Pretty UK seaside town' at risk of being 'destroyed' as it becomes 'new Cornwall'

Locals of a pretty seaside gem are worried their beloved town could be "destroyed" if it continues to struggle with the kind of overcrowding normally reserved for tourist hotspots like Cornwall.

Whitstable, in Kent, known for its coastal charm, bustling independent shops, and renowned oysters, has previously been celebrated as one of the fastest-growing coastal spots, all without sacrificing its unique local atmosphere that delights tourists and residents alike.

Despite its popularity, there's a growing sense of unease among locals who, with fraying patience, worry that Whitstable might be on the precarious path to the same overtourism plaguing other regions.

Notably, Cornwall overshadows Whitstable - and indeed most places in the UK - regarding visitor numbers, raking in millions each year and boasting a tourism industry worth a whopping £2.5bn.

Jon Crwys-Williams, now based in Whitstable where he operates Nomad Pizza, offers a distinctive insight into this issue; having resided in both the Cornish village of St Agnes and the Kent locale, he's observed their respective expansions.

Crwys-Williams flags up a particular thorny problem potentially setting Whitstable's future adrift: the heated debate over second homes.

Jon has warned that second homes could "destroy and kill" Whitstable without government intervention to curb their "largely detrimental" effects.

Speaking to , he said: "Second homes can get to a point where they have an adverse effect on the community. There's no question that we don't want to live in a place like Cornwall where there's a 10 percent occupancy rate out of season."

He added: "And there are places on the coast which are like that - 10, 15, 20 percent occupancy, 80 percent of the time they're not there. It destroys and kills a community."

Jon believes that current legislation on second homes is inadequate and calls for stricter regulation by both the government and local authorities.

He said: "The legislation on second homes is poor and I think there needs to be tighter regulation by the government and local governments. It's started to happen in Cornwall and I think it needs to happen here."

Jon suggests that sustainability plans and community action plans should be implemented, including proposals to ensure that homes go to locals who will live there permanently. He stated: "It needs to be taken on board by local governments and councils, and possibly a local MP representing it as well."

Jon also highlighted the impact of second homes on other struggling UK resorts outside of Cornwall, warning that an increasing number of destinations risk "the survival of the community".

He added: "Second homes are not a positive thing ... [They] can be largely detrimental to a community and you have to look at North Norfolk, Cornwall, Devon, and Yorkshire even ... In lots of places in the UK [they] can be very detrimental to the local community and the survival of the community.

"You can say, 'Let's embrace second homes' but what you end up doing is destroying a local community that then doesn't become attractive for people to come down to at all because it's lost what made it attractive, which is this strong essense we have in Whitstable, being a local community."

However, tourism in Whitstable is a complicated issue as not every local shares the same views as Jon. Joanna Lucille Phaur lives in Whitstable and owns an Airbnb in Margate, and welcomes tourists as they drive local economies.

She said: "Tourist towns have to suck it up really. It's what makes our money.

"There's been a lot of protests against mass tourism this summer ... [But] if you speak to anyone in any cafe or any restaurant ... They know that they would have no business without tourists. I don't know who these people who are angry about it are, but clearly they don't have jobs."