by Sian Napier

snapier@thekmgroup.co.uk

AN online petition has been launched against plans to reinstate the former Red Spider cafe on the beach at Whitstable.

So far about 150 people have signed the petition to voice their opposition to the scheme, which has been submitted by Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company.

It has applied to Canterbury council to renew an expired planning permission for the cafe and to extend its opening hours.

But Dee Cartwright, spokesman for Whitstable Beach Campaign, which is opposing the application and has launched the petition, said the Red Spider cafe would be 66 per cent larger than the original.

“The proposed opening hours are to be 9am-10pm throughout the year and this could become a beach bar rather than a tea hut if the company applies for a liquor licence,” Ms Cartwright said.

“The size of the planned building is 55sq m but the plot size is 2km so if permission is granted it will turn that whole area of beach into valuable real estate and create a precedent for more development. It will open the floodgates on what is a site of special scientific interest.”

Ms Cartwight said Whitstable Beach Campaign was not against the fishery company but wanted to save the beach from commercial development.

“We are looking after it because if we do not we will lose something so precious.”

Ms Cartwright said the online petition would be presented to Canterbury council’s planning committee when it met to discuss the application.

James Green, development manager for Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company, has previously stated the company’s architect Peter Jackson said the cafe would improve the area.

“The facility provided by the new Red Spider cafe will enhance this part of the beach, providing a service to beach-users, local or visitors, young, old, or in between, that is otherwise hard to find or access,” he said.

“It has been conceived and designed to complement the existing area and to be sympathetic to the beach environment.”

The petition may be found at www.whitstablebeachcampaign.org

For details of the application visit www.canterbury.gov.uk and go to planning applications. The number is CA/10/02148.