Dame Kelly Holmes' Hildenborough cafe gets go-ahead

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-25257182

Version 0 of 1.

Double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes has been given the go-ahead to open a cafe in the Kent village where she grew up.

She has been given planning permission to redevelop a former newsagent's shop in Tonbridge Road, Hildenborough.

Some residents had objected to her proposals but 11 of the 14 councillors on the Tonbridge and Malling planning committee voted for the cafe.

After the decision, Dame Kelly tweeted that "today is a very good day".

"Thanks for those who have been supporting my new venture in Hildenborough," she added.

"I will keep you posted on next steps."

In a letter supporting her application, Dame Kelly said she hoped the cafe would be "a central hub for locals to meet friends, colleagues and socialise".

A number of objections to the proposal were received by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, focusing on the size of the cafe, its location, the lack of parking, its opening hours and whether there was a need for such a facility in the village.