They now plan to block the entrance to their street in High Brooms today [Wednesday, July 28] to prevent a developer from building new homes after they were told the project will mean they will no longer be able to park their cars for free.
Residents in Blackthorn Avenue also say the Council has sold off the adjoining cul-de-sac, Aspen Way, on their street without telling them.
The cul-de-sac currently has fewer than 12 houses, but a project is underway to build three new homes.
They say the development work is already causing ‘chaos’ with the builders having no proper access to the site, resulting in them driving on the public footpath, damaging the pavement and the roots of the trees that line the road.
They also say the developer has not installed proper toilet facilities for the workers on the site, who they have seen using the adjacent nature reserve.
The project is being constructed by local developer Albert Ini.
Once complete, he has told residents that they will no longer be able to park their cars in either Blackthorn Avenue or Aspen Way without applying to him for a parking permit – at a cost of £500 a year per car.
Ms Dudo Rae, who lives in Blackthorn Avenue, told the Times: “We have never had to pay before, so it is just unfair.
“If he [the developer] is profiting from building three houses here, why should we be forced to pay £500 to him to park our cars – surely he should pay for it?”
Ms Rae, who has lived in the street since 1998, added: “This work has been going on since April and enough is enough.
“We have now decided to protest in front of Aspen Way, blocking the entrance to the cul-de-sac from Wednesday [July 28] onwards. And we will do it every day until somebody listens to us.”
A spokesperson for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] said: “In 2018 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council sold some of the land it owns on Blackthorn Avenue, the sale included a grassed area and an area of road at the end of a cul-de-sac. A For Sale notice was put on the land before the sale at auction.
“Planning permission has since been granted to the new owner of the land to build three houses on the grassed area. Nearby residents have rights of access to their driveways across the area of road. We understand the residents are now in dispute with the new owner over parking on the area of road he owns.”
Mr Albert Ini, who is building the housing project, was contacted to comment but did not respond.
