Sorry, this video asset has been removed.

Wincheap Society member Michael
Randell on the fight to save the oast house. Video: Katie
Lamborn

by Gerry Warren

gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk

A campaign has been launched to stop a Victorian oast house
from being demolished and replaced with a block of offices and
flats.

The Wincheap Society is writing to the city council to object to
the planning application for the building called the Old Oast in
Hollow Lane. They believe pulling the oast down would be a sad loss
of part of the local countryside's heritage.

A previous application for the conversion of the building, then
used a pine furniture shop, was approved by the city council in
2007. But now a new developer wants to knock it down and replace it
with a three-storey block of four offices and 12 flats.

The city council did apply to English Heritage for the Old Oast
to be listed, but the agency replied in March that it did not
consider the building to be of special merit.

Wincheap Society member, Michael Randall said: "We are very
surprised to learn that all oast houses are not automatically
listed, because they are an integral part of the Kent hop growing
heritage.

"This building has been empty for quite a while and is starting
to look a bit tatty, but certainly not beyond renovation and
conversion. They are iconic buildings and it would be a sad loss if
it were knocked down, but we fear without a listing or being in a
conservation area, the council may not be able to resist the
application."

A resident has also expressed his concern about its planned
demolition. John Wilkins, who lives in Homersham in Wincheap, says
the oast dates from 1887.

He said: "It is regarded by local residents as an attractive
boundary between the new estate and the countryside. As a local
reminder of bygone Kent, it should be preserved and converted into
a row of cottages, flats or offices.

"With the modern rear lean-to demolished and matching brick
extension added, it would create a viable proposition for the
owners and enhance the local area at the same time."

The application by Pentland Properties - who were unavailable
for comment - is expected to be considered by the city council's
development control committee in December.

• www.kentishgazette.co.ukFor more from Canterbury and the surrounding areas, visit