Plans have been approved to install multiple electric vehicle (EV) charging points within a village – although not everyone is happy.

An application has been granted by Maidstone council to have eight charging stations in Clapper Lane, Staplehurst.

They will be operational within the car park of Staplehurst Nurseries & Frankie's Farm.

The 97.8 sq m proposal was first put forward by Instavolt back in June.

The company installs and is an operator and owner of electric vehicle charge points across the UK.

Now given the green light, the charging points will be installed within the business's customer car park, alongside further lighting and a substation.

The existing area is currently allocated to the customers of the nursery and farm shop.

However, the proposal will see developers extend this – creating an additional eight parking spaces, each with an EV charging point.

Each station would have an approximate total width of 1.3m, a depth of 0.6m and a height of 2.1m.

The plans had already been recommended for approval by Staplehurst Parish Council.

Commenting on the application, councillors recommended the application be given the go ahead – on the condition the charging points are only operational from 6am until 10pm.

Concerns had been raised prior to the application being approved, with one resident worried about the impacts of access to the charging points.

They said: “The only possible access to the site is via the applicants’ existing entrance from Clapper Lane, comprising a short driveway leading to a customer car park serving the nursery, farm shop and restaurant.

“Clapper Lane is an extremely narrow country lane with few passing places and no street lighting.

“We are concerned that the proposed facility will increase the volume of traffic...to what is already a popular venue.”