A boat service running between two Kent towns would spark a much-needed tourism boost, a councillor says.

Mike Sole - who represents the Lib Dems at KCC - wants to see visitors ferried along the coastline between Herne Bay and Whitstable.

He believes such a scheme would help Herne Bay attract more tourists currently drawn to its 'trendier' neighbour.

He has already held talks with the Whitstable's harbour master about the “novel” vision.

And he thinks the project – which would see as many as 40 visitors travelling between the centres of both towns – could eventually be spread further afield to places like the Isle of Sheppey.

“The idea is to get the tourists in Whitstable to actually experience Herne Bay,” Cllr Sole explained.

“We have to look at ways of spreading out the tourists who come down to Whitstable but don’t travel further along the coast.

“It’s not a difficult journey to Herne Bay, but we have to make it such an attractive offer that day-trippers would do that. It’s got to be worth looking at and seeing if it’s commercially viable.

“The harbour master over in Whitstable said, theoretically, it was possible, but work would need to be done at both ends to make it suitable for the boats to dock and load passengers.”

Senior Herne Bay councillor Andrew Cook had discussed with local authority engineers the possibility of installing a floating pontoon for boats to dock at the end of the town’s pier.

The Tory believes such a project would cost about £80,000 to deliver, as it would also involve the installation of steps and gates at the end of the jetty.

Should the Bay be successful in its bid for £20 million of levelling up funding, Cllr Cook says the project is one that could be secured with the government cash.

“We have discussed whether we could have a floating pontoon that falls and rises on the tide going down to the pier so you come from Whitstable Harbour and join up with Herne Bay,” Cllr Cook, who also helps to run the pier, added.

“If you have the infrastructure there, a boat service will be possible. It’s not something a council’s going to fund, unless we get some levelling-up money.

“We used to have a passenger speedboat that used to do it in the '60s and '50s, and it would recreate those days beautifully."

KentOnline revealed in August that the city council is in the early stages of drawing up an application for the "game changing" money.

At the time, leader Ben Fitter-Harding (Con) said he expected the scheme to centre on the town’s main seaside attractions – the Bandstand, King’s Hall and pier.

In the 1920s, the Medway Queen, a paddle steamer, regularly ferried holidaymakers between Strood, Southend and Herne Bay.

The vessel made its last journey in 1963, having played a pivotal role in the evacuation of Dunkirk in the Second World War.

Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “An outline conversation about the boat service took place last year as suggested, but nothing has come of it since then.

“If any operator would be interested in using the harbour for that purpose, we would consider it."