Herne Bay Football Club opens new clubhouse as residents voice fears

Herne Bay Football Club have been branded "neighbours from hell" with residents claiming fans jump into their gardens and urinate on fences.

The comments emerged in response to a licensing application which saw Canterbury City Council allow a new £100,000 clubhouse to serve drinks until midnight every night.

But Lesley King, who lives close to the ground, says even with the opening hours as they have been, she has been forced to put up with bad behaviour.

“I have already experienced problems with noise when people are leaving at night, I have also had someone urinate up against the garden fence,” she commented on the council’s online licensing website.

“They are like the neighbours from hell,” wrote S.L. Ball, who lives a few streets away.

“Our road is totally congested by their vehicles which are parked nose-to-tail – sometimes the parking is so bad it is difficult and dangerous to get in an out of your own driveway.

“I cannot understand why this is allowed in such a busy residential area at all and if you then add extended hours and more drinking into the equation it will become intolerable – don't you think as neighbours we have suffered enough?”

Club chairman Stuart Fitchie responded, saying: “Our activities are what they are but I wouldn’t want to make anyone feel that we are the neighbours for hell.

“I’m not aware of any anti-social behaviour of our fans, but I am very approachable and I’m more than happy to have a chat with anyone who has concerns.

“The new clubhouse is going to be a massively good thing for the club and for the local community; it doubles up as a place you can go and enjoy an affordable drink and some good food.

“A lot of pubs are going out of business, we would welcome people to come down