Thanet council set to approve Margate seafront revamp

A development on Margate seafront opposed by campaigners because of the impact of traffic and the loss of a car park has been recommended for approval.

Protesters had hoped a recent change in listing status for the Scenic Railway rollercoaster, which is next to the site, would help their cause.

But a Thanet Council report said the regrading from grade II to grade II* status had no impact on the plans.

The council's planning committee will discuss the plans later.

Developers Freshwater want to create a superstore, hotel, bars and offices in the town as well as renovating Arlington House and have said the scheme will bring jobs and investment to the town.

The Arlington House residents' association said the plans would cause traffic chaos on the town's seafront and they were upset that they would lose their dedicated car park.

After English Heritage upgraded the rollercoaster's listed status in July, a lawyer for some of the campaigners had said the council should look at the impact of any development on the setting of a heritage asset.

The Scenic Railway is the UK's oldest rollercoaster and was built in 1920 at the Dreamland site.