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People arrived in droves at the Scout and Guides hut in Eden Road, Joydens Wood, for a meeting on plan for a 70-bedroom care home

Hundreds of people infuriated by plans for a huge care home in a quiet residential area turned out for a meeting on the proposals.

On Friday, people arrived in droves at the Scout and Guides hut in Eden Road, Joydens Wood, for a meeting during the public consultation of the plans.

So many turned up – around 250 – that the hall could not seat them all and two meetings had to be held concurrently, one in the hall and one outside.

People arrived in droves at the Scout and Guides hut in Eden Road, Joydens Wood, for a meeting during the public consultation of the plan for a 70-bedroom care home
People arrived in droves at the Scout and Guides hut in Eden Road, Joydens Wood, for a meeting during the public consultation of the plan for a 70-bedroom care home

The plans are to replace three homes in Summerhouse Drive with a state-of-the-art care home catering for nursing care and dementia sufferers.

Oakland Primecare has applied for a 70-bedroom H-shaped building on the one-acre plot with a car park for 26 vehicles to the front.

Close to 200 letters have been lodged to Dartford council over the application, and the overwhelming majority of people do not want it built on this site.

The public consultation ended yesterday (Wednesday) and Cllr Brian Garden (Con), who represents the Joydens Wood ward and led one of the meetings, said: “This care home would be built in a residential area, with a small village atmosphere.

“It is not in keeping with the area. There are no other buildings of this sort of size nearby.

Views of the area around Summerhouse Drive, Joydens Wood, Dartford.
Views of the area around Summerhouse Drive, Joydens Wood, Dartford.

“It’s also right on an accident black spot, on the brow of a hill.

“It is the most dangerous part of our road system and there have been a number of accidents on that stretch in recent years.

“It’s a main route and you’ve got the library and bus stops which mean it often turns into single-lane access.

“A care home of this size would increase the traffic, with staff, visitors and health professionals.

“The car parking isn’t sufficient for the size of the home, which means people will end up parking down residential streets nearby.

People arrived in droves at the Scout and Guides hut in Eden Road, Joydens Wood, for a meeting during the public consultation of the plan for a 70-bedroom care home
People arrived in droves at the Scout and Guides hut in Eden Road, Joydens Wood, for a meeting during the public consultation of the plan for a 70-bedroom care home

“Some people who object are not against the idea of a care home; just not on this site.

“They have been asking why it couldn’t be put on the old Bexley hospital site, or just a few streets away in Birchwood Road instead.

“Obviously applicants decide where they want to build, it’s up for the council to decide if it’s suitable.”

The application was officially received in the middle of April so the council must make a decision on the proposal in July, if not before.

A council spokeswoman said: “The council’s planning team is well aware of the concerns raised by Joydens Wood residents and we can assure them that all their views will be taken into account.

“The application is due to be determined by Tuesday, July 5 so there is still time to make a comment by visiting the council’s website by the end of May.”

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