Early designs, details and timelines have gone on display for schemes totalling £1.8million to reinstate the Grade II Listed Walpole Bay Lift, explore improvements for the tidal pool and look at vehicle access and shared space at Hodges Gap and plans for a connected scheme to create a pavilion with community and public facilities.
The Access Walpole and Testing New Uses schemes come under the £22.2m Margate Town Deal which was secured by Thanet council in March 2021 and form part of the Coastal Wellbeing project.
The other Coastal Wellbeing projects under the Margate Town Deal are The Oval Bandstand and Lawns (allocated £500,000 but currently at a sticking point) and Margate Skatepark (allocated £750,000). Plans for these were previously displayed at Turner Contemporary.
The total also includes £500,000 revenue funding.
Access Walpole
Thanet council is heading the project to repair and renovate the Walpole lift and explore the tidal pool and Hodges Gap improvements.
Work to the lift mechanics is expected to begin early next year with planning permission being sought.
The lift was originally installed by the Ministry of Health in the 1930s to encourage people to enjoy the benefits of living by the coast. This included swimming in the nearby tidal pool or walking along the shoreline – activities that improved people’s health and wellbeing.
Thanet council officer Natalie Glover is leading the Access Walpole project. She said: “It is to improve access overall, from the steps to the lower promenade, reinstating the cliff lift, looking at vehicle access and the tidal pool and looking at what the possibilities are.”
Natalie says a look inside the lift has revealed it is in a condition that is “encouraging.”
She added: “The timelines have a contingency (estimated dates) but we are putting together a technical specification to go out to tender shortly.”
Improvements to the tidal pool will need to take into account site designations and that it is a listed structure. Engagement with Natural England, Historic England and access groups is taking place to see what solutions will be taken forward.
Improvements to vehicle access at Hodges Gap are being explored and how the promenade space can be shared safely and enjoyably by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
A new kiosk may also be included in the scheme.
New pavilion
Architects Curl La Tourelle has been commissioned for the Testing New Uses part of the scheme which is to create a pavilion which will include a cafe, a bookable wellbeing space, swimmer facilities – changing rooms, outdoor showers, lockers – store rooms, public toilets, and potential lifeguard facilities.
There are three preferred locations on the lower promenade for a new pavilion. These are:
- Between Cliff Lift & Stairs
- Facing Tidal Pool
- Bottom of Hodge’s Gap
Mark Attmore, from Curl La Tourelle, said: “The project aim is to bring more users to Walpole and have a pavilion that serves existing users and encourages more people to come to the tidal pool which is one of the largest in the UK and Europe.
“The pavilion will include public toilets, facilities, outside showers café and wellbeing space. Part of this engagement is to find out what people would like the space to be, so there are cakes and tea at the café, and that’s part of wellbeing, and then the flexible, bookable venue that could be for exercise classes, educational purposes, community groups, rock pool search programmes or arts, craft, parties, community use.”
There are three early deign concepts for the pavilion which people are being asked to give their views on.
The target timeline for the pavilion scheme is designs ready for early 2024, further public events and then planning application by mid-2024, construction to start late that year with both the pavilion and lift schemes completed and ready for use by Summer 2025.
Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet member for Regeneration and Property, said: “I am so excited about this. I swim in the tidal pool and it will be so nice to have changing rooms.
“I haven’t been able to bring my mother down (to the tidal pool) as she is not mobile so it will be great to have the lift working too.
“We are at the really early stages and the feedback we get will inform what happens next, there is room for manoeuvre.
“Having the timelines is really important because then people know it is going to happen.
“Walpole Bay Swimmers are very excited and have discussed coming down to look at the plans and people seem very happy.
“I really love this project and it is good to see the hard work and campaign of Kate Harrison – who painted the lift every year – is going to pay off.”
The drop-in runs today (October 5) until 7pm, at the Walpole Bay Hotel, Fifth Avenue, Cliftonville.
UPDATE: The display boards are remaining on view at the Walpole Bay Hotel from Monday 9 October on a drop in basis between 10am and 7pm. The exhibition will close at 7pm on Monday 23 October.
Plans can also be seen online at: https://www.thanet.gov.uk/info-pages/get-involved-mtd/
