James Green, director of the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company, faces significant local opposition to his plans to expand the Forge oyster shack on a beach section used by the Whitstable Yacht Club. The proposal, which includes additional seating and a pergola, has drawn over 200 objections, with critics calling it a 'carbuncle' and a 'horrifying visual, physical and commercial intrusion'. Environmental concerns, including potential impacts on flood defences, have also been raised. Green argues that the expansion is essential for the town's tourism economy, which relies heavily on its reputation as 'Britain’s Oysteropolis'. The dispute highlights tensions between commercial interests and community preservation, with Green facing accusations of 'nimbyism' and a 'general antipathy' towards his business. The planning application, which previously faced rejection due to opposition, now has the Yacht Club's support after a revised lease agreement. Green insists the project is about enhancing the visitor experience, stating, 'In this day and age you have to do things that are going to make it somewhere people want to go.'

A care home application in Bedford has sparked objections and claims it was operating before planning approval was granted...