Two bids by Pie Factory Music to buy youth centre base in Ramsgate rejected by county council

Pie Factory Music has had two bids to buy its St Lawrence building rejected by Kent County Council (KCC).

The youth charity says officers have declared the intention to sell the plot at commercial market.

Pie Factory leaders say they are hugely disappointed by the decision and say securing the building for community use is crucial to safeguarding support for Thanet’s young people amid a socio-economic and mental health crisis.

Last September, The Isle of Thanet News revealed that the youth charity discovered KCC’s plan to ‘dispose’ of the Ramsgate Youth Centre, which has been Pie’s headquarters since 2013.

A notice of intention to sell the building in St Lawrence High Street, which was listed as an asset of community value in 2022, was received by Thanet council.

The disposal is part of KCC’s efforts to balance its budget by delivering £108.8m savings over the next two years.

It was the second major blow to Pie Factory Music in just six months. Kent County Council made the decision to end its subsidies for youth clubs and activities commissioned by the council but run by outside organisations. The decision, which came into effect in March, was made to save the county council around £900,000.

It meant a loss of 45% of Pie Factory’s income which resulted in Pie having to cease its youth service in Dover, after seven years of providing activities for that district’s young people.

Pie Factory launched an appeal to raise some £500,000 to buy the building and carry out major maintenance works and says it presented a viable solution to the council’s budget challenges.

The charity is urging the community to take immediate action to persuade KCC to stop the commercial sale of Ramsgate Youth Centre.

They are asking people to write to their KCC Member, requesting the building is not put on the commercial market and to instead consider the offer from Pie Factory.

More than 1,000 young people attend Pie annually but without the centre the charity’s current provision of activities will significantly decrease or stop, as they will have to find alternative premises.

The building is the last dedicated youth centre in the area, following the change of the former Quarterdeck Youth Hub in Margate into a Family Hub focused on Early Years provision.

Pie immediately registered an interest in purchasing the building, which has had Asset of Community Value status since 2022. This kick-started a six-month ‘moratorium period’ for the charity to prepare a proposal and raise funds before the owner (KCC) can agree to a sale.

Ramsgate Youth Centre is listed as an asset of community value because of the benefits it provides to the social interests of the local community.

Zoë Carassik, CEO of Pie Factory Music said:“This is crunch time for us. If we don’t secure this building for our continued use, there will be no dedicated youth centre in Thanet for vulnerable young people to turn to, at a time when they need it the most.

“We have worked closely with our solicitors to present two fair and sound offers of purchase, following our own valuation of the building and conducting the due process in line with KCC’s requirements.

“Despite presenting a fair and sustainable offer in alignment with this, we are yet to receive a clear rationale for its rejection. This move will ensure the young people of Thanet and East Kent, and their families continue to directly benefit from youth services, providing them with a place full of opportunities where they can thrive.

“KCC has indicated the intention to wait out the ACV moratorium period so they can put the building up for commercial sale, raising concerns about potential redevelopment that could result in the loss of our facilities. Without intervention, the community risks losing a vital youth centre that has served young people since 1969 and leaving Pie without a dedicated base.

“We need our local community’s urgent support to advocate for the preservation of Ramsgate Youth Centre for future generations. If enough people speak out, KCC will have to listen.”

Polly Billington, East Thanet MP, backs Pie’s campaign. She took the case to the Houses of Parliament in October 2024.

She said:“Pie Factory Music provides a lifeline to vulnerable young people, offering them a safe space to socialise, express themselves through creativity, and receive vital help and support. Yet such services have been cut to the bone across Kent thanks to fourteen years of Tory austerity, with the predictable result being rising homelessness, knife crime, and antisocial behaviour.

“Instead of boosting youth services to tackle these urgent problems, Kent County Council is proposing to flog off the Ramsgate Youth Centre and throw Pie Factory Music out on the street.

“It is not too late for them to listen to local residents and save this asset of immense community value, by accepting Pie Factory Music’s bid to purchase the Ramsgate Youth Centre. The social impact if they don’t will be devastating for hundreds of families.”

Nationally, youth work saves £500 million on public spending through crime reduction. £1 investment in youth work is estimated to return £3.20 – £6.40 of social value.

County Councillor  Karen Constantine said: “We know how valuable our local youth services are. A recent report by U.K. Youth, showed that where services are cut there is a corresponding rise in certain types of crime and anti-social behaviour.

“This is driven by the complexity and uncertainty of contemporary life that our young people face. They need more support, not less.

“We know that under the Conservative’s, funding for young people has been cut by 60 per cent in the last ten years. Even though KCC has a legal duty to provide youth services, they have not shied away from axing youth services across the county.

“The government’s ‘youth guarantee’ promises all young people should have a ‘safe places to go, meaningful things to do, and experiences to develop and give back to their communities.’

“We now need pressure on our government to make this investment directly to places like the Pie Factory, in order to make this guarantee a reality. Especially in areas like Ramsgate where we have high rates of NEETS – not in education, employment, or training.

“The government could also provide KCC and other councils with ring-fenced funding, guaranteed for three years — so that staff contacts can be renewed, and services can continue on a sustainable basis — this would ‘stop the rot,’ prevent more services disappearing and aid the retention of skilled and dedicated staff.”

To support Pie and voice views, find your local KCC Member here

‘No longer required’

A spokesperson for Kent County Council (KCC)  said proceeds from any sale will be reinvested to support the council’s operational services.

The spokesperson said: “It has been well documented that KCC needs to find an estimated £118million of savings this year to balance the budget and protect statutory services in the future.

 “Following the decision not to renew commissioned Youth Services contracts last year, the Ramsgate Youth Centre is no longer required to support the delivery of Youth Services. KCC’s Youth Services are delivered via the Council’s Family Hubs across the county. Given this, we will be progressing with the sale of the property in line with our normal processes for an asset of community value (ACV) – which it is listed as.

“While this process allows time for community groups including the Pie Factory to raise funds and develop proposals, it does not obligate KCC to accept any proposal made. As the Pie Factory is aware, KCC has a duty to ensure it meets its financial, legal and statutory responsibilities as part of any sale in the interest of Kent Taxpayers.

“KCC will adhere to the ACV timescales and is committed to ensuring an open and transparent process. As part of this, along with others, the Pie Factory will be able to express an interest in the property at the appropriate time. It is expected that the proceeds from any sale will be reinvested to support the Council’s operational services.’’