Medway’s largest car boot sale has applied to increase its number of events.

Mark Greenfield’s Boot Fairs has made an application for an additional seven a year, on top of the 14 which already run between May and September in Upnor, near Rochester.

If the application is successful, the fairs will take place on Sundays and Bank Holidays, from 5am until 1pm, up to 21 times a year for the next three years.

The application has received a letter of support from the ward councillor Elizabeth Turpin (Con) who said the events were enjoyed by residents across Medway and are professionally run, ensuring the site is always clean afterwards.

However, there have also been four letters of objection from local residents, three of which raised concerns about congestion caused by visitors, saying the influx of cars brings traffic in Upnor to a standstill, and illegal parking creates dangerous blindspots.

The fourth letter said they didn’t oppose the additional car boots in principle but asked that they not be allowed to take place beyond September as the dark mornings would be disrupted by car headlights that would shine directly into their property’s windows.

They also asked for stricter enforcement of the rule that the site cannot be accessed before 5am, saying that vendors were opening the gates as early as 3am and disturbing them.

This complaint was also echoed by the other letters of objection.

In the supporting statement for the application, it says that the car boot sales have been run in Medway for 39 years, and 13 years at the site off Upnor Road in Upnor.

They claim it has space for 700 cars to park, which they say is more than enough to cope with attendees.

They also say the events have eight marshals who control and guide traffic in a safe and responsible way, and that the site is cleaned the day following a car boot sale.

The application also asked for their permissions for the site be extended for five years instead of three.

Planning officers have recommended to councillors to approve the additional events for three years, which will go to a vote at the next planning meeting.

They say that although they recognise the impacts on residents of traffic and congestion, the economic benefit from the car boots tips the balance in favour of the application.

However, they also say that greater monitoring of the events will be needed to ensure that no-one is going onto the site earlier than they should at 5am.

Due to the letters of objection, the proposal will have to be approved by councillors on the planning committee at their next meeting, which is December 20.