Controversial plans to build 12 beach huts on one of Kent’s most popular beauty spots have been scrapped following a massive public backlash.

More than 100 residents blasted Canterbury City Council’s proposals to erect the wooden structures along the slopes in Marine Crescent, Tankerton, after they were first revealed in December.

Locals believed the scheme would have spoiled that part of the Whitstable seafront, fearing it would have exacerbated parking problems in the area and made it even more “overcrowded”.

But in a victory for campaigners, the local authority has today announced it has withdrawn its application for the site.

Spokesman Rob Davies said: "Having listened to concerns raised by local residents, we have taken the decision to withdraw the planning application for 12 new beach huts at Marine Crescent in Tankerton.

"We had proposed to build them close to the existing huts, but the comments in response to the application have been very clear."

The authority launched the bid last month, shortly after similar proposals for a strip of land close by were snubbed by councillors.

Drawings for the original project – which also received dozens of objections – showed 20 huts would be squeezed between two lines of structures off Marine Parade.

Despite downsizing the scheme and moving it to a plot next to Tankerton Sailing Club’s storage area, it too attracted widespread criticism.

Neighbour Gavin Serkin argued: “There are so many people vying for space.

“There are dogs, bikes and people trying to use the same promenade, and it is very overcrowded.

“From the environmental aspect, our coastline doesn’t have many green spaces left.

“If you look from Whitstable to Swalecliffe, the majority of the green area that was the Tankerton Slopes is developed and these beach huts have mushroomed over the last couple of decades.”

City council bosses wanted to build the huts in a bid to cash in on the staycation boom and restore its Covid-hit coffers.

It is already expecting to complete the first batch of 94 new shacks earmarked for plots in Herne Bay by March, with more than 1,000 people set to fight it out for their deeds.

Mr Davies added: "Given we also received objections to an earlier plan for 20 huts at Marine Parade, Tankerton, it is obvious that residents have little appetite for new huts in this area of the district.

"We have no plans to revisit these proposals at the current time."