The site of a former bank could become a Domino’s Pizza takeaway in a town where business owners say large chains do not fit in.

The Lloyds branch in New Romney High Street shut in November last year despite the community's efforts to keep what was the area’s last bank open.

The town council said its loss would have a detrimental impact on the community, with the nearest Lloyds sites being 30 minutes away in Folkestone or Ashford.

A planning application has now been submitted to covert the building into a takeaway pizza restaurant, which developers say will attract footfall to the high street.

The application claims the hot food takeaway will contribute to the “vitality and viabilty of the frontage by attracting additional trade”.

“The unit is currently vacant and the dead frontage offers nothing to the streetscene or local economy,” it adds.

“Occupation of the unit will create an active frontage from 11am - 11pm every day, bringing footfall into the area.

“There will be no detrimental impact in the amenity of the area.”

The application also refers to a study carried out in 2015 which said “the town centre's role as a both a service centre and tourist base for the wider Romney Marsh area” was “clearly apparent”.

“The centre has a low vacancy rate, and a diversity of uses which mostly meet local needs and accurately reflects the role and function of the centre in the district's hierarchy,” documents state.

“There is likely to be limited scope for expansion of the centre over the course of the study period, as there is no obvious scope for expansion of the centre.

“There is no mention of hot takeaways or the level that exist within the town centre.”

When fast food branch Greggs opened earlier this year in the town business owners said residents may not support the pastry giant because they "like their local shops and cafes".

They felt that large chains do not fit into an area of independent shops, citing Subway’s departure from the town in 2011 after just two years.

A decision for the Domino’s Pizza plans is expected by July 17.