The Darling Buds of May was filmed in Pluckley in the 1990s

Villagers in Pluckley fear they may not be consulted about the plans because planning permission is not needed if existing boundaries are used.

However, a licence is needed from the Environment Agency for the site, which closed as a brickworks 15 years ago.

Residents have organised a meeting on Saturday in the village, which was the setting for the Darling Buds of May.

Ecological studies

The 1990's television drama, based on a series of books, was filmed in the village near Ashford.

Ashford Borough Council has granted a certificate of lawfulness for the brickworks site to be used as a rubble recycling plant.

Stephanie Banham, village campaigner, said: "This application has bypassed all the usual planning processes.

"Highways have not had a chance to consult there has been no ecological studies been done on the site.

'Completely different'

"So by using the means that they have to obtain the licence we have not really been able to fully assess the impact on the site.

Jackie Grebby, of Pluckley Parish Council, said: "The actual working plan from the applicants is completely different in some degrees to the certificate of lawfulness issued by the council.

"We feel now that it should be thrown out and a brand new application made to the county."

Ashford Borough Council has said planning permission was not needed for the site to be turned into a recycling plant.

While Kent County Council, which is in charge of waste issues, has said it is objecting to the plans and that the borough council has to address planning issues.

The Environment Agency, which is in charge of waste licensing, said it would not be considering the application until all the planning issues are resolved.