Councillors on Thanet’s planning committee have now approved plans for a café, community space and toilet block at Hodges Gap Promenade.
Last month councillors opted not to give the green light for the application but to undertake a site visit instead.
Following that visit earlier this month, agreement has now been made to defer and delegate approval to planning officers. The project, which is part of the £22.2m Margate Town Deal and has been allocated £1.025m, aims to create a two storey café, with a large glazed front opening up views towards the tidal pool. At the rear of the building, there would be a compact kitchen and storeroom site below a mezzanine seating area.
Two toilets, including provision for accessible changing and baby changing, will be housed in a self-contained single storey building. The block will be unheated but insulated. There will also be two outdoor beach showers.
A shipping container to the east of the café will be for community use with a focus on sport and wellbeing activities for a maximum of 20 participants.
Concerns had previously been raised about the proposal, including its location at the east of the Hodges Gap promenade and close to the Walpole tidal pool; the loss of ‘unregulated’ parking spaces; whether a café in that position would be viable and if the build would be sustainable in the face of possible storm and wind damage.
However, at a meeting last night (December 17) councillors on the committee said the site visit had been ‘helpful.’
Cliftonville West ward councillor Heather Keen said she and her fellow ward representatives ‘fully supported’ the development.
She added: “We have a beautiful coastline but this area is particularly difficult for many people to visit, it’s only accessible via a steep slope that many people cannot navigate on foot so the reopening of the Grade II listed lift (part of a separate but linked regeneration scheme) will enable more people, especially those with mobility difficulties or families with young children, to visit this spot.”
She added that historically there have been buildings and community facilities at the Hodges Gap/Walpole Tidal Pool area.
She said: “It currently houses a rusty portacabin and seasonal portaloos along an area of unkempt co0ncrete promenade. There are no proper toilets…nowhere to change, nowhere to sit and limited refreshments available.
“The inclusion of a café and community showers, changing facilities and proper toilets, including accessible toilets and baby changing facilities, would address all these problems.”
Cabinet member Cllr Ruth Duckworth also backed the scheme and said it had a lot of local support. A statement read by Cllr Phil Fellows on behalf of Cliftonville East ward councillor Barry Manners also expressed support for “an essential piece of infrastructure which will deliver benefits for residents and visitors.”
He also highlighted that the café would provide funds for ensuring the provision of the lift and toilets and would mean the scheme was sustainable.
Cllr Mike Garner and Cllr Becky Wing both expressed concerns regarding traffic safety with Cllr Wing adding that it would mean a loss of amenity for wild swimmers due to the site attracting more people and more vehicles.
Following discussion councillors voted to defer and delegate for approval subject to safeguarding conditions.
Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth at Thanet District Council, said: “I am delighted that the Planning Committee has approved these much-needed facilities for Walpole Bay. By delivering a new café, community space, and accessible toilets, we are enhancing the experience for locals and visitors alike while respecting the unique character of Hodges Gap.
“This development is a fabulous investment in our coastline that balances modern amenities with the preservation of our natural environment.”
Will these be yet more “accessible toilets” that are closed 6 months of the year?
As I see it, there will be toilets we have gained that are open for 6 months of the year, so a win.
Such a shame.
Smashing result and only in Thanet could we be angry at such facilities being given the go ahead. Go places like Brighton and we are seriously behind. We have plenty of untouched bays and beaches for those that want that sort of thing.
Sounds like you’re not a regular user of this space as you seem to believe it will only add facilities that are needed, at no detriment to the existing space. In fact removing all the parking to add a cafe nobody needs and that is unlikely to be economically viable grossly outweighs the addition of a toilet – which is needed, but as others have pointed out, may well go the way of the Palm Bay and Dane Park toilets, which are only open when the cafe operator decides they can be open.
Actually, the Palm Bay cafe toilets are NEVER open. Since Covid, it has just been a kiosk.
Totally agree.
Can’t wait to go and take part in some sports inside that shipping container.
Manners “also highlighted that the café would provide funds for ensuring the provision of the lift and toilets and would mean the scheme was sustainable.”
So, he thinks that this cafe will be so profitable that those who run it will also be able to maintain the public lift and toilets. Dream on.
Usually the people who run these establishments have no idea about giving a good clean customer service, I fear the cafe will just be another greasy spoon with dirty tables , unswept floors , smelly neglected toilets and totally useless untrained staff who have the personality of barn doors.
So much more could be done with the cafe ( kiosk ) if a new person was to take over .