Plans to create a unique surf park and five star hotel at a country park have divided opinion - with some calling the developments unnecessary and potentially harmful to wildlife.

The combined £50 million development is planned for popular Betteshanger Country Park near Deal, with planning applications for both separate proposals having now been submitted.

But fears have been raised about how the schemes destined for the former colliery will affect the area's animals and plants - with concerns for skylarks, lizards and doves in particular.

Others say the wave lagoon is not needed as the south east is already surrounded by the sea.

Another commenter said it would be difficult to hire enough people to run the projects.

Others however have spoken in support of the ambitious schemes, who say it will be a needed boost for tourism in the south east.

Management revealed their plans to create the luxury 120-bedroom hotel with a spa, gym, restaurant and bar earlier this year.

Since appearing on the planning portal for Dover District Council however, 51 people have objected to the scheme, while eight spoke in favour.

Nicola Dyer, a member of the public against it, said: "I can't believe this is even being proposed.

"This is a nature reserve and this is (an) absolutely unnecessary development, which harms the very purpose of the land and natural surroundings."

Patricia Blackett said: "This area is being completely destroyed by more and more development without any forward thinking.

"The water companies are already not able to cope with the amount of sewage being produced by more and more people living on concreted over land that disrupts the natural drainage of water and waste."

But Stephen Addis said: "It will be a very welcome addition to local facilities. It will create much needed tourism and employment.

"We need more local hotels to encourage overnight stays which encourage tourism to our area, which will generate revenue for local businesses."

Jon Stevens-Hall, also in favour of the scheme, said: "The proposed hotel appears to be intended to be a high quality establishment and hence the level of spend per head by guests in the area is likely to be high.

"This is a brownfield site which was previously an economic and employment hub for the town."

Similarly, the second application for a surfing lagoon and pools has attracted 63 objections. Another 94 people are in favour.

In his objection, Nigel Coombs said: "There is already a water sport place in Sandwich.

"This in itself seems ridiculous as we have the sea all around us.

"We have the pleasure of being able to swim off Deal and Walmer if the water companies aren't dumping sewage making it off limits.

"More theme park type facilities?

"How is any of this helping the people that love it here due to the fact it allows simple pleasures like walking by the sea, walking in the countryside without hordes of pleasure seekers down from London ruining the place.

"You only have to look at Whitstable and what has happened there and how unpleasant life can be for the local community when it's taken over by people who don't live in the area and just see it as a huge theme park already."

Emma Braham added: "It would also be very difficult to find staff to work in such a location, as the hospitality industry are already struggling to find staff.

"A surfing lagoon surely would be more appropriate closer to the sea."

The proposal for the surf park also includes a building to house a café, shop, changing facilities and multi-use space. It is modelled to be similar to another attraction, The Wave at Bristol.

There would be 15 overnight holiday pods, a learning hive, yoga studio, fitness/health and wellbeing facilities and a bicycle track.

This application is by a company called THE SEAHIVE.

Andy Britcliffe, in favour of it said on the portal: "(This is) an extraordinary opportunity to build a modern venue that can create fantastic fun and commercial opportunity for Kent. I really hope this becomes a reality as both I and my family will be a keen customer."

Paul Dawkins said: "We need new leisure facilities in Deal, where they contribute to the local economy and provide much needed local employment opportunities.

"This development delivers these benefits."

Betteshanger Country Park was previously Betteshanger Colliery, which closed in August 1989 as the last of four Kent coal mines

Friends of Bettershanger, a group trying to protect wildlife that has thrived there since, are also against the plans.

A joint statement from members Susan Sullivan and Peter Cutler said: "We deplore this attack on nature.

"A luxury hotel and a wave lagoon may be good for tourism and the local economy but it’s likely to prove disastrous for the site’s wildlife.

"Nature, as we all know is in deep trouble. Habitats are being degraded and species lost at a scale never seen before.

"The Betteshanger proposals are a prime example of why we are losing our wildlife at such an unprecedented rate."

Friends of Betteshanger say skylarks nest where the wave lagoon is proposed yet their numbers overall have fallen by 75% since 1970 and are still declining.

The group says open ground nesting habitat would be removed under the proposals.

The Friends add the county park has the second largest colony of lizard orchids in the whole country, second only to the population at Sandwich Bay.

'It is considered unlikely that the proposals will significantly harm biodiversity...'

Ms Sullivan and Mr Cutler said: "They are one of the areas’s iconic species and should be celebrated as a jewel in the district’s wildlife assets."

Friends of Betteshanger stress the turtle doves, which had a sanctuary created for them at the park, are also threatened.

An ecological appraisal by Aspect Ecology, consultants for the developers, said that any habitat lost to the development would be replaced.

It said safeguarding would be done for rare and protected species. Further survey work is to be carried on bats, water voles and reptiles and results of this will be published in a follow-up report.

The consultants concluded: "The proposals have sought to minimise impacts. It is considered unlikely that the proposals will result in significant harm to biodiversity."

Stuart O'Leary, head of Betteshanger Country Park, said: “THE SEAHIVE site will see the loss of some grassland and open mosaic habitat.

"However using funding from the project new areas around the park can be created to become ideal habitat for the flowers, which will be translocated there so they can be looked after in the long term.

"This ecologically led management of large areas of the park will also create and secure new foraging habitats for bird species, including turtle doves in the long term.

“Under the proposals there will be two large areas at the park protected and given over entirely to nature."

Mr O'Leary said loss of habitat could be made up for by creating a new nature reserve and turning a disused farmer's field, of the same size as the surfing lagoon, into a new woodland.

He stressed: “Together, these measures would not only offset habitat losses from the development but would provide an overall biodiversity net gain in excess of 10%."

Speaking overall about the developments Mr O'Leary said: "The proposed uses will have an independent wastewater treatment plant associated with them and therefore will create no additional strain on the current facilities in the area.

"This is for a world-class surf and wellness facility. Surfing is a growing sport, having featured in the 2020 Olympics for the first time. There are very limited opportunities to surf in Kent and so the facility provides for a fast-growing sector.

"The tourism sectors in Kent and Dover are well established and huge contributors to the success of the area and if you look at The Wave at Bristol, as a very similar facility, you will see that it has added to the vibrancy and vitality of the local area.

"To put it in context there are only a handful of these parks across the world and if consented East Kent will sit alongside the likes of Melbourne and Brazil in having a surf park, which would be huge for the Dover district.

"Much like The Wave we do not anticipate any issues in employing the staff required."