Marina Cafe continued....

The following website address will give you some pictures of the cafe before the demolition job:
http://www.broken-britain.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=93&highlight=ramsgate click and you'll go straight there!

Went onto Councillor Green's site and extracted the following information which is self explanatory:


Cllr David Green said...
Marina RestaurantMessage from TDC Planning The building is subject to a Repairs Notice. It is listed. The owner started work on site this Monday; problems with the structure were reported yesterday. We have had a Building Control Officer and Chartered Surveyor [working for TDC] on site most of the day. This to make sure that the structure is safe, and that a fresh schedule of what the owner must do to repair is issued. There is no demolition project; this is restoration- and the owner is being left with no misunderstanding. For safety reasons some of the structure had to comedown. But I assure you it goes back as before.
01 February 2008 21:04

Monday, February 04, 2008
Marina Restaurant
I promised an update once I had a official position from TDC conservation officer. I would like to add that no-one is more concerned than he to see this building restored as was.No 1 Granville Marina is part of JT Wimperis' 1877 development of a beach resort for Edward Pugin's Granville Hotel. As originally devised,the development consisted of shops, houses, shell grottos, tea rooms anda 'wintergardens'. No 1 was built as a photographer's studio. Numbers1-4 were listed Grade II on 21/12/2004.Last year Thanet Council became increasingly concerned about thecondition of the building. Its last used was as a restaurant, a use thatended some years ago. It was, however, still owned by the catering company who - despite several offers - refused to sell it. A change in the management of the company saw it being sold to a firm of Ramsgate developers in the middle of last year.I had a meeting with the new owners in August last year at which it wasclear that it was their desire to demolish and redevelop. It was pointed out to them that this not an option since the building was listed.Being concerned that they were not going to take any action, we servedan Urgent Works Notice on the owners on 15th August 2007 - with acompliance period of three weeks. The Notice required the sea facing elevation to be shored up and the structure made secure and watertight.The developers appointed a structural engineer who designed shoring forthe defective elevation.As the autumn progressed it became clear that the developers were not going to carry out the works and it transpired that they had dispensed with the services of the structural engineer. We therefore engaged the same engineer, had the structural works priced and appointed contractors to carry out works in default. The contractors started work on 28/1/2008.On the morning they started the owners turned up saying they were sorry and that they would carry out the works immediately. We withdrew our contractors. On Thursday 31st January there was a considerable south-westerly gale and a considerable crack opened up in the south west corner - the left hand side of the sea facing elevation. By Friday morning it was clear that the sea elevation was becoming too 'live' to prop anymore and would have to be demolished. Our structural engineer was in attendance -together with our Building Control section. Once the front was down it became clear that the lateral walls were being forced apart by the roof and two thirds of the building ended up being demolished .The remaining third is, at the time of writing, being stabilised by TDC using a Notice under the Building Acts. Any loose historic material from the demolished parts is to be collected and put in to storage. It is the Authority's intention to serve a Section 48 Repairs Notice requiring the owner to re-instate, on a like for like basis, the demolished parts. I am of the opinion that the Ramsgate THI scheme couldunder write a compulsory purchase notice.

Having found all that lot 'straight from the horse's mouth' so to speak, with my red highlighting. The problem here is going to be the time factor especially being in such close proximity to the Pleasurama development. Watch the space!

positive comments...

This morning I had to go into town. The weather was warm and sunny so I thought I'll go along the cliff top and walk down through Madeira Gardens. A left turn at the harbour by the old NatWest Bank brought me to the cafe culture overlooking the casino. I admired the efforts of a few industrious outlets with their chairs and tables on the pavement with a few spartan customers. Maybe, I thought work will have started on the Pleasurama site! No, not yet there are some new hoardings but that's it... Turned round and walked by the harbour admiring the various boats moored there. Time for a sit down on the granite benches to admire the view. Good idea those benches, bit cold on the bot but totally vandal proof, cos they've been there a while, too heavy to lift and impervious to graffiti.

Ten minutes later I crossed at another useful innovation; the pelican crossing outside the Royal (well done Frank and Co). There were benches and tables outside with more people enjoying the sunshine and having some refreshment while enjoying the view.

Walked into Harbour Street and the old indoor market site was alive with industry turning it into a cafe/restaurant/bar (somebody, like me and with more money to invest believes in the place). All the little shops looked good. The burnt out restaurant was advertising that they had premises in Broadstairs and they'd be back soon but all customers were welcome at their alternative premises. Next door, the bakers, was shrouded in scaffold where changes were taking place to rebuild the premises and they would be opening soon (belief again).

Turned right into King Street where all the shops on the pedestrianised paved area were alive and busy. The new fishmongers (more belief) looked as though it was a Friday (fish day) they were busy but what a good site to open a wet fish shop! True the occasional empty shop is waiting for the right trade to arrive there. At the end of the paved area, the shops are being turned into accommodation which will change the town by reducing its shopping area. Do we need it I ask myself, with all the 'out of town' development and the Loopy buses to get there and back?

The transition that is taking place here shows that if it's needed it will survive, we the Ramsgate people decide with our custom. There is a choice here and given time and investment in the right schemes our future is assured... Thirty years on, I've seen some changes from when I first arrived from north London with my young familyand at last in my retirement I can honestly say 'I don't want to be anywhere else, but here'.