RESIDENTS’ VIEWS MATTER ON HARTSDOWN

Local people will have their opportunity to have their say on future development at Hartsdown by Margate Football Club.

That’s the message, following a meeting of the council’s Cabinet last night (Thursday 10 February), which considered a petition from more than 500 people about proposed development at the Hartsdown site. It stated that those who had signed the petition “wholly and irrevocably object to the development of Hartsdown Park for the purposes of constructing an artificial football pitch, causing the natural environment to be changed.” It also called on the council to “revoke the authority granted to develop this park land, which is protected under legal agreement.”

In 2005, Margate Football Club was granted planning permission to develop a new stadium, together with an artificial pitch and a 5-a-side pitch complex, with associated parking. Some of this permission has since been implemented, with the 5-a-side pitches and parking introduced. Fresh applications have been permitted to relocate the artificial pitch and to redesign one of the stands.

The club has now come forward with proposals for a Travelodge on the same site that was granted approval in 2005. However, it is a different design to the original proposals and therefore the club needs to submit a fresh application for this. This would require full public consultation through the planning process.

The club has also stated that, if they were to proceed with the hotel development, which would require a new planning application, they would require a long lease of more than 25 years. Cabinet Members were told last night that no lease of more than 25 years would be granted without full public consultation. Cabinet would then decide on granting the lease, once this had been completed.

Cllr. Simon Moores, Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Regulatory Services, said: “The message is clear from the council. There will be no approval for any new plans for the Hartsdown site or a long lease for the football club, without full public consultation first. The council will not be deciding on either issue before we have carefully considered the views of local people. We’ve listened to what people had to say who signed the petition and we hope that this helps to set their minds at rest on this issue.”