HYTHE town council has stood firm by saying no to Sainsbury's and no to Ossory Investments.

Councillors voted unanimously against the store's application to change a condition of its planning permission and the developer's slightly amended plans for Fisherman's Beach at a meeting last Thursday.

As part of Ossory Investments' latest plans for the mixed-use beach project, both lifeboat huts are to be saved and one block of flats will not be built, reducing the number of homes from 69 to 62. Previous proposals to demolish the huts or relocate one to the other end of the beach had caused consternation in Hythe.

But speaker Chris Russell said: "I'm sure it won't be lost on you that the lifeboat stations are just one aspect of all this.

"The views of the Martello towers and the whole aspect of this working beach, which is part of Hythe's maritime history, aren't addressed and would be a much greater loss to the town."

Others said concerns over the safety of the fishermen, who would be relocated nearer to the Hythe Ranges at the western end of the beach, had not been dealt with.

Coucillor Rosemary Griffiths proposed rejecting the plans, citing possible contamination of the site, particularly with cyanide compound Blue Billy, caused by its former use as a gasworks.

She said: "SDC refused permission to build an industrial estate there once – was this because of the contamination? And if so, what's changed to allow the building of a residential development?

"The leader of SDC was asking for suggestions about locations for a new pool. I'd like to suggest he gives the current pool site to Ossory for development in return for the beach and put one there.

"The fishermen, and our heritage, would be provided for and everyone would be happy."

As revealed in the Herald last month, Sainsbury's had asked to extend Saturday delivery hours to between 8am and 10pm at the Military Road store – construction on which has not yet begun – a change from the 10am to 10pm condition set by SDC in December.

Speaking at Thursday's meeting, Lympne resident David Plumstead said: "I cannot abide people who agree to anything to get what they want and then renege once they've got it – and that's what this amounts to. Frankly, it's not acceptable."

Councillor Darren Briddock agreed. He said: "We did a deal and a deal's a deal – that's it. If we change this, Sainsbury's will come back again and again and again so we need to say a very firm no."

Councillor Alec Mayne added: "Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. One change is not the end of the world but one would no doubt be followed by others and they haven't even finished demolishing the existing buildings yet."

A date has not yet been set for SDC's planning committee to discuss either application.