WEST Mersea’s character and history are in danger of being destroyed in a bid to make it a more fashionable place to visit, it is claimed.

The warning comes at a time when a fine food restaurant is set to replace the old oyster sheds in the fishing town.

Some businesses say Mersea should cash in on its growing reputation for seafood and embrace its evolution into a popular location for food lovers and daytrippers.

But many residents and visitors are worried about it’s rapidly-changing face.

Alex West, who is born and bred in Mersea and lives on a Dutch barge, says West Mersea must protect its character.

The 36-year-old said: “I’m not so keen on new buildings because I think in ten to 20 years they will look dated and destroy how the look of Mersea should be.

“Someone else said to me ‘we are going to end up having a Wivenhoe, where you lose all the heritage’.”

She said although Wivenhoe was a nice place, new development had seen it change relatively quickly.

Miss West, who works as a part-time swimming instructor and a dinner lady, recognised something had to be done with the old oyster sheds.

In terms of whether West Mersea was becoming a more fashionable place to visit, she said it was possibly becoming more well known, and was now attracting large numbers of daytrippers from London.

She said she did not mind tourism, but would not want visitor numbers to increase much beyond current levels.

Visitor Michael Badcock, of Almond Close, Tiptree, said West Mersea was “good as it is”.

He said: “I just like walking on the beach. It’s nice and quiet.”

The 67-year-old said parking seemed to be a problem, and he did not believe there was a need for any more restaurants. In fact, he felt the old oyster sheds should become a museum.

However, Sel Yuzen, manager of West Mersea Oyster Bar, in Coast Road, and relatively new to the area, said it was time residents embraced change, and the economic benefits it would bring.

He said: “Mersea is becoming a really popular place now. It’s too small for the people that come in.

“I started here five years ago. Comparing five years ago and now is just unreal.”

But he did not mind that another restaurant was due to open nearby.

He said West Mersea was gaining a reputation among food lovers, which would attract more people and benefit all the businesses.

“I think people always have money to spend on good food. That’s why we weren’t affected last year with the recession, and this year is almost better.”

While he accepted residents’ concerns, he added: “They didn’t even want Tesco coming to Mersea, but it’s the best thing that’s happened.”