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Council considers installing more beach huts in Coast Drive car park, Romney Marsh
06:00, 15 April 2021
updated: 15:30, 15 April 2021
Plans to add more colourful beach huts to the Romney Marsh coastline are in the works.
Around 28 chalets already line the seafront at Littlestone on Sea, close to the New Romney Sea Cadet building.
But now officers from Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) have met up with members of New Romney Town Council (NRTC) to propose adding between 70 and 100 new huts to land in front of Coast Drive car park.
They could be similar in appearance to the new wooden beach huts which were recently installed between Folkestone and Sandgate.
Mayor of New Romney, Cllr Paul Thomas, supports the proposal, adding that there are already hundreds of people on the waiting list for a hut at Littlestone.
He said: "This is great news. We fully support the FHDC approach to increase tourism in the area.
"The design would be similar to that used in Folkestone, which has been very well received.
"These beach huts will complement the ones currently operated by NRTC in the beach area."
As well as the new chalets, another building on site is planned, which would help service the new huts.
FHDC is also proposing to resurface the car park, it is understood.
A spokesman for FHDC said: “Following the success of the renovation and installation of new beach huts on Folkestone seafront the council is looking at other sites across the district to increase our beach hut and tourism offering.
"Coast Drive is one of the sites that officers are currently considering.”
Last year, plans to build 20 new houses in the Coast Drive car park were rejected by members of FHDC's planning committee.
Objectors said the scheme would have an impact on neighbours, the environment and tourism, as essential beach car parking spaces would be lost.
As part of the plans in Folkestone, 44 of the existing beach huts were torn down having fallen into disrepair.
Renovations were then made to 35 chalets, and a further 80 wooden ones have been installed.
The new huts have been painted all the colours of the rainbow and will be part of the fifth triennial being held in the town, which kicks off in the summer.
