More than 170 complaints lodged against house extension which residents fear will scupper plans for seafront cafe

The Lifeboat View Cafe at Lane End, Bembridge, was demolished last September with a view to building a smaller cafe on the same site.

The site was formerly flats — now converted into a single property — with a cafe at the front and a large outdoor seating area.

Last year the Isle of Wight Council approved plans to knock down the cafe and build an extension to the house.

Now owner, Debbie Potts, wants permission to build a boathouse on the site and extend the house further.

She has also lodged separate plans for a food van and small kiosk on part of the same site.

But residents claim the plans for a boathouse will encroach onto space already reserved for the replacement cafe, raising fears it will not be built at all.

How the site has changed

Chris Andreae of Bembridge said: “I consider the planned caravan and associated seating arrangements a very poor replacement to a cafe that was very popular with Bembridge residents and visitors alike.”

Delays to the rebuilding of the cafe have been caused by a large storm drain, running under where the replacement cafe has been proposed.

Owner of the site, Mrs Potts said: “The problem with the storm water pipe is currently being investigated with the view to implementing the previous consent for the cafe.”

The application to extend Kingsmere has received 173 comments from residents and tourists, and the plans for a mobile food van more than 30.

Keith Seymour, of Bembridge, said the development would be completely out of character with the surrounding area.

He said: “It takes away a treasured local cafe for residents and visitors and provides a huge private dwelling.

“This will affect hundreds of people, the youngsters enjoying an ice cream, the faithful beach hut owners, visitors to the lifeboat station, elderly enjoying a cup of tea whilst watching the sea scene before them.”

Anneq Pearson, also of Bembridge, added: “This cafe brought people from near and far to good locally-produced food with the most amazing atmosphere, buzzing with great grandparents, grandparents, parents, teenagers, children and babies.

“This will all be lost if a garden cafe isn’t replaced.

“Bembridge will never be the same without it.”

Residents can comment on the plans until March 8.