Residents have slammed “crazy” plans for new homes on the edge of a town centre park which they say will spoil the feel of the “beautiful” area.

Thanet District Council (TDC) wants to put three townhouses and a bungalow on a former gardeners’ depot site at the end of Pierremont Park in Broadstairs.

It says the area is “underutilised” and is described as brownfield due to its previous use as a plant nursery area and former work space.

It adds that the scheme would deliver a good standard of housing in a sustainable area.

However, it has been met with fierce backlash from those living nearby.

Lorraine Williams’ home is opposite the park, where the Grade II-listed Pierremont Hall is located.

She told KentOnline: “It seems like a ridiculous idea to put houses in that location.

“They're talking about chopping down some trees. Thanet's really short of trees.

“If you stand and look into the park from the entrance that's going to be used, all you see at the moment is beautiful greenery.

“It's reducing the amenity of that part - at the moment it feels like a lovely little woodland walk and is really important for so many people.

“You come in and you've got beautiful Pierremont Hall and then it's all trees and suddenly it's not going to be like that anymore which is terrible.”

The access route to the new homes is planned on an already tarmaced driveway entrance to the former depot off Pierremont Avenue.

But Ms Williams believes this could be dangerous for users of the green space, with cars and pedestrians crossing paths.

Broadstairs Town Council shared these concerns.

Head of the council’s planning committee, Cllr Steve Roberts, explained the shared access could potentially put walkers at risk of harm by formally establishing the driveway access to the new housing.

There are further worries surrounding how bins will be collected when they are wheeled down the driveway to its entrance with the public road on Pierremont Avenue.

Cllr Roberts (Green) said: “Then there's issues if you're leaving the bins there overnight.

“They start to get pushed around and vandalised.

“We’re on the coast here too. Seagulls can turn a bin into what looks like a litter apocalypse quite easily.”

The site of the proposed new homes is a former TDC service depot and plant nursery for gardeners.

It is currently unused and run down but Ms Williams - who has lived near the park for 13 years - says it was in good, working condition just one year ago.

The magazine editor added: “To remove a place where people who are taking care of the park can be based and can do all the things they need to do is absolutely crazy.

“The town council had a plan with voluntary gardening groups who were going to use that space.

“That makes complete sense.”

Safety of the future residents has been raised, due to the pedestrian route through the park from the town centre that will be taken to get to the new houses.

Ms Williams says there are issues with anti-social behaviour, street drinking and drugs in the vicinity.

She said: “The only way you can access that location is by walking through the park.

“I wouldn't feel safe doing that every time I've got to go in and out of my house after dark.”

Each property will be allocated one parking space - which objectors say is not enough - and the houses will have three bedrooms, with the bungalow having two bedrooms.

The existing out-buildings will be demolished.

In planning documents, the council says the land is currently “dilapidated commercial structures which are proposed to be replaced with a residential development of high quality”.

It adds that trees which are set to be removed are not of “any individual quality” and will be replaced by new planting and hedgerows.

Furthermore, the local authority anticipates no additional parking pressure on Pierremont Avenue, due to the homes’ town centre location.

TDC said it was unable to comment further on planning applications while the process is underway.