Veterans have won victory in their campaign to set up a garage-training workshop and hub for ex-servicemen after a bold assault on councillors’ emotions.

Former Royal Marine Commando Stewart “Twiggy” Roberts and double amputee Adam “Legless” Francis took eight of their comrades in arms, wearing their medals, with them to the Town Hall in Maidstone where their planning application was being heard.

As the applicant, Mr Roberts was allowed three minutes to address the committee in support of the proposal, but he boldly used one of them not to talk, but to stand to attention in silence with the rest of his colleagues to honour the 86 ex-service personnel who had taken their own lives last year – including 12 in Kent.

It was a moment that committee member Cllr Ashleigh Kimmance (Lib Dem) later admitted had moved him to tears.

The veterans were seeking permission to erect a new vehicle restoration workshop on a field next to Mr Francis’s home in Lenham Road, Headcorn.

It would be purpose-built to allow the disabled and particularly those in wheelchairs – as Mr Francis expects to be in the coming years – to work there.

The business would be used as a training hub, offering NVQ certification to ex-servicemen and women to help them return to Civvy Sreet. It would specialise in the repair and restoration of Land Rovers, a vehicle that many ex-servicemen are familiar with.

Mr Roberts and Mr Francis already operate an informal drop-in centre for ex-servicemen at HX Motors in Sutton Valence, but it has become so popular that their premises there are no longer sufficient for the demand.

Mr Roberts suffered PTSD after leaving the forces, and Mr Francis lost both his legs to an IED in Afghanistan. They believe that they can speak from their own experiences to help other veterans who may be suffering when leaving the military.

But they also intend to have the professional services of a number of veterans’ charities based on the upper floor of the building.

Planning officers had recommended the application be refused.

They said the building would harm the character and appearance of the countryside and they were also concerned about the loss of 10 metres of hedgerow when access to the site was created.

But councillors had very different views.

Cllr Lottie Parfitt-Reid (Con) said she had never felt so strongly in support of any planning application before. She pointed out that Mr Roberts and Mr Francis had already helped 61 veterans at their existing hub over the last year.

“That’s 61 veterans not depending on the NHS,” she said.

Cllr James Thomas, chairman of Headcorn Parish Council, said his village welcomed the application. It would provide a much-needed community service to an under-served segment of society.

He also showed how the centre was supported by policies in Headcorn’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Cllr Martin Round (Con) argued that for officers to say the hub would spoil the landscape was a nonsense, since Lenham Road already housed a “giant” equestrian centre and “one of the biggest Gypsy and Traveller sites in Great Britain” as well as two motor supply businesses.

Cllr Dave Naghi (Lib Dem), speaking as chairman of the Maidstone branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “We are 100% in support.”

He urged the committee to go against their officers’ advice, saying: “You have the chance to do something special for the Service community and for Maidstone today.”

Cllr Ziggy Trebinski (Con) reminded councillors that the borough was signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and had pledged to support ex-servicemen.

He said: “It is time for Maidstone councillors to do our duty to support those who have done their duty supporting us.”

Rob Jarman, the council’s head of planning, despite strongly arguing for rejection of the proposal initially, eventually came up with the wording that would allow councillors to pass the application that would seem to be contrary to policy. It included the condition that the applicants sign what is known as a Section 106 agreement, that all future use of the building would be tied to its function as a rehabilitation centre for ex-servicemen.

The application was passed with 12 votes in favour, none against, and just Cllr Denis Spooner (Con) abstaining.

The decision was greeted with loud cheers and much celebration.