Divisive plans to significantly expand a Whitstable caravan park on land next to “one of the most important” bird reserves in the country are set to be approved next week.

The scheme for Alberta Holiday Park in Seasalter has faced continued opposition from the RSPB amid fears the development will harm the wildlife population.

But having now gained the backing of council officers, the proposals for a further 91 mobile homes look set to get the go-ahead.

Members sitting on Canterbury City Council’s planning committee have been given a recommendation to rubber-stamp the expansion plans at a meeting on Tuesday.

The caravans are earmarked to go on land unattached to the existing holiday park, on the opposite side of the railway bridge.

The plot, which is off Faversham Road and faces Lucerne Drive, is deemed by the RSPB to be of great importance to the population of curlew - Europe’s largest wading bird.

Curlew - among a host of other species - are regular visitors to the neighbouring wetland nature reserve at Seasalter Levels, which has recently undergone a revamp.

Next week’s meeting is not the first time the Alberta proposals have gone before the planning committee

Last September, councillors raised fears over the impact on the “priceless habitats” - which are “one of the most important areas we have in the country”.

They ordered the applicants to come back with new reports showing evidence of how the scheme would not affect the neighbouring Special Protection Area (SPA).

Having submitted further documents, Park Holidays - the firm which runs the complex - says it has mitigated the environmental impact and is confident the expansion will “not adversely affect the integrity” of the area.

Natural England, the statutory advisor to the government, also withdrew its objection late last year.

Now, council officers - after taking “careful consideration” - say the site only provides “sub-optimal habitat” for wildlife.

“Ornithologists at Natural England confirm that the application site is not of importance for the curlew population as the survey work demonstrates that they move irregularly through the site in small numbers”, they state.

“Rather, the site is considered to provide sub-optimal habitat due to its small size and its location next to Faversham Road, existing caravan parks and residential development.”

Despite the site being on a flood zone, officers say the expansion “would bring benefits to the rural tourism economy”.

If approved, the caravans would be occupied strictly for holiday purposes on a 10-and-a-half-month operating season between March and January.

Seasalter residents previously voiced their concerns that the village could “become like Sheppey” if yet more caravans were built. But with the council’s recommendation to approve, the expansion is set to become a reality.