Plans to avoid Whitstable’s biggest summer events clashing next year have been welcomed by organisers.

Officials at Canterbury City Council are working with organising teams to ensure the annual Harbour Day, Oyster Festival and Whitstable Regatta are not held on the same weekend.

It follows a clash this year when both the Harbour Day and Regatta were held on the same weekend in August as the Herne Bay air show.

Regatta chairman Mike Shaw has welcomed the move.

He said: “When I came on board as chairman eight years ago we had a meeting and said then we can’t have the Oyster Festival, regatta and Harbour Day at the same time.

“I have always tried to keep away from it and this last year was just unfortunate that Harbour Day came at the same time as the regatta.

“It’s good – I am all for it. We need a break because people need to have money to come to events.

“There’s only one pot of money and it’s a thin spread if it’s all over one weekend.

“The idea is good and something I welcome.

“It takes out a lot of the frustration when you have got to work round everyone.”

"We need a break because people need to have money to come to events..." - Mike Shaw

Mr Shaw revealed the regatta is set to be held on August 6 and 7 next year, avoiding Harbour Day and the Oyster Festival.

The date would clash with the annual Whitstable Carnival on the Saturday evening but Mr Shaw is pleased the events will run on the same day.

Canterbury City Council spokesman Rob Daives said the authority is trying to avoid clashes.

He said: “We will be looking at the overall range of events in 2016 to try to avoid major clashes wherever possible.

“Naturally with so many events it will be impossible to stop all clashes, but we’ll be advising event organisers wherever we can.”