BEACH huts which have been in use since the 1920s could finally be given planning permission after almost a century in a legal blind spot.

Thanet council applied for planning consent after a member of the public pointed out that they probably needed permission to put up hundreds of temporary huts over the summer.

After looking into the claim, red-faced council chiefs decided approval was probably needed.

New planning enforcement chief John Kirby said: "The law can be murky on some issues. There is no specific law to tell us definitively whether we need to apply for planning permission or not after this length of time.

"The council has carefully considered the issue and has taken the decision to err on the side of caution, which is why we’re submitting this application now."

The application does not specify a particular number of the huts or their position, and the location is listed simply as "Thanet Coastal Promenade and Beaches".

The news has left some beach hut owners angry as to the legal status of their summer retreats.

Birchington resident Richard Galbraith said: "Because of the council’s tardy behaviour they may not be able to legally provide the facility of the beach huts for this year. As a beach hut user I recognise their value of these and consider it very sad that the council should potentially prejudice this facility which is so valued."

The application is out for public consultation until 3 April 2009.