Dover Soup Kitchen will be serving the homeless community from Pencester car park for the next 18 months.

It was forced to move out of Russell Street car park because developer Bond City will be revamping the area to make way for the St James’ retail and leisure venue.

Permission was granted last Thursday night by Dover District Council’s planning committee despite an objection from Phil Stucken of Maison Dieu Road, who spoke of his concerns.

He said: “Many of the users are vulnerable and some are substance abusers of alcohol and other drugs and aggression is known among these users.

“It is in the middle of a busy residential area populated by families with young children.”

'It is in the middle of a busy residential area populated by families with young children.' - Resident, Phil Stucken

Mr Stucken also said that it is a drop-off point for National Express coaches, and the first thing people will see is poverty when they disembark.

The application said that the soup kitchen’s temporary building will go in the motorcycle section of the car-park, leaving a few spaces free.

The planning officer Darren Bridgett said that the Community Support Unit had no concerns and that it is a central area under CCTV surveillance.

It said that an estimated 30 people will use it during its opening hours, which were extended by an extra half an hour as a condition of approval.

Stephanie Burke one of 150 volunteers, said: “The Dover Soup Kitchen has been running for more than 25 years.

“In the 20 years we have been in Russell Street we have never received any violence or anti-social behaviour.”

It was started by Stephanie Perrow in 1990, and has been in constant need since.

She said the vulnerable community looks at the soup kitchen as a “permanent structure”, highlighting that this is an important daily service.