Promenade users will not be expected to pay to park at Walmer Castle car park just yet after councillors rejected an application to site a ticket machine there.

Owner English Heritage had asked Dover District Council for permission to install a parking meter there as part of its plans to secure the area at night, eliminating anti-social behaviour and to help pay towards the upkeep of its sites.

The charity had suggested putting the 1.82m high machine and an adjacent sign diagonally opposite the entrance.

But members of the planning committee said the machine would spoil the look of the area.

Cllr Trevor Bond said: “We have a beach foreshore. I do think it’s out of keeping with the area to have a big ticket machine and sign disturbing the foreshore.”

He also highlighted that members had recently rejected an application for outdoor seating at nearby pub The Zetland Arms.

Cllr Peter Wallace thought it would have an detrimental economic and social impact.

He said: “I think it would deter people from walking their dogs there and people will be driving further to park.”

"I do think it’s out of keeping with the area to have a big ticket machine and sign disturbing the foreshore.” - Cllr Trevor Bond

The application had received more than 110 objections including from ward councillor, Walmer resident and retired police traffic officer Paul Le Chevalier.

He was concerned it would lead people to park on the S-bend road and might cause accidents.

Councillors went against case officer Tony Jarvis’ advice to grant permission, eight to one with one abstention.

The officer thought it would be appropriate as long as certain conditions were in place such as times.

Neil McCollum, historic properties director for English Heritage in the south east, said: “We are disappointed with Dover District Council’s decision to reject our application.

“As a charity every penny we receive – from our car parks to major donations – goes towards looking after our properties such as Walmer Castle.

“However we will take on board the committee’s concerns about the visual impact of the machine from the foreshore and revise our application to locate the machine closer to the road.”

Councillors also raised issues regarding the ethics of charging drivers and concerns for the car parking surface, however chairman Frederick Scales said they were not valid reasons for rejection under the application.