LOCALS of a posh town are up in arms about plans to open a Domino’s store, claiming it doesn’t fit in and will ruin their stylish way of life.
Residents of Tenterden, Kent, say the pizza chain “doesn’t seem like a good fit” with the independent shops and boutiques that line the upper-crust high street.
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Domino’s has applied for permission to fill the old bank building, which has been vacant since 2017.
The top two floors of the building are already being turned into offices through a separate application, but the ground floor could be turned into a takeaway.
Reactions from the community in the town, which was found to be Kent’s “most stylish” in a survey of 5,000 people, have been mixed.
Tenterden resident Jane Wilson told Kent Online: “I’m just not convinced that the bank is the right place for it – both in terms of the lovely old building and the location in the high street
“We take such pride in our independent shops, cafes and restaurants, and I just worry that this will affect all of them.”
She added that she felt a need to “keep Tenterden as Tenterden”.
Jane was backed up by Sarah James, who regularly visits the town.
Sarah said that chain restaurants are easily accessible at a nearby shopping centre, while home delivery means customers don’t even have to go that far, so a new store in Tenterden isn’t needed.
She added: “Tenterden has something different and while I don’t have a problem with Domino’s at all, it doesn’t seem like a good fit.”
However, local business owner Emma Pinfold called the plans “a real positive for the high street“.
She said: “It’s certainly better than an empty shop, put it that way.”
Domino’s have been contacted for comment.
