A surfer has hit out at plans for a first-of-its-kind lagoon at a Kent country park, describing it as “commendable” but “unsuitable”.

The multimillion-pound surf park is proposed for former colliery Betteshanger Country Park, near Deal, and would offer waves all year round for users ranging from beginners to experts.

It is planned alongside a new luxury hotel and spa, plus outside glamping pods, in a bid to bring thousands of tourists to the popular park each year.

An application for the surf park, to be known as The Seahive, has been submitted to Dover District Council (DDC), but has yet to be decided on.

It has attracted a massive 2,057 comments - 1,274 in favour and 778 against.

Now, a post has appeared on a website for a group called Kent Surf, which is run by “active local surfers” who are “dedicated to serving the surfing community”.

The blog post, from a surfer named Wesley, reads: “While I am genuinely enthusiastic about the idea of a surf park, it is imperative to view this proposal objectively.

“The proposed location for the surf park in Kent is environmentally unsuitable.

“Although the concept is commendable, it should be realised in a more appropriate location.

“This venture largely revolves around profits and opportunities, and we must remain vigilant.

“There are alternative sites in the county, like Ashford and Maidstone, which are better suited in terms of connectivity and infrastructure.

“The current site holds immense value and stands as a unique sanctuary in a densely populated region.

“Preserving our natural habitats is of utmost importance.

“Relocating the proposed surf park to a more suitable location will benefit everyone in the long run.”

A spokesperson for The Seahive said: "This view is neither representative of the broader local surfing community nor is it based on any understanding of the deep-rooted social, community, educational or ecological objectives of the proposed scheme.

“It is disappointing that [Kent Surf] did not take the time to speak to the team to assimilate a better understanding of the scheme and ecological commitments prior to publishing.

“Firstly, this is about mental health first and foremost, at a time of national emergency, particularly for young people, with local support services being radically cut whilst rates of self harm, depression and suicide are spiralling through the roof.

“To help address this, we will be giving away up to 2,500 free surf sessions to local state kids every year, providing discounted (healthy) teatime meals for kids who qualify for free school meals, running holiday camps for disadvantaged kids, and giving away free space to selected charities to run full-time educational intervention courses and surf therapy programmes to benefit the local community and young people who need it the most. Not because we have to. But because it matters.

“In terms of ecology, creating a net biodiversity gain has been a prerequisite from the very beginning. The Seahive will sit on only 6% of the footprint of the country park. We will be ringfencing a parcel of land equating to 48 acres (20% of the park) for an ecologically-led regime of enhancements.

“We will also be employing a full-time ecology warden, embedding a Visitor Management Programme to both educate people about the park wildlife whilst directing footfall away from the most ecologically sensitive areas, and will be providing funding to create new areas of managed habitat throughout the broader park.

“If nothing is done, much of the parks existing habitat will continue to suffer severe degradation. It has been underinvested in for years and years. By investing in it and doing so in a structured way with a detailed habitat management plan with clear accountability, the ecology will not just be protected, but it will thrive for future generations".

But concerns over the impact on the environment were also raised in regards to the separate application for the 120-bed hotel and spa.

These included fears over scale and intensity, increased pollution, loss of open space and impact on the local wildlife including rare and endangered Turtle Doves.

In addition, more than 600 written objections were sent to DDC’s planning portal over the original scheme, with protests also being held by campaigners.

The application for the hotel was rejected in July by councillors, but a revised application was submitted by bosses for Betteshanger Country Park last month.

Changes include a range of additional measures to support wildlife, such as relocating the spa area to retain two ponds, whilst also still delivering a reed-bed area to create a managed ecology zone.

Developers say this will provide a habitat gain for the Water Vole species in the area in response to concerns previously raised by councillors and the public.

Addressing concerns for protected species, 9.1 acres of new land will be added to the park, specifically creating new habitat for Turtle Doves, along with a further 15 acres of off-site land at Hammill Fields.

A dedicated wildlife warden will also be responsible for overseeing the management and protection of wildlife.

The hotel and spa will take up only 3% of the park, bosses say, and will help provide “a safe and financially sustainable future” for the land.

It comes as it is currently running at a loss of £1,000 a day.

Ben Geering, a spokesman for the park, said: “In order to make Betteshanger Country Park economically sustainable and remain publicly accessible, we have identified the hotel, spa and surfing lagoon as suitable revenue streams.

“They will not only enhance the experiential tourism offering in east Kent and attract visitors to provide a much-needed boost to the local economy, but it will also ensure the park can invest in ecological and natural conservation in the long term, something which has been lacking in the past.

“We have outlined how we will address environmental concerns with significant mitigation measures in our latest planning application.

“Over 20% of the park will be managed specifically for ecology without public access, as well as further compensation areas offsite larger than the proposed development area of six acres.”

As a private park, Betteshanger does not receive additional funding, with the majority of its income coming from its The Lamp Room cafe and parking.

Developers say an overnight stay at the country park will be in economic terms 8.5 times more than a day trip there.