Neighbours have raised fears over parking problems following plans to demolish a vacant pub and build flats in its place.

A planning application has been submitted to tear down the Two Bells Inn, in Canterbury Road, Folkestone, and create a new three-storey building, containing 12 apartments.

But residents say parking is already an issue in the mainly residential street, and are concerned the new homes will create even bigger issues.

Commenting on the plans, one neighbour said: "Having lived in the street for the last 15 years and having seen the parking situation become increasingly difficult I cannot help but worry about the further impact of 12 new flats in the street.

"Unless the flats constructed have some sort of parking facilities it would have a huge impact on those of us who live in the road and already struggle to park close to where we live."

Another resident said: "We are a family living in Canterbury Road and permanently we have parking issues on our road.

"The street is very intensive and busy all the times. Every day lorry cars and vans are parked in the front of my entrance door as they are delivering goods for shops, pharmacy and dentists.

"Lots of customers and patients coming to visit them every day, which is making road over-busy.

"We and our neighbours had couple of times parking fines issued, because there is no space where to park resident vehicles.

"In my opinion you could make nice car park for residents instead of building a new houses, which would badly affect already busy road."

Within the planning statement, it is explained that on street allocation for parking at the now graffiti-covered pub was 15 spaces.

The amount of spaces required for the development is calculated to be the same.

As such, Kent Highways do not object to the plans, and call the scheme acceptable as there is "no net change in parking demand".

The Two Bells has been closed for over a decade.

In 2019, its owners were fined £2,000 by Folkestone and Hythe District Council for allowing the garden to become a dumping ground.

Environmental enforcement officers discovered household waste and broken furniture during their visit, and it took two days for the rubbish to be cleared.

Previous applications have been submitted to develop the pub, including a plan in 2015 for 12 flats, which was refused.

The latest application has been amended, including reducing the height of the building.

To view the plans, search 21/0689/FH on the council's planning portal. A decision is expected in the next few months.

To see more public notices, visit ww.kentonline.co.uk/advertise/public-notices/

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone