RESIDENTS have protested outside a “hostel” set to open in May, which they fear will be a “nightmare next door”.

Developer HFHA Group Ltd has planning permission to turn the empty offices inside Cygnet House in Windmill Street into a hotel with 60 en suite rooms.

However, it advertised the five-storey building online as the Journeys Gravesend Hostel with accommodation starting from £9 per night, causing nearby residents to fear it will blight their lives.

Around 60 residents protested outside Cygnet House on Saturday (April 25), and Gordon Jenns, of Sheppy Place, said afterwards: “We wanted to show the developers how strongly we are against having a hostel here.

“As a hostel with beds at just £9 a night there will be people coming and going late at night, so it will be noisy.

“Also, when it’s that cheap you don’t know who is going to be staying there. It could be drink and drug users crashing there."

The 63-year-old added: “It could be a nightmare next door.”

Journeys south east area manager Dan Dennis attended the protest to answer questions and told residents Journeys Gravesend will be a budget hotel, not a hostel.

Speaking afterwards, he said: “Bedrooms will range from two beds to eight beds, but guests will have to book an entire room, not just an individual bed, and anybody who wants to book a room will have to supply a credit or debit card for security.”

He said the promotion of the hotel as the Journeys Gravesend Hostel on the company’s website was a mistake which has now been amended.

Despite Mr Dennis’ attempts to reassure residents, Victoria Avenue’s Derek Greenwood, aged 74, said: “We have no objection to a hotel there, but this will not be a proper hotel and we’re all against it.”

Mr Dennis expects the hotel to open at the end of May and says the company plans to get retrospective planning permission.

This has outraged Gravesham Council leader Councillor Mike Snelling, who says the council has applied for an injunction to prevent the property opening in breach of planning permission.

He said: “In the light of such flagrant disregard for planning law, the council is taking the strongest action possible.”