Cliftonville based community organisation GRASS Cliftonville CIC has launched a petition urging Thanet councillors to visit The Oval Bandstand and Lawns saying they have now been waiting eight months for a decision on a planning application to upgrade the site.
The application, which has been pending since December 7 last year, asks to make changes, including:
- The toilet block and store room to be renamed The Oval Pavilion and will be upgraded to include an events bar and a new café.
- Accessibility improvements will feature a seating terrace, covered areas, ramps, and handrails to ensure everyone can enjoy the space comfortably.
- Timber-clad shipping containers will provide food and drink concessions, a community bookshop, and essential staff facilities.
- A temporary perimeter fence will secure the area until December 31, 2026, with permanent park railings to follow
- A new wellness garden with a free outdoor community gym,
- The garden maintenance area will be upgraded with a storage unit and greenhouse.
GRASS believes these upgrades will improve community engagement and local amenities and provide new recreational opportunities.
But, they say, despite the application being validated nearly eight months ago, it remains unresolved.
The application is now scheduled for determination by the planning committee and GRASS is requesting that committee members visit The Oval before making a decision, saying this will offer a firsthand view of the proposed changes.
Simon Bell of GRASS Cliftonville CIC said: “At the start of this year, we were excited about launching our new café and ensuring daily public access to the bandstand amphitheatre. “Unfortunately, due to unexplained delays, these plans are on hold, impacting job opportunities for young people in our community.
“We remain optimistic, now that the application has been called in by the planning committee, and encourage councillors to visit The Oval to see the significant transformation from a neglected space to a vibrant community venue.
“This visit will highlight the proposal’s importance for The Oval’s future, its positive impact on the local economy, and the cultural life of Thanet’s residents and visitors.”
GRASS says the current administration at TDC need to address the delays in their next cabinet meeting and to provide clear explanations for the extended timeframe.
Stephen Darrer of GRASS Cliftonville is asking residents to sign the petition in support of their vision for The Oval: “By adding their signatures, residents can help accelerate the council’s approval of the application, paving the way for these essential improvements and bringing our revitalised community hub to fruition.”
‘Complexity of each application’
A Thanet council spokesperson said timescales for determination of any application depend on the complexity of the individual circumstances and the caseload of officers at that time.
They said: “The council works hard to process all planning applications in a timely and efficient manner.
“The timescales for determination will depend on the complexity of the individual circumstances of each application, as well as the caseload of officers at that time.
“This application is currently being considered and officers are reviewing the submission of additional information which was submitted by the applicant at the end of June.
“As the application falls within a public open space within a conservation area, it requires careful consideration by specialist officers. When cases are more complex then this will impact the timing of a planning determination. We are in touch with the applicants and will continue to keep them updated.”
A number of public submissions, both in support and making objections, have been lodged over the plans.
Objections include complaints about the ‘prison’ fencing and the siting of two 20ft shipping containers in a conservation area,
Supporters say the works will improve the site and offer wellbeing and cafe facilities.
Find the documents on Thanet council’s planning portal, reference F/TH/23/1614
Find the petition at: https://chng.it/HjgzPLPDtR
Plans submitted for eco-park, cafe, bar, wellness garden, outdoor gym, shipping containers and fencing at The Oval Bandstand and Lawns
Grass could always use the “non determination” route to effectively complain about the councils performance, but that starts a whole new process with another body and will probably take even longer. But in my dealings with such things the council contact you to say they’ve been unable to conclude the matter in the target time and ask you to agree to an extension, then a another and another until the matter is resolved, so its pretty likely that Grass have agreed to the current time span on the grounds the council have given them. So perhaps they should use the official routes available to them rather than try to circumbent the planning process.
They (grass) are no doubt aware that they’ve alienated many in the local area and as such tdc are going to make sure they dotted every i and crossed every t.
It is a great shame that an area that has been freely accessed for a plethora of activities for generation after generation of Thanetians is no longer freely accessible. The now daily noise of power tools being used for reasons indiscernible, accompanied by arrogance and self righteousness don’t highlight the gentlemen’s efforts to market themselves as folk acting in the best interests of the community (of which, by etymological definition there can be only one!).
One attracts more flies with honey than vinegar!
It looks absolutely dreadful. Whenever they hold an event on the bandstand, the blackout blinds go up, attached to the fencing inside.
It does look like a prison, and they want permanent metal fencing.
It is nothing like it used to be, a lovely open site.
From what I have read, the existing bandstand is only 18 years old.
I do hope TDC have a rethink on 2 20 foot shipping containers whatever they are clad in. Hideous!
Thank goodness we have Broadstairs bandstand.
I’ve signed the petition. I personally think they are doing a great job 🤷🏻♂️
We’ve started going to the weekend concerts at Folkestone bandstand, brilliant artists , No £2 demanded Minimum Donation! Not fenced off , lots of comfortable deckchairs and extra toilets in a lovely location, they had “Not the rolling stones” tribute last Saturday and pink Floyd tribute soon , all free !
It sounds good.
Will go over and see.
We still have the Broadstairs bandstand, they have good bands there.
I have lived in the area for over 50 years. I enjoyed all the concerts that the previous group Cliftonville Residents Association, used to put on over many years.
Lovely Sunday afternoons listening to local bands,the kiosk selling delicious cakes, proper seats to sit on and of course no charge.
