From the http://www.sevenoakschronicle.co.uk 22 August 2012

PLANS TO REDEVELOP RUN DOWN RED LION PUB

A LONG-STANDING grot spot which has blighted a village for five years will be converted to eight new houses if a controversial planning application is accepted.

The former "Red Lion" pub and its acre of grounds, in Sevenoaks Road, Borough Green, was sold at auction to Empire Works Ltd on April 11, for £490,000.

The developer has now submitted a proposal to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to change the existing building, which has been empty since May 2007, into two homes, with six more built in the grounds.

Works will also include a construction of a new access road to the site and a roundabout to control traffic at the junction between Sevenoaks Road and Western Road.

Borough Green Parish Council chairman Mike Taylor is largely in favour of the development.

He explained: "There have been some concerns but the council supports the development as it will remove an eyesore and smarten up that part of the village.

"We will take this opportunity to press the developer to add traffic lights at the junction instead of a roundabout.

"That would give us four-way control that would regulate flow of vehicles in the whole area.

"Some people are concerned that any form of traffic control will mean vehicles stopping and starting outside their homes but it's people sitting there then speeding off when they see a space in the traffic that causes noise and pollution – if we regulate the traffic this will make it less of a problem."

But Sevenoaks Road resident Scott Millener, who lives opposite the "Red Lion," is worried about the effect the development would have on his home and the village as a whole.

He said: "Why should the developer put a blighter on neighbouring properties in order to make money?

"A roundabout might favourably alter traffic at peak times but most of the time it will just make the situation worse. Traffic lights would be worse than the roundabout – causing constantly idling traffic outside my house.

"We will have months of traffic delays and increased traffic in the village – for the small number of extra properties the development will provide the disruptions are huge.

"The developer needs to reduce the intensity of the proposed development – yes convert the pub into two homes, and put another two or three in the grounds – six is a lot and what they have to do to the road is huge."

Gurjeet Dhillon, of Empire Works Ltd, said: "The current site is an eyesore. Redevelopment will deter vandals from the site and enhance the area.

"The derelict pub and land is almost the first impression people get when entering the village so it can't be left in its current state."