Thanet Council, Margate Seafront Development Steering Group and the proposed RNLI Lifeboat Station

The proposed RNLI Lifeboat Station

After reading in the Thanet Gazette in February this year about the Margate Seafront Development Steering Group (MSDSG) and it's involvement in the ongoing proposal for a hotel at the Rendezvous site behind Turner Contemporary, I was surprised.

I’d never heard of MSDSG or how it steered Margate's seafront development.

The Rendezvous site is currently occupied by the RNLI lifeboat station. The development of the site for a hotel requires the  life boat station to be relocated. 

The current proposal to put a new lifeboat station on the main sands has caused great controversy and we're told there's no better location. So I thought it worth looking into how the MSDSG had addressed the issue and when.

I tried to find information about the MSDSG on the TDC website. I've found no evidence of it reporting to Thanet District Council, stakeholder groups or Cabinet.

A Google search also revealed nothing.

So, I made two Freedom of Information requests. One to Thanet District Council and the other the Kent County Council. 

Thanet District Council initially responded by stating they held no information about the Margate Seafront Development Steering Group and suggested the Kent County Council might. This might lead you to believe that Thanet District Council had nothing to do with the group. I then requested an Internal Review of this decision. This takes extra time, beyond the initial 20-day limit. They then replied stating that they did in fact hold information on the MSDSG, but they were withholding the information under Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) on the grounds of that it would be:

"(prejudicial to the conduct of public affairs)," presumably because release of further information "would, or would likely to, inhibit - (i) the free and frank provision of advice, or (ii) the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation, or (c) would otherwise prejudice, or would be likely otherwise to prejudice, the effective conduct of public affairs.”

 It is a little ironic that a local authority can first misinform a member of the public seeking information about the town in which they live, and then invoke an exemption to the FOI on the grounds that answering candidly would be “prejudicial to the conduct of public affairs.”

In terms of the public interest test there is a compellingn argument that discussions relating to public realm issues should be carried out in an open manner with the public having access to all the available information.

crutinise the MSDSG or how it has reported back to the authority, as there is no record. If I’d taken Thanet District Council at their first word, we wouldn't even know that the group has included  Chief Executive and the Leader over three administrations.

Current TDC members of MSDSG are:

Madeline Homer, Chief Executive
Councillor Chris Wells, Leader
Rob Kenyon, Director of Community Services

Kent County Council were more forthcoming. Firstly, they requested extra time to consider whether they were also considering applying a S36 exemption. They then released minutes from the MSDSG going back three years to January 2013. 

It turns out the group was formally set up in February 2013 and the membership outlined in their Terms and References as:

“There will be Member and senior officer representation from both local authorities. In recognition of their strategic role, the Steering Group will be chaired by the Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Customer and Communities. There will also be senior officer representation from the appropriate KCC directorates. The Vice Chairman of the group will be the Leader of Thanet District Council which will also provide appropriate senior officer participation. Turner Contemporary is invited to join the group either at Board Level or at Director/Deputy level.”

The group was to report to back as follows:

“The local authority representatives will report back through their own authority Cabinets and Turner Contemporary through the Trust Board.”

Which we know there's no evidence of. 

The stated topics of interest for the MSDSG were two sites: the Rendezvous and Winter Gardens along with the ensuring the success of Turner Contemporary and Dreamland:

“The development of the key sites of the Rendezvous and Winter Gardens has long been seen to be vital to the long term regeneration of Margate. The tremendous success of the first phase which was the construction of Turner Contemporary, reinforces the urgency to build on this success and achieve the critical mass which the full development of both these sites will provide. It is this critical mass of visitor attractions which is needed for the regeneration of Margate.”

Yet, we see reported throughout the meeting minutes covering a three year period, that other key sites in Margate have been the topic of discussion and of interest for the group. Including the Cliftonville Lido, Theatre Royal and the RNLI’s move to the Main Sands.

The RNLI move from the Rendezvous site to the main sands and the proposed hotel on the Rendezvous site both involving planning applications to Thanet District Council and was discussed at the very first meeting in January 2013. The planning permission only being requested later in 2015.

There’s also discussion of how members of Thanet District Council’s Planning Committee might be in favour of a proposal, before the planning application was presented to members of the Planning Committee: in October 2015.

MSDSG is made up of the bosses from the two decision-making authorities: Kent County Council and Thanet District Council. There are apparently no records of how these members reported back to Cabinet or officers at the Council.

