A new 28-seater cafe/restaurant and outdoors dining area will be built on land opposite a Tudor castle in Kent.

A change of use has been approved for the vacant land known as The Captain's Garden in Victoria Road, Deal, opposite Deal Castle.

In support of the attraction, there will be a pedestrian crossing, which had been factored in amid safety concerns for traffic and pedestrians at the junction of Deal Castle Road with Victoria Road and Gilford Road.

Planning documents reveal the cafe/restaurant will have external dinning on the existing grassed area between the building and Victoria Road and that any changes to the exterior of the building will be minor, if any.

The eatery will have 52 outdoor seating covers, weather dependent, and its trading licence is listed as 8am to 10pm seven days a week, reducing during off peak months.

The kitchen will have a single domestic oven and a microwave oven to cook fresh, baked, reheated and cold food.

The documents state there will be no car parking.

Among the objectors was Walmer Parish Council, which submitted a detailed rejection to the application.

Among its concerns was the likelihood of traffic colliding with the island which may have pedestrians on, a possibility highlighted by a report commissioned by English Heritage from an independent safety consultant, EAS Transport Planning.

Walmer Parish Council’s chairman and planning committee chairman Cllr James Murray said: "We made it clear in our consultee comments to Dover District Council that while we supported the creation of a cafe in the Captain's Gardens, we have serious concerns about the potential danger to pedestrians and others of the location of a traffic island so close to the junction with Deal Castle Road.

"We are particularly concerned because of the difficulties that school parties and elderly people may encounter if they wish to cross this busy major road from the castle to use the cafe."

An English Heritge spokesman said: "We can confirm that planning has been granted by Dover District Council to change the use of the former custodian’s bungalow, opposite Deal Castle.

"While we supported the creation of a cafe in the Captain's Gardens, we have serious concerns about the potential danger to pedestrians and others of the location of a traffic island..."

"English Heritage is now working with a local café owner in the hope of bringing the building - which has been vacant for over 20 years, back into use a tea room.

"The charity will be installing a traffic island to enable pedestrians safe access across the road between the castle and the café.

"We are pleased to be able to bring this building back into use, while supporting local business and providing facilities for locals and visitors."

Conditions of development specify it must happen within three years and samples of materials to be used for the pedestrian crossing must be shown to and agrees by the planning authority before it is built.

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