Plans to convert a barn into hotel rooms on the site of a Grade II-listed manor have sparked concerns over pedestrian safety.

Bosses at the picturesque Great Everden Manor in Alkham, between Folkestone and Dover, saw a previous scheme rejected by Dover District Council (DDC) in 2023.

But now a similar proposal has been lodged with the authority which, if approved, will see a barn converted into nine hotel rooms off Lockeringe Lane.

The project - submitted to DDC by Cider Ltd - would add further accommodation to the manor site, which already includes seven bedrooms in the main building, an annex apartment and five cottages.

But one complainant says horses and dog walkers have almost been knocked down in the area, and has raised concerns over the potential impact of extra traffic.

Commenting on DDC’s planning portal, Emine Mulgrew said: “The current site has already drawn considerable ire from the local community due to the aggressive and high-speed driving of patrons along the narrow country roads.

“There have been numerous near-miss incidents involving horses and dog walkers, raising serious and ongoing safety concerns for both residents and visitors.

“Local residents have repeatedly reported that drivers attempt to squeeze past walkers and horse riders in unsafe conditions.”

Miss Mulgrew added that Lockeringe Lane is a single-track road that cannot take more traffic.

She says coaches and vans cannot get through and have to reverse back into the main Alkham Valley Road, causing disruption and dangerous blockages.

She said it causes a wider problem when that road is needed as an alternative when the nearby A20 is blocked, which often happens because of a build-up in port traffic.

“These obstructions could have a major impact on the ability of residents in Folkestone and Dover to travel efficiently,” she added.

“The implication is clear: any increase in hotel capacity will place further strain on already overstretched rural roads.”

DDC has so far received 10 letters of objection, and Kent County Council’s highways department says the site “would benefit from the creation of formal passing places along Lockeringe Lane”.

But commenting on behalf of the applicant, Archway Design Services said the scheme has been “carefully designed”.

“This low level of guest accommodation is deliberate to ensure that the infrastructure and the nearby locality is not impacted in a negative way yet still providing a high level of facilities for the guests within the footprint of the original building,” it said.

“Our design is to ensure we can create the nine letting rooms with a minimum impact on the locality from a visual appearance by retaining the appearance of an agricultural building.

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“We were also concerned about light pollution and the proposed layout is intended to ensure there are no additional windows or doors facing outwards across the fields to reinforce the design of retaining an agricultural appearance and yet still function as a hotel.

“We do appreciate that not all applications find favour with residents but we believe that the application meets the government's requirements and that this development has been carefully designed so as to not negatively impact the locality.”

A decision on the application will be made by planning officers at DDC.