It is baffling that one of these decision-making authorities first denied the existence of the Steering Group and then sought to withhold information about its deliberations. Margate needs to discuss its future in an open and transparent way. At the moment time and public resources are being used to develop plans in isolation and then foist them on the public.

You can still give your objections or support for the RNLI proposal to build on Margate Main Sands. The deadline is today, Wednesday April 20th. You can do this on the Planning Portal with the reference F/TH/15/1239.

There have been an unprecedented number of objections to the proposal. Perhaps if TDC and KCC bosses had actually reported back to their respective authorities in an open and transparent manner from 2013, two years before the planning permission was submitted, the public could have expressed their opinions at an earlier stage alerting the authorities to how much they treasure the main sands.  

There's also the petition on Change.org against the proposal from Save Our Sands.

Save Our Sands Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1550462518602634/

Here’s excerpts from the MSDSG Minutes over the three years from 2013 on the RNLI Lifeboat Station move:

January 9th 2013:

CH [Clive Hart, Leader TDC] also expressed concern that the Lifeboat Organisation is unable to stay at the site due to the size of the new lifeboat and wish to move further down the coast. MH [Mike Hill, KCC] will obtain an update on this but all stakeholders have been consulted and this will be factored into the master plan. CH felt that a public viewing platform would be a good idea as this area would provide excellent views which would draw people in.

March 20th 2013

The RNLI are submitting a planning application to relocate onto the beach front (to the same position they had when Turner Contemporary was being built). No funding is available for this at the moment. It is hoped to have the facility open for when the new lifeboat arrives (2016) as the new boat is too large for the current site.  Margate Yacht Club could possibly occupy the RNLI building which could be a cost effective solution. Property are discussing with RNLI to find out if planning approval has been received (Thanet District Council confirmed that the planning application had not yet been submitted). Other possibilities are being looked at by Guy Holloway. The proposals from Guy Holloway will need to be signed off by the Margate Steering Group before taking forward. Guy Holloway is due to make a presentation on 2 April when the plans will be updated from the comments made. Clive Hart (CH) expressed concern that local Councillors have not been consulted and it was suggested that once the master plan has been produced this should be shared with local Councillors. There may be opposition if the RNLI moved sites if views were obscured. There may also be issues with the volleyball facilities. 

Amanda Honey (AH) stressed the need to resolve the lifeboat site issue. It would be useful if Thanet District Council could check what position the RNLI are in. Guy Holloway needs to be informed to work on the status quo.

July 31st 2013

The RNLI would like to move away from the site but are unable to do this at present due to the financial implications.

March 12th 2015

The RNLI have contacted Thanet District Council regarding moving from the existing site. Positioning needs to be discussed and Mho [Madeline Homer, TDC] will pick-up this issue.

October 1st 2015

The RNLI will be moving from the site and this will open up wider possibilities. Mho confirmed the planning application has been submitted. It is hoped that the new site will be on the Margate sands. The general view is that planning will be granted. The existing building is owned by KCC. Margate Yacht Club is keen to take over the site of the RNLI but this is unlikely to be approved. KE to come back with the date for the RNLI exhibition of plans.

Thanet Council reject Turner Contemporary’s inspirational plans for historic Fort Road Hotel, in favour of demolition and social housing

Options Study for Fort Road Hotel, June 2014

In December 2014 Councillor Iris Johnston surprised the public with her Leader’s Report to the Council regarding the potential demolition of the historic Fort Road Hotel and the development of the site for social housing flats.

Soon afterwards, Councillor Richard Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Housing, stated that:

“several attempts were made to market this building but unfortunately to no avail.”

• 
This Labour Council’s  announcement was a shock to many  residents and interested parties, who had been following the council’s own PR and marketing of the hotel for development as boutique hotel.

• It seemed obvious that such a prominent seafront location, opposite Turner Contemporary made a hotel an obvious and attractive option. The council had even erected a rooftop neon ‘ICONIC SITE’ sign to market it for development into a much needed boutique hotel, which would be an economic boost to Margate. I covered this in my blog post of December 6th 2014.

ICONIC SITE neon marketing

• The Kent and London based award-winning architectural and interior design practice of Guy Hollaway Architects RIBA, has presented  two high quality schemes,  drawn up for  two separate developers since 2010.

• The first of these with the original landowners, was proceeding with the apparent agreement of KCC and Thanet Council during the Tory administration of Bob Bayford in 2010. But the CPO for demolition was still implemented in 2010 by the council’s housing department with the stated purpose of demolition.  This in itself is questionable to demolish a building in a Conservation Area without an approved scheme to replace it.

• The second Guy Hollaway  Architects scheme was for a London based developer and was announced in the press on July 22nd 2013

Guy Hollaway scheme July 2013

• In February 2014, after hearing this second scheme had also fallen through,  I asked the council if they had any buildings which the council were looking for developers to take forward as hotels. I’m the owner of a successful  boutique bed and breakfast business and we were actively exploring expansion of our business. I was told there weren’t buildings for hotels and I should make enquiries of estate agents in the area.

• It then came to my attention that in spring 2014 that Turner Contemporary had been asked by the council from February 2014 to draw up an options scheme for a boutique hotel for the Fort Road Hotel site.

In December 2014 I made a Freedom of Information request for documents relating to the site. At first the Council refused to release the options document them on the grounds of commercial confidentiality. Following a successful appeal to the council the options document was made public last week. 

• I can now reveal that an options document was indeed drawn up for Turner Contemporary by architects Hawkins Brown in June 2014. Email discussions between Turner Contemporary and the council’s Head of Economic Development and Asset Management, Edwina Crowley, show that while the council had first encouraged Turner Contemporary to draw up a hotel scheme Ms Crowley then stated on June 24th 2014 that they would not hand over the freehold to the site as part of any deal. And further that: "The agreement for the lease will prevent any land banking and enable us to get the site back, plus prevent residential use."

Download the public file (PDF) of the email discussions with the Council.

• This scheme, which was never disclosed to the voting public, then appears to have collapsed. Download the PDF of the options document that has been made public. Ironically, it includes an image from one of my own bedrooms in my B&B as a style guide!

Illustration of potential boutique hotel use

• After this opaque and puzzling episode, the current council administration is now  determined to demolish a heritage building and utilise  this strategic site for housing;  rather than economic/job creation /tourism regeneration as was their position in 2010 at the time of their CPO.

• This raises the issue of why a great deal of taxpayers money was  wasted  in marketing the site for development into a boutique hotel?

• In addition, large sums of wasted money have been  spent by prospective developers in drawing up expensive schemes to submit to this council,  schemes which TDC had no intention of pursuing. And all the while the building has been left in a derelict eyesore state open to the elements since the CPO of 2010.

• This Thursday on April 2nd, the TDC Cabinet Meeting has tabled a motion to transfer the Fort Road Hotel to the Housing Revenue account so that demolition can take place and development for social housing.

• Perhaps we should now be asking Councillor Nicholson whether he knew that TDC had made TDC possession of the freehold of the site non-negotiable, when he said that efforts to find a partner for the hotel project had been "to no avail."

The Save Fort Road petition is now running at over 600 signatures. It’s clear the public don’t want this historic building  to be demolished. And despite the council’s attempts to suppress the information, the Turner Contemporary proposal it looks like the kind of scheme the public would support.

There are plenty of empty properties and sites throughout the area for the council to utilise and develop for  modern  housing. Margate doesn’t  have many places where Turner’s sea and sky can be seen in such a spectacular setting, where natural beauty can support local jobs and sustainable revenues for the town.      
               
• If we’re elected to the council, Ed Targett and I will work to ensure all asset disposals are conducted in an open and transparent manner.                                                                                        

We must not lose any more strategic economic sites in the town that could provide badly needed jobs. Margate is a great town with a great future as a tourist destination and as a place to live.                              
We  deserve better from our council.

What can we do as individuals?

SIGN THE PETITION!
Join the Save Fort Road Hotel Facebook page and spread the word!

Write to Acting Chief Executive Madeline Homer ahead of Thursday’s Cabinet Meeting to ask her to review the decision to move towards housing development of the historic Fort Road Hotel. Madeline.homer@thanet.gov.uk        

Follow the hashtag #MargateSpringClean    
https://www.facebook.com/margatespringclean                                     

Additional Edit:
I finally managed to open this coming Thursday's April 2nd Cabinet Meeting Agenda Report document. PDF of the Fort Road Hotel Agenda Item 7 here.

There's even more shocking information. These excerpts are taken from the above Agenda Reports document.

Given the information that has been released to the public regarding the Turner Contemporary options document, it doesn't seem to be true that there wasn't a suitable development proposal put forward. The Council no longer offering the freehold is not the same issue.

There we have it. £950,000 is the figure the Council are proposing to spend on destroying historic building to build social housing.

The council have spent £30,000 is scaffolding since 2010 while private developers spent their money proposing hotel schemes for the site. What about the cost of the marketing and PR with the neon 'ICONIC SITE'?

The Council stipulate for themselves as developers that the site must be developed for non commercial purposes, yet in June 2014, Edwina Crowley stipulated any lease created for a private developer would be to ensure it wouldn't be residential.

How much public money has been spent on  marketing the site for a hotel?

How much money have the proposals cost private developers since 2010?
Why has the public been kept in the dark?

It's this kind of behaviour from the Council that convinced me to stand for election in the Margate Central Ward. If elected I will do my best to ensure there is full transparency and accountability for disposals of this nature. And a level playing field for private developers when up against the Council as a developer. #MargateSpringClean

Lemn Sissay's poem for Margate will be projected on the Turner Contemporary January 26th

Very much looking forward to seeing the poet Lemn Sissay's poem for Margate projected on the side of Turner Contemporary on the evening of January 26th at 6pm. I enjoyed meeting Lemn. One of those human beings who exudes the very essence of being alive and in connecting with the people he meets.  A fine quality for a poet I think. 

Lemn blogs here.  Where he reminds us that people with ideas should never be without a notebook.

Article on This is Kent 

In the media: Turner Could be World Renowned

An article from Kent News asks whether Turner will bring change to Margate.

But I wonder if these changes will really be driven by Turner or more a sign of the times.

Isn't it more the case that British Tourism is changing, as are the lives of the general population?

People now eat quality food at home, enjoy clean homes, sleep in good beds and linen and have nice bathrooms with hot running water and good showers. The tourism industry cannot offer people less than they have at home. They have a choice on where to visit. No longer do seaside resorts have a captive audience. And in the era of Trip Advisor, people find out about other people's bad experiences very quickly.

"Changing attitudes is perhaps the biggest challenge any politician, any opinion-maker, anywhere, faces.

Altering the way people live, interact and behave can rarely be achieved overnight, more often taking a generation to truly bed in.

After all, we all learn methods and modes of behaviour from our parents and grandparents. It takes them to change, to ensure the next generation alters its mindset too.

All of which brings us to what is being expected of the good folk of Thanet right now.

The arrival of the Turner Contemporary has long since split opinion, long since divided the local populace.

But whatever your view on it, a change in the way we act is being demanded.

However pessimistic many are about quite what its opening will mean, how successful, in the long term, it will prove, the one thing that is certain is that it will open the gates to a flood of visitors.

It is a genuine pivotal moment in Margate’s, in particular, history. But to ensure its opening benefits the whole area that different mindset is being required.

Tourism chiefs are urging a sea change in our approach to visitors. Taxi drivers are being required to be more cheerful and helpful, ditto owners of hotels and bed and breakfasts. Other attractions on the isle too are being urged to up their game.

The purpose? To ensure those people travelling to Margate for the first time to visit the art gallery head back down the Thanet Way feeling that they want to return. That they had a good day out and they want to come back and spend more time, and crucially money, in our area.

It makes good sense, after all. The local economy is in desperate need of a boost. To re-activate tourism as a major draw could transform our towns once again. But you don’t need telling that. That has long since been the mantra recited time and time again with every passing mention of the Turner’s arrival.

It would be so very easy, after all, to say that an art gallery cannot, alone, transform an area single-handedly. And the answer is, of course, that alone, it cannot. But it can provide the catalyst for change. Yet it is our attitudes which must change too. We must be open to the concepts of being more friendly, more welcoming. Of proving to visitors far and wide that where we live deserves far more recognition that simply being an area cited as the classic example of a once boom area in a terminal decline due to cheap flights and a changing populace brought about by a lack of local industry and cheaper house prices.

The reality is that if we all shrug our shoulders and say ‘come on Turner, you do all the hard work and we expect to see the changes’ it won’t happen. We’ll just be known as the declining seaside town which even turned its back on a golden opportunity too.

So let us all pull together for our mutual benefit. Let us all embrace the changes and give it a chance to transform our lives. A