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A woman has defended her plans to open a children’s home after villagers raised fears of increased crime, noise and anti-social behaviour.
Vanessa Idada says residents are wrong to discriminate against the underprivileged after more than 125 people objected to the care home bid for Aylesham.
In a planning application submitted to Dover District Council (DDC), it is revealed the five-bed house would be converted into a facility for 11 to 15-year-olds, with round-the-clock staff supervision.
It would be operated by Ms Idada’s company Vankol Homes, which also runs two other sites in Gillingham.
However, the plans have faced strong backlash from villagers, with 130 people writing to DDC to object, compared to just 17 letters of support.
Speaking to KentOnline, neighbour Julia Hayes raised concerns the home could house "troubled" children who have experienced “challenging” upbringings.
“Of course, that’s going to have a huge impact with anti-social behaviour. And even if they were all golden, well-behaved children, they would still make a lot of noise," she added.
Commenting on the council’s planning website, Mrs Y Liu wrote: “The introduction of a care home for individuals with behavioural issues could significantly disrupt the lives of local residents.
“The presence of such an institution will likely deter future buyers and decrease property values.”
Teresa Brooks added: “The proposal to turn our immediate neighbour’s house into a care home fills me with dread.
“We are regularly visited by two small grandchildren and I would not feel safe with neighbours who by the applicant's admission are ‘troubled teenagers’.”
Responding to the criticism, mother-of-one Ms Idada remarked: “These people are saying, ‘Oh these children are troubled’. Does that mean we should put them in a zoo, or throw them away?”
“No. All children’s lives matter, we need to make sure that their needs are met.
“The children will be able to follow rules - there’s no way they’re going to be running around the village, doing graffiti, or arson because staff will be supervising them 24/7.”
Planning documents explain the property in Cordale Road would be converted to accommodate three children, each with their own bedroom.
Pairs of carers working in 12-hour shifts would supervise the adolescents 24/7 with oversight from a registered manager.
The house was previously lived in by Ms Idado, who has now moved to Sturry, near Canterbury.
The application for the change of use was submitted four weeks ago.
Planning documents state the home will “support young people who have learning disabilities, autism, behaviours that challenge, or other complex needs, and help them to live safely and as independently as possible”.
The document adds: “These are children whose parents are not able to provide appropriate care and support, and who otherwise would potentially have difficult and isolated lives."
Other objectors argue that Aylesham - a village between Canterbury and Dover - is ill-suited for a children’s home due to a lack of activities.
But Ms Idada rejects this, citing the village’s Artists In Motion School of Dance, Aylesham Karate and Martial Arts Club and nearby Howletts Wild Animal Park.
She resents what she sees as discrimination towards the vulnerable youngsters she is trying to help.
“Most of these children have gone through trauma, probably they’ve been affected by bereavement, victims of domestic violence, or human trafficking - these are the children that we are going to be providing therapeutic support to, to give them the best chance in life,” said Ms Idada, 44.
“Labelling a child a problem is not the right thing to do.”
Discussing the proposal at a parish planning committee meeting last month, Cllr David Airey said the village could be a good place for underprivileged children to develop.
“I think Aylesham is just the right sort of place that would enable someone with a troubled background to grow,” he said.
“The problem is fear of the unknown. People fear their cars are going to be scratched, or that there’s going to be rubbish on the street.”
Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal
The parish council voted to reject the planning application.
A decision on whether plans for the children’s home can go ahead will be made by DDC at a later date.