Residents have responded with outrage to news a proposed cinema for Whitstable would only show films of “local historical and community interest”.

Canterbury City Council held a consultation to gauge public opinion on how best to use the now-vacant South Quay Shed in the harbour - which is set to become a mixed-use community and commercial space.

The survey attracted responses from 1,094 residents, businesses and visitors - who were invited to vote for potential uses including a café, museum or cinema.

Figures published by the council have revealed the cinema option was by far the most popular, gaining votes from more than 90% of respondents.

But many who were keen to see a cinema return to the town have responded in anger as it has emerged the facility would be a pop-up cinema “showing films of local historical and community interest, previously discussed with the Harbour Board”, and not a full-time venue screening newly-released blockbusters.

Now, Cinema for Whitstable - a local group which has spent years campaigning for a permanent cinema in the town - has expressed concern over the council’s handling of the consultation.

Campaigner Chris Cornell said: “The idea that the council can reject the wishes of the people in this way is ludicrous. People filling out the survey chose a ‘cinema’ they could enjoy with their family, not some type of outdoor space exclusively showing films about the Forts.

“The people have spoken, this council should now listen.”

Simon Poole added: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the council to give the exciting new plans for the South Quay Shed a beating heart.

“The Harbour Board have it within their power to stipulate that an appropriate unit should be made available for conversion to a cinema.

“This will be something for the whole town to be proud of, driving footfall to the harbour throughout the year, not just in the summer months.”

The group now plans to publish fully costed plans for a South Quay Shed cinema, and has launched its own poll to clarify the community’s hopes for the facility.

MP Rosie Duffield took to Facebook to express her support for this, writing: “We believe that where there’s a will there’s a way – fill in this survey, being championed by local people, to clarify to the council what sort of cinema Whitstable really wants.”

Many residents have also spoken of their disappointment over the plans.

Kerry Hilden, who voted for the cinema in the consultation, said: “I think it will be an absolute waste showing local historical films. The percentage of people that will want to see that certainly won’t be anything like 90% of the voters.”

Samantha Toland added: “Unless this cinema shows some up-to-date releases, it will go down in flames.

“I’d rather just pay to use the cinema in Canterbury – at least they have new releases.”

But council spokesman Rob Davies explained the South Quay Shed is unsuitable for a mainstream cinema.

He said: "We are aware there has been a vigorous local campaign for a cinema at the site of the former South Quay Shed. This will be discussed as part of an update report on the project at the Harbour Board this Friday.

"It was made clear at the annual meeting of the Harbour Board that the proposal would not be suitable for solely mainstream cinema. This is due to the significant amount of glazing on the building and the lack of specialist insulation to achieve an acceptable acoustic performance in what will be a refurbished 1960s industrial building.

"Unfortunately, despite this, the campaign continued and, if anything, intensified, and we are now in a position where many people are disappointed, which we can understand.

"The original idea of a pop-up cinema showing films of local historical and community interest, previously discussed with the board, will now be further considered by the south quay shed working group when assessing options for the site."

The issue is set to come before the Harbour Board at Whitstable Castle at 3pm tomorrow (Friday), when Cinema for Whitstable hopes to put forward results of its poll which is available online at www.cinemainwhitstable.co.uk.

The council has applied to change the use of the South Quay Shed warehouse building to a "mixed-use retail, restaurants and cafe, museums, exhibition space, educational use and assembly space".

This application is set to come before the council's planning committee at 6.30pm today, at The Guildhall in Canterbury.