Margate Architecture, one of the newer kids on the blog, has asked me to highlight the peculiar comings and goings over planning permission for the above building, close to Cliftonville Lido.Locals will know that the place has been rotting away for many years, but now it seems Rams boss Jim Ward has come along and applied for permission to convert the place into flats. The lad done good, you might opine. Trouble is, it's in a Conservation Area, and is about to be spot listed by English Heritage. Yet Margate Architecture reports that planning notices - those yellow things you see appended to lamp posts - have been conspicuous by their absence. Not only that, but whilst awaiting a listed status inspection all the splendid old cabinets in the former pharmacy were stripped out - you can see before and after shots here. Presumably they've been recycled into trophy cabinets.
Personally I think it would be a crying shame to demolish the curvy, Victorian shop front and replace it with breeze blocks and one of those plastic portholes that pass for a door around here. But then I'm afraid the writing is already on the wall. Does anyone remember the Outfitters Gallery debacle last May? We were promised a full inquiry into that, since when not a sausage. Maybe it's gone into extra time.
10 comments:
ECR dear boy. Thanks for the timley reminder about the shocking Outfitters 'debacle' (well put), Maybe they are hoping we will forget.
Has there really been no further enquiry in to that particular situation??? p-lease! Thats truly shocking. So much for the 'promises'. SFO is what I suggested then, and I still hold to that. If they have nothing to hide, what is the problem?
Surely Jim Ward knows what he's done with the shop fittings - they should definitely be preserved somewhere - anyone seen them for offer on e-bay?
Infuriating - we'd spotted the old shopfittings months ago and were thrilled they were still intact. A couple of hours with a crowbar and bit more of the local heritage has vanished. Brilliant.
Still, as long as the developer has good local council connections, doesn't mind ruining a conservation area and thinks that what the area needs is less history and more rentable flats that'll be fine and dandy.
And yet today's papers tell us all about Margate as in the top ten creative towns - what was creative about that?
Excellent report, any local councilor care to comment? I did ear on the grape vine English Heritage were interested in the interior but within a week of notification it all went!
Hopefully they were intended for Margate Museum - but somehow I doubt it!
Missing wardrobs how untoward.
That is outrageous! When are the PTB going to get to grips with the inherent corruption on this island?
It blights every attempt to improve the area.
Anon 4.44
The "PTB" are the corruption in the area.
Thanet needs more people to do what the "Irritating bloke" did, kick "PTB" arse.
Hear hear!
But some good news at last! The end buildings at 14 and 15 have now been granted Listed status! Horrah! It's unlikely permission will be granted to turn the cafe into a flat now. Wonder if Mr Ward is still into doing the development now?
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