A row is brewing over revived plans to use a ‘public green space’ as a pub garden with picnic tables and benches.
The proposal for the plot of grass next to the creekside Albion Taverna in Faversham has come from owners Shepherd Neame, which failed in an identical bid in 2019.
Back then, Swale Borough Council planning committee members rejected the application on the grounds that it would have a “negative impact on the area and neighbours”, despite officers recommending a trial period.
The idea was also blasted by Faversham Town Council (FTC), the Faversham Society, The Brents Community Association, The Faversham Creek Trust and 14 residents.
Now a fresh but identical application has been submitted, which still requests the siting of 12 picnic tables and benches on the grass.
Shepherd Neame bosses say they have been discussing their proposal with the town council, stressing that the furniture would be for general public use as well as pub customers.
But despite what the company hoped were “positive” conversations, members of the FTC’s planning committee have now voted unanimously against the revived proposal.
They objected to the loss of local public space and fear the new seating area will cause noise disturbance for neighbouring properties.
Cllr Rob Crayford was one of those who noted there was “no change” in the proposal from 2019 and the same objections still applied.
He said the pub already had a garden and he would have only been swayed to change his mind if it had created more jobs, which he says Shepherd Neame is not claiming.
“It’s a finely balanced call but it may be that Swale Borough Council’s planning committee sees it differently from 2019 because there are different members,” he said.
But the town council’s stance has itself come in for criticism after Cllr Crayford posted the decision on his Facebook page, with many commenting that they believed the pub owner’s request to be reasonable and should be supported.
“I’m usually against these land grabs,” says Liz Jeffery. “But I feel this small amount of wasted land could be better utilised by the pub.”
“The Albion is an important local business and should be supported to grow…”
“As a local resident who agrees that meaningful green spaces should be protected at almost all costs, I’d have let this one go,“ says Lisa Coopeades.
“The Albion is an important local business and should be supported to grow. This ‘loss’ of a teeny bit of green space will make zero difference to the quality of life of residents or to local biodiversity.”
“Hospitality is suffering for so many reasons,” adds Denise KT.
“Why would Faversham Town Council, which should champion local businesses, not support Shepherd Neame – our biggest local employer?”
“We believe this application benefits both our customers and the community….”
Shepherd Neame’s director of professional property services John Barnes told KentOnline: “The benches would be available for public use as well as for customers of the Albion Taverna, and Shepherd Neame would occupy the land under a licence provided by Swale Borough Council, for which we would pay rent, and which could be terminated should any noise nuisance be caused.
“We believe this is an application that benefits both our customers and the community, as well as supporting the only pub operating on that side of the Creek, which provides local employment.”
The final decision rests with Swale Borough Council’s planning committee.
