Parts of the beach at Whitstable are privately owned

Members of the Whitstable Beach Campaign are to present an application for a public footpath along the coast to provide uninterrupted access.

The group is concerned that private ownership of some parts of the beach may one day restrict access.

The plan being presented to Kent County Council is for a 5.5km path stretching west from the harbour.

'More valuable'

The length of beach is owned by various companies and private owners.

Nick Dewhirst, campaign co-ordinator, said: "The main fear is development as Whitstable has become a property hotspot.

"As it becomes more valuable so the pressure for developing it becomes greater.

"You cannot build houses on a road and a footpath is a variety of road.

"When I say put a footpath I do not mean build a concrete path.

"We will leave the beach exactly as it is physically, we are talking about the public's legal right to walk on it."

Mr Dewhirst said the decision on whether a public footpath could be created was a lengthy process.

A previous campaign to get the beach made into a public space through village green status was unsuccessful.