A SURVEY by an MP has found Dartford town centre to be “tired, rundown and dirty”.

Dartford MP Dr Howard Stoate’s survey asked people what they liked and didn’t like about the town centre and what improvements could be made.

He says residents repeatedly voiced concerns over the amount of rubbish and litter found on pavements and the rundown look they felt had increasingly come to dominate the town.

Dr Stoate said: “People are very concerned about the town's appearance. People have told me it’s tired, rundown and unfortunately, dirty.”

“We have to address this urgently.”

The Labour MP, who is standing down at the next general election, says he will be urging Dartford Council to do more for the town centre.

He said: “The first issue I will raise is that of general cleanliness levels in Dartford, particularly in relation to pavements.

“It is quite clear to me and survey respondents, that the council's current efforts at maintaining cleanliness are inadequate.”

Dartford resident of nine years, Quentin Williamson, of Sussex Road, says the town centre is “shabby” and there were too many boarded up shops.

The 51-year-old said: “I always tell people Kent is the garden of England and Dartford the compost heap in the corner.

“The worst thing about the town is the pavements, in my road it dates from 1961.”

Deputy leader of Dartford Council, Councillor Tony Martin, said: “I think it’s important not to talk down the town.

“I’ll admit Lowfield Street looks terrible but I don’t think the rest of the town centre is.

“There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Dartford.”

There are plans in the pipeline for a 120,000sq ft Tesco supermarket, 934 homes as well as shops, cafes and restaurants to be built in Dartford town centre.

A planning application for the Lowfield Vision, a £300m town centre development, has been submitted to the council.

Do you think the town centre is "shabby"? Leave your comments below.