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Councillors have tonight voted in favour of building a £9.1 million multi-storey car park in Canterbury.

Following a lively debate and a demonstration from protestors outside the city's Guildhall, the proposal was approved by nine votes to three.

The project - which was originally forecast to cost £5 million - will see a three-storey car park erected in Station Road West.

Campaigners against the multi-storey car park protest outside the Guildhall (1373278)

It will will increase the capacity of the existing facility from 129 spaces to 374.

But the plans have been met with fierce opposition from clean air campaigners who believe it will exacerbate existing pollution and congestion problems in St Dunstan's.

The area already fails to meet environmental targets for nitrogen dioxide levels.

How the multi-storey car park in Station Road West would look (1318526)

Members of the Canterbury Clean Air campaign group gathered outside the Guildhall with placards ahead of the meeting.

The council argues that the extra parking capacity is needed to meet the growing demand of the high-speed rail link.

It claims that due to the provision of 40 electric car charging pays and the growing use of the vehicle, it will have only a "negligible effect" on air pollution in the future.