Residents have hit back at ambitious plans to transform a long-running golf course into a lakeside holiday destination – with some saying it would be “a disaster” and on the scale of a “mini Center Parcs”.

At a public consultation at the Hythe Imperial Hotel, images and ideas were on display showing how a collection of two- and three-storey chalets, a children’s play park and a boating lake could be created on land currently used by Hythe Golf Club.

The 92-bed seafront hotel and the adjacent golf course in Princes Parade are both owned by the Kent-based GSE Group.

Many who attended the consultation last Thursday raised concerns over the potential development.

Frank Cordell has been a member at Hythe Golf Club for the past nine years and told KentOnline it would be a “disaster” if they were to lose it.

“It would be absolutely disastrous if we lost our golf course,” he said.

“I have been a member there for nine years. I use the Hythe Imperial Hotel quite regularly and, frankly, if this goes ahead I will stop coming here.”

Mr Cordell has lived at Sene Park, Hythe, for the past decade and says Hythe Golf Club is the only course he is able to use due to his age and mobility.

The pensioner added: “I use the golf course twice a week. If it goes I will not be able to play anymore.

“It is ridiculous that they are saying not many people use the golf course. That’s just not true!

“Plenty of people use and enjoy the site and I don’t think we need a lake in its place.”

The owners of the four-star hotel, which dates back to 1880, claim the golf club is “no longer maximising its potential for the local tourism industry or the community”, and as a result they want to develop it.

Drawings released as part of the announcement show a number of lodges surrounding a newly created lake, with visitors in rowing boats and swimming in the water.

Another image shows a large children’s play park, as well as new pathways.

GSE Group bosses say they want to create “an innovative, sustainable scheme that provides a unique offering for visitors” which will in turn “revitalise the seafront” and secure the future of the hotel.

Matthew Jones, chair of the New Folkestone Society and Hythe resident, says the details portrayed at the consultation were unclear and “full of contradictions”.

“The information presented looks pretty but it's very vague and does not provide much actual detail,” he said.

“They talk about the heritage of the Royal Military Canal but they show the Princes Parade road is going to be moved.

“I am concerned if the road is moved from the seafront closer to the canal it will affect the peace and tranquillity that the canal currently enjoys.”

Furthermore, Mr Jones, of North Road, believes the building on the course needs to be “as low density as possible”.

“The golf course helps keep the view of Hythe from a distance very green. As soon as you start building on it you start putting up obstructions to the views,” he said.

“The buildings look as if they could be two or three storeys high. We need to know how many buildings they actually plan on putting on the site.

“I do like the idea of bringing tourists to Hythe. It will help our town financially, no doubt about that.”

Paul Lomax, who also attended the consultation, is concerned about the scale of the development – and whether the chalets could be privately owned.

He said: “I am concerned about how large the development will be.

“It seems the vision is for it to look like a mini Center Parcs, with a lake instead of a dome, but for sale to second home buyers.”

More than 200 people attended the consultation, and not everyone was opposed to the idea.

Robert Fletcher, who has lived in Ormonde Road, Hythe, for the past six years thinks the development is a “fantastic idea”.

He explained: “I love everything about it. Not only is this something that will be economically important for Hythe, it will be something for the locals to use as well.”

Furthermore, Mr Fletcher believes the scheme is “nothing like” the previously proposed and divisive Princes Parade development, which has since been scrapped.

In total, 150 homes, a hotel, a leisure centre, shops and open green spaces were planned for the large site, which is a former waste tip and along the road from the golf club.

Following years of protests and campaigns, the project was axed when the new Green Party administration took over Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) in May.

“I walk past the golf course six times a week and I love the idea of being able to buy a coffee when on that walk,” Mr Fletchter added.

“People are scared of change and I can only see benefits from this.

“This is nothing like Princes Parade!”.

Former FHDC member Lesley Whybrow says she would be “disappointed” if Hythe was to lose to open green space.

She said: “There is not enough information to comment on the scheme but I would be very disappointed if we lost the open space after we fought so hard to save Princes Parade.”

It is not yet known how many holiday homes will be created as part of the proposal, set to be branded Imperial Lakes and Gardens.

However, the GSE Group, which took over the hotel in 2007, say they are looking to “create new connections between different parts of Hythe for pedestrians and cyclists” while ensuring “the proposals are in keeping with the local area”.

While the GSE Group owns the land for the golf course, which was opened in the late 19th century, the club is run by members.

Nikki Stuart, who has lived in Hythe for almost 30 years, was also sceptical about the “vague plans”, adding: “It’s a glorified housing estate! Until we see the full plans it's hard to have a full opinion, but from what I have seen I’m not happy at all.

“There are much better ways of encouraging tourism into Hythe.”

Development director for GSE Property Group, Luke Mullaney, said: “As can be expected, there was a wide range of feedback on the night, and we are glad that people had the opportunity to engage with us in a way that can help positively shape the proposals going forward.

“The event proved to be incredibly popular and as such we appreciate there were a number of people who were not able to complete feedback forms on the night.

“We would encourage those people to head to the consultation website, where feedback forms can still be submitted until November 17.”

Furthermore, Mr Mullaney confirmed “higher level of detail will be provided” at the second public consultation next year.

He added: “Following this, we will conduct a full review of the feedback we have received and work towards hosting a second public consultation early in the new year where we will be able to provide a much higher level of detail on the proposals.

“Once again, we thank everyone who took the time to come along and engage with us at this early stage and hope to see them again in the new year.”