It's decision time over ambitious plans for a water sports and inflatable aqua park.

Dover district council's planning committee will vote on the application for Sandwich on Thursday.

The town council voted for the proposal in January and district officers are recommending its approval.

But neighbours are almost split down the middle over it.

The district council has received 52 objections from people licing nearby, with one comment saying it would be "out of character with medieval Sandwich".

Another said the development "should go to Dover/Ramsgate/Margate instead, where there are more young people; encouraging young people to the area will bring noise, vandalism and theft".

Others said it was is too close to housing, would bring noise and disturbance, cause traffic problems and affect wildlife.

The district council also received 46 letters of support with people saying it was a welcome addition to sports provision in the area.

It was said it would complement other attractions such as Betteshanger Country Park in Deal.

Others said it would bring economic benefits and boost Sandwich and that the plan was a good design and well laid out.

The development would be called North Poulders Field and would be on the corner of Ash Road and the A256 Sandwich Bypass.

The scheme, devised by Hume Planning Consultancy, would attract wake boarders and provide other water-based activities.

The cost for a 32x21m inflatable area is estimated to be nearly £47,000.

A reception building, cable pulley system, inflatable aqua park, storage units, parking and landscaping are included in the proposals.

District officers say the development would be a welcome addition to the range of water-based leisure activities in the Dover area.

Planners said there would be health, recreational and economic benefits.

They added the visual impact would be contained within the site and immediate area.

They believed concerns over traffic effects were dealt with or could be through planning conditions.

The application will be heard by Dover District Council's planning committee from 6pm on Thursday at the authority's headquarters at the White Cliffs Business Park in Whitfield.

Debates have returned to the council chamber as coronavirus restrictions ease but there are still limits to the number of members of the public that can attend.

But the meeting can also be viewed online by following instructions here.

Read more: All the latest news from Sandwich

To see more public notices, click here