Margates Cecil Square M&S Regeneration a little closer

After my somewhat unreliable report yesterday concerning the future of the M&S site, Thanet District Council officers have been kind enough to forward a copy of their statement concerning the future of this site, as you know I generally don't allow facts to interfere with what I have to say.

First things first as earlier reported, by the well-connected Arts and Elbows blogsite, Thanet council have released a brief statement, stating that in the next few months a planning application will be prepared setting out the future use of the site, the plan being to create modern retail space, that may include office and workshop space as well as residential units. They are also looking for short-term uses for the site to increase the amount of people in the high-street.

I understand that there is a desire on the part of those who know about regeneration, to put Cecil Square at the heart of the town, part of this plan is more Cafe culture, but more importantly is the objective to create a passage from the old M&S site, giving access the to the old town, and help open it up, as part of the regeneration.
Fortunately the part of the Marks and Spencer building which faces on to Cecil Square has a preservation order so there is little danger of any new hideous modern building to complement the red-brick civic buildings across the square.

I think I need to make an apology to those involved in the Regeneration business, whilst it is easy to criticise, we clearly have had some considerable benefit to Thanet as a whole from the developments that have taken place over the last few years.

If anyone cares to wander around Ramsgate for instance, and this weekend with the powerboat racing taking place, it will be an ideal time to do so, you cannot fail but appreciate how good the town looks particularly from the harbour.

Much criticism is made of the traffic at the centre of Thanet, and this clearly is a problem whether it is convenient to mention or not, but this has not all been negative, because I think a large a part of spending which previously would have gone to Canterbury, is now kept within Thanet.

Thanet probably has two major problems, the traffic, unfortunately this is something that is the responsibility of KCC, the regeneration of Margate, this is something within local control hopefully within a year or two will see some action and even better if KCC gets they move on, with the Turner contemporary, which Paul Carter promised for 2009 (keep a note in your diary).

Hopefully the council will be holding some sort of discussion or consultation with the local traders in July to get their views on how this plan will be developed further.

My estimate of how much was paid for the Marks and Spencer site, is apparently way off the beam and still subject to commercial confidentiality unless you got the time to query with the Land Registry.

It is still my understanding that Seeda has made available to Thanet District Council something in excess of £8 million, with which to help regenerate Margate, and since the officer I spoke to mentioned, that the immediate problem, was to stimulate foot traffic in the high street, I made the suggestion, that with the interest from this £8 million, maybe they ought to give a £1,000 away every weekend to passers-by in order to stimulate traffic well I no expert but it did raise a laugh.

It is easy for us not involved directly to criticise, but to be honest, the task to regenerate Margate is vast and in some degree, has not been helped by the handling of the Turner contemporary project, but this sort of redevelopment requires a strong will, a clear objective, and a lot of expertise. I hope they do well, and earn their money, because if they don't someone will only criticise which as we all know is easy.