt landscape.

A decision had been due on this in July but not further details have been provided on the council’s planning portal as yet.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

The expanded boot fair proposal is set to be discussed at a meeting of Dartford council’s development control board next Thursday (Oct 17) where it has been recommended for refusal.