Margatonians might be forgiven for thinking that all roads out of the town now lead to Reading in Berkshire.Of course, we all know that one of Margate's prime eyesores, the Dreamland site, is owned by Reading firm Waterbridge. And that Head Dreamland Saver, Nick Laister, who wants to put knackered old rides on the site, is based a few miles up the road in Wantage.
Now the council has given the contract to renovate the pier to a company called Pineapple. It's been quite a trek finding out who Pineapple are, as there's more than one company of that name, but the old Eastcliff mincers eventually alighted upon Pineapple Property (Kent) Ltd. Who, despite having the word Kent in their title, have their registered office in? You've guessed it, Reading!
To be fair, four out of the six shareholders do live in Thanet, according to the latest annual return filed at Companies House, with the other two living in Oxfordshire (not far from Reading).
Oh well, that's what attracting investment is all about, I suppose. Just as long as Margate doesn't end up as, er, attractive as Reading!
9 comments:
sounds like the "carpet baggers"
he shareholders wouldn't include ouir old friends Jimmy and terence by any chance?
No, not featured. However I'm currently working my way through the squillions of Waterbridge related companies (including two based in the British Virgin Islands), if I trawl anything up you'll be the first to know!
Have you tried Snoop4Directors? Looks about the cheapest at a fiver or so for a nice list of Director's registered interests. Haven't tried it myself, so I'm only going by their web site, but it looks useful...
Good tip - looks like it may reveal all sorts of interesting info! Thanks.
Oh, and just in case anyone is wondering how I discovered which Pineapple was renovating the pier, I got it from their planning application on the TDC weekly planning list 6-12 July which is for:
Change of use to cafe, restaurant, artists studios, art gallery and retail units, together with erection of staircase and external alterations
Nothing there about a huge deodoriser to get rid of the pong of rotting seaweed, though.
Here, here Mr Eastcliff! I think you're spot on to try and get to the bottom of what's going on with Waterbridge and the Save Dreamland people.
Why should people from Reading dictate what will happen to what is the prime site in Margate, if not Thanet?
More power to your elbow.
If it wasn't for concerned bloggers such as yourself, who knows what they would get away with?
As for knackered old rides, how's that going to attract the visitors Margate desperately needs?
pinapple property! in and out merchants. more investigation needed.
Just to reassure everyone - Pineapple Property (Kent) Ltd is nothing to do with Waterbridge. They are local. One of the directors used to live in Oxfordshire, so I guess that's how the company might have got to be registered outside Thanet. The operation of the harbour arm is now under a different company anyway but Pineapple have renovated many of the properties in the old town. I know they are not in and out merchants and are in it for the long term.
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