Time has been called on a pub.

The Papermakers’ Arms, Loose Road, Maidstone, is vacant and destined for demolition if plans before Maidstone council are approved.

Development company Brookheath wants to build a block of six one and two-bed apartments at the front of the site, and a further five houses on the pub’s parking area behind.

The new development would extend behind the rear gardens of numbers 511 to 525 Loose Road, and abut the gardens of properties in Berwyn Grove.

The applicants say the pub would not be missed since The Swan pub in one direction, and the Walnut Tree in the other, are both “within five minutes’ walk”.

However, the scheme has been criticised by South Ward Cllr Ian Chittenden, who has called it in for examination by the planning committee.

The scheme density equates to 89 dwellings per hectare, well above the normal minimum of 30 dph.

Cllr Chittenden said the scheme was unsympathetic to the area, had insufficient landscaping and with only five proposed parking spaces would result in overspill parking on the already congested Loose Road.

The standard ratio of 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling would suggest that 17 spaces were needed.

The scheme is also opposed by the North Loose Residents’ Association.

People have until September 11 to submit comments on the proposal to Maidstone council. Details can be viewed under application number 08/1559 on the council website: www.digitalmaidstone.co.uk