Divisive plans to replace seven beach huts at a popular beauty spot have been withdrawn following an issue over land ownership – leading to fears the seafront has been “ruined”.
But chiefs at Dover District Council (DDC) say a fresh application will soon be re-submitted for the chalets in Kingsdown, near Deal, amid concerns from villagers.
It comes as seven huts were already removed from along the coastline in March this year, with the application applying for permission for replacement chalets.
But a spokesperson for DDC has now revealed the application had to be withdrawn due to a “mapping error regarding land ownership”.
They said: “We can confirm that a planning application to replace seven beach huts on existing plots in Kingsdown has been withdrawn to correct a mapping error regarding land ownership.
“The intention is to resubmit this as a fresh application in the next few weeks. We apologise for any confusion caused.”
In DDC’s beach hut policy published in March this year, they laid out their intention to unlock waiting lists, as the likes of Kingsdown had been closed to new applicants for several years.
It would be tackled by introducing short-term leases of three years and adding additional stock across the district to meet the high demand.
Council documents ahead of a cabinet meeting in October last year revealed DDC’s intention to eventually add 33 more beach huts to Kingsdown seafront.
DDC never submitted an official location or proposal for the 33 huts, which were set to cost £130,000 to construct.
But at the time, about 100 neighbours attended a public meeting to express concerns over how their village, which one resident claimed has remained unchanged “since Victorian days”, would be swamped by traffic if that scheme went ahead.
But with the removal of seven huts earlier this year from the existing stock of 23 chalets, residents feel the delay in installing replacements has now “ruined” the look of the iconic seafront.
Kate Forey, who has lived in Kingsdown for 19 years and previously rented a beach hut, said: “The area was iconic.
“There are multiple paintings, pictures [of the beach], but it’s been changed completely.
“I think one of the main inaccuracies was DDC said they owned North Road, but it’s actually a private road.
“So they removed the application, and of course, it will be resubmitted, but I think the damage has been done.
“I feel they’ve been foolish because they’ve missed the summer months now.
“We had to be out of our hut in March, so, in theory, there was plenty of time to get cracking.
“I think they need to replace them like-for-like. There used to be such a variety of colours, and the palette the council have gone for is very muted.
“The beach used to be so much more interesting, and personally, I don’t see how they can replace them.”
The original application, submitted in June this year, received six objections and no statements in support, with concerns raised about potential harm to the Kingsdown conservation area.
Ringwould and Kingsdown Parish Council, which opposed the application, had stated: “We feel the current beach scene is iconic and appealing to all who visit the area.
“Careful consideration must be given to damage to the conservation area and the potential harm to tourism by overhauling the beach huts, making the area appear cluttered and generic.
“The design of the huts shows little imagination. The older huts are individual and a talking point for visitors.
“The application shows a lack of understanding of the sensitivity of the locality in terms of conservation and wildlife, with no evidence of an overall plan for the protection and maintenance of the beach area.”
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It’s currently unknown when the plans for the seven huts will be resubmitted.