Now the site looks , well words fail me. I agree, the bandstand arena fenced off looks like a prison. The thought of two large shipping containers on the site hopefully won’t be allowed.
I wonder if TDC, really gave much thought to what they were doing, in gifting this site freehold, to Grass, or to any group. Why on earth did they do it. The site surely, belonged to us all.
Yes, the bandstand is there for music but not all the rest of it.
Grarse….grifters. not one thing have they done for the community.
Should be totally refused all of there plans, it’s a public area and should stay so. Grass are just another in it for the money group and moan when they don’t get there own way. Tdc please refuse all and take back so everyone can enjoy the area
I live opposite the bandstand. I’m not a fan of what it’s turned into. I completely understand that GRASS are trying to achieve but to the detriment of the local people? Cars parked everywhere, litter overflowing following activities. GRASS rarely cut the grass and it looks unkept compared to the council owned grass next to it.
I’ve never felt to detached from the oval bandstand.
It would seem that the community bandstand is no longer a community space.
It was great sitting out on the green listening to the bands on a warm Sunday afternoon.
No one can get near the bandstand now.
The community area is a prohibited area with metal fencing surrounding it presumably to keep the community outside rather than inside.
It is non inclusive.
The ‘firm’ will search your bags if you try to attend. They charge a compulsory yet voluntary fee to gain entry.
I was walking past the bandstand on one beautiful Sunday afternoon. There was a fantastic band playing and, I had the barefaced cheek to have a gander through the cold steel fencing.
I managed less than ten seconds before a big burly security guard filled the gap facing me and stared at me until I continued my walk. What is that all about?
Soon after the ‘Grass’ folk put green material over the railings to stop ‘snooping’.
It was very intimidating to say the least.
Community is the community, for all of the community not just those that can afford it.
All just my personal opinion and feelings.
They’ll be sectioning off the beach next……
They already sectioned off the beach!
Dammit
Really? Is that even legal? Was a bit of seafront gifted in the freehold as well?
Sadly, things change and not always for the betterment of us all.
We have TDC to blame for this, why it could not have remained with them maintaining it and the lawns for all community groups to use.
It is after all in a Conservation area and I have certainly never seen a bandstand anywhere fenced off.
I was told, that they were gifted this 4 acre site freehold for £1.
I’d imagine they’ve their pound back by now
You’d have to hope that what’s transpired is not what was in their original proposal and certainly bot what the council envisaged, it would also be too much to hope that there are clauses in the agreement netween TDC and GRASS which need to be adhered to. I’d guess the area is lost as a proper community asset and GRASS will do pretty much as they want.
The who
E affair seems to have been spectacularly badly handled. Quite why wasn’t it possible to continue the old agreement /operator or turn it into something much more like the Broadstairs Bandstand facility?
I asked a member of the group who were there for 25 years until August 2021, why they had to move the farmers market.
They said they had to find a new site.
Apparently they contacted TDC to ask if they could see a copy of the community asset transfer and were told they would have to contact the Land Registry, which they did.
Anybody can make a freedom of interest
request. I expect you have to pay for it.
I am sure if you go to the farmers market and speak with the manager, she will probably let you see it.
It is held on the last Sunday of the month, behind the Walpole Bay hotel.
It was run, just like Broadstairs
Bandstand until the group had to relocate.
They used to hold concerts from June until September and all other events including Cliftonville farmers market every month.
It was all open and free to the public then, now it is fenced off and you have to pay if you go in.
It’s no longer a public open space as the owners have fenced off the Oval so nobody has access anymore unless they give permission or you pay to see an event there. The council needs to enforce the public open space regulations to stop further public exclusion.
It is a shame that the oval is no longer visible to the public and walking through is excluded by big Heras fencing with green tarpaulins. It looks awful now.
Those of us commenting on this article should contact TDC with our concerns.
For all the people who have moved to this area in the last 3 or 4 years, they have no idea of how it used to be.
I say this with respect, they are only interested in what is being shown at the bandstand now.
I am sure most don’t even live in Cliftonville and are not concerned with how it now looks.
I really don’t know how it can be called a community run event anymore, as most of the events you have to pay for.
If you google this group you will find that they have been able to get considerable amounts of funding.
To think that the Margate Town Deal Board, originally awarded them £500,000, half a million pounds, with one of the group a serving member on that board at the time.
It is certainly not like any community group that I have ever known.
Please contact Thanet District Council regarding your concerns.
I rang and expressed the opinion that it was a pity they were pursuing these objectives : timber clad shipping containers on site. Permanent railings to replace temporary fencing, whilst their local community was campaigning to keep the Millmead children.s centre:. They appear to be rather out of touch with their local community. Why is the fencing never shown in photographs? It does not look and feel welcoming. What are they trying to do?
GRASS have done themselves no favours during their tenure of the Oval Bandstand. They have managed to alienate half of the Cliftonville community they had dealings with.
Absolutely true.
Their treatment of the previous group was awful.
I read they sent the lady who runs the farmers market,June Chadband a threatening solicitors letter by recorded delivery, accusing her and TDC of running an illegal market.
This was a few weeks after they had been gifted the site by TDC.
What a despicable thing to do.
I also remember in the IoTN article about it at the time August 2021,Cllr Rob Yates supporting them.
You can still read it all on line.
leave it all in 1898 where it and most of that area belongs
They did not have 20 foot shipping containers then.
Just great open spaces.