An overwhelming number of objections have been made to proposals for a Starbucks coffee shop in Deal High Street.

An application for a change of use from a shoe store to a coffee shop was lodged with the district council by GK Coffee Group, an already established franchisee of the chain, in January.

Since then, more than 80 comments of objection have been listed on the council’s planning website, and only a handful of comments have been left in support of the applicant setting up in the former Shoe Zone premises.

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Nicholas Heyworth said: “I object to the change of use from retail to catering. Deal High Street needs more shops, not cafes. I also object to a chain coffee shop opening, opposite another chain coffee shop.

“Deal is attractive to residents, visitors and tourists due to its independent stores and not chain stores, which you could find on any High Street.”

Anthony Britten also said people should be supporting the existing small, local businesses instead of encouraging major corporations.

Emma Vine said: “We already have a Costa in Deal and do not want a Starbucks right opposite. We need to keep Deal’s High Street full of unique and independent shops.”

Others said they would prefer to see a new clothes or shoe shop set up in the street, which The Telegraph named High Street of the Year in 2014.

Paul Atkins said: “We don’t need another coffee shop. We need a shoe shop that sells affordable shoes for the parents of the many schoolchildren in Deal, or a toy shop or men’s clothes shop.”

Kate Baker said: “I don’t think Deal, a pretty picturesque town, with a High Street that has varied shops and retailers, needs another coffee establishment to rival Costa or Love Drinks.

“The building should remain open to retail.”

Among the few supporters is Alan Griffiths.

He said: “I support the use of closed shops to make Deal a better place.

“Although we already have many coffee shops, I would rather see a good chain like Starbucks than an empty shop.”

The Environment Agency said it did not object to the application.

GK Coffee Group is telling its online audience to “watch this space (May 2016)”. However, a Starbucks spokesman said: “We don’t have any further information at the moment.”

DDC confirmed the item was due to be discussed at the next planning committee meeting on Thursday, April 21 (subject to confirmation of the agenda).

Click here to read more of the comments.