Council orders removal of inflatable gorilla on Margate seafront

THERE will be no more monkey business on Margate seafront after po-faced planners refused permission for a giant inflatable gorilla.

The 15ft blow-up King Kong model sat above Funshine Amusements in Marine Terrace this summer until planners decided it needed planning permission because as the seafront is a conservation area.

This week, Thanet council turned down an application to allow the massive monkey to stay.

Planning consultant Clive Attwood said: “They have rejected it as they say it is harmful to the visual amenity but we were expecting it would be difficult.

“When you look at Margate seafront, it’s hard to see their reasoning.

“I’ll be sitting down with the owners and talking about alternatives in the near future.”

Fans of the installation say it brightened up the area and a Facebook campaign to save King Kong attracted hundreds of supporters.

There are 20 conservation areas with special architectural, historic interest or special character preserved in Thanet.

Developers must apply for permission to alter the appearance of the building in any way and the council’s decision close the floodgates for copycat inflatables along Margate seafront.