Future use of the Northdown Park pavilion in Margate with refurbished changing rooms and toilets, a café/kiosk and additional sheltered seating have taken a step forward with Thanet council inviting expressions of interest to take on the lease.
Last year plans for the pavilion revealed by the council in response to a petition raised by Palm Bay dad-of-two Scott Manclark asking the authority to work with a private operator to fund, open and run a café with some covered space.
The petition, which was launched in June 2023 and gained 539 signatures, asked for the café to also provide much-needed toilets in the park.
Scott created the petition after the café idea was raised by Reverend Stuart Gay, from St. Philip’s Church in Summerfield Road, who said a café at the site could help reduce anti-social behaviour incidents.
Thanet council has now announced that it is offering a lease for the Northdown Park Pavilion and is inviting people to submit expressions of interest.
The structure is available to lease for up to 10 years, at a cost of £7,000 per year, on a full repairing and insurance basis. The terms will include a six month rent-free period to allow for refurbishment and fit-out.
Use of the Pavilion is restricted to sports and recreational activities. There is potential for a café within the existing building and a covered seating area could be installed, subject to planning consent.
As a condition of the lease, the toilets must be refurbished and made available for public use when the building is open. They can be accessed from outside the building. In addition, the changing rooms must be made available for hire by visiting sports teams.
The sports pitches next to the pavilion can be licensed separately for £1,000 per annum, subject to necessary consents. Use is restricted to sports and recreational use.
Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, said: “The Northdown Park Pavilion has the potential to provide a focus for community activities and a social space for parents of children using the play area nearby.
“Having easy access to places to play sports and take part in exercise is hugely important to the wellbeing of our residents.
“I very much hope the arrival of these additional facilities will encourage more use of the area for team and competitive sports as well as the number of children and families enjoying the existing play area.”
Cliftonville East Councillor Barry Manners has raised the issue of the pavilion twice in questions at recent full council meeting and said he welcomes the news.
He said: “The sports pavilion is yet another TDC property that has been allowed to fall into disrepair. It should be an asset that serves the community, but I’m well aware of the limitations of TDC’s finances and its track record of running non revenue building assets.
“It’s also worth noting that the needs of the community have changed since the pavilion was built over 50 years ago – not least of all because of an ageing population. I’d love to see the building back in use as a sports pavilion for local sports teams, as well as offering some sort of cafe concession to create a community hub.
“The pavilion is very close to the children’s play area and site of the proposed community fruit garden so there’s plenty of footfall. If you’re an established football or sports team looking for a home – this could be for you.”
Conservative group leader Reece Pugh said “Finding an operator for the sports pavilion will provide an opportunity for a dilapidated building to be refurbished and for the creation of a new local business”
Independent Kingsgate councillor Alan Munns said although he also welcomes the news he’d: “much rather have seen the millions of Levelling Up funding directed at grass roots opportunities like this, instead of tens of millions being poured into ‘grands projects’ with increasingly uncertain outcomes.”
East Kent Football Academy manager and chairman Dave Marlow says a sports hub is needed and he has launched a petition calling on the council to support this.
He said: “As the Chairman (of the club) and a local resident, I witness firsthand the urgent need for outdoor/green space where our children can play football. We have boys and girls aged 8-18 from Margate, Cliftonville, and surrounding areas who are desperate for such facilities.
“Our community is home to hundreds of young people with immense potential in sports. However, they are currently limited by the lack of adequate facilities where they can hone their skills, engage in healthy competition, and foster camaraderie among themselves.
“The establishment of a sports hub at Northdown Park will not only provide our youth with an outlet for their energy but also contribute significantly towards their physical health and mental well-being. It’s essential to note that according to Sport England’s Active Lives Survey (2019/20), children who have access to outdoor sports facilities are more likely to stay active than those without such access.”
Anyone interested in the Northdown Park Pavilion lease should contact [email protected] for more information.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest is Friday 29 March.
