A "lack" of fitness opportunities is set to be addressed by the opening of a new studio next to a swimming pool and bowling alley.

Active Life wants the venue off Tower Parade in Whitstable to offer aerobics classes, yoga, pilates, dance and a range of junior programmes.

It is hoped the studio will be attractive to those "not comfortable exercising in a conventional gym environment".

In 2020, £700,000 plans for an extension to Whitstable Pool were approved by Canterbury City Council - however, the scheme has failed to come to fruition due to heightened building costs.

In its stead, Active Life is proposing to build a temporary studio in the car park, which will be in operation for up to five years.

Planning permission for the permanent extension will lapse next year, yet it is hoped the proposals will be reborn later down the line.

In the meantime, the temporary fitness studio is envisaged to become a key exercise venue in the town.

Plans for the new structure - which will be able to cater for 22 people at a time - have been submitted to the city council.

Documents attached to the application state: "Whitstable is currently lacking a group exercise studio and to that end, the local community is unable to easily access the social, health and well-being benefits that are available to neighbouring communities who have the advantage of localised provision.

"Providing a class-based fitness studio in Whitstable will reduce the need for locals to travel to neighbouring settlements to access such facilities – thereby providing a more sustainable solution for the town.

"Fitness classes will be run alongside the extensive programme of children’s swimming classes that are available within Whitstable Pool, enabling parents/guardians to train while their children are swimming."

The studio - poised to stand beside MFA Bowl - is set to be "unobtrusive" to the immediate surroundings and result in the loss of four existing parking spaces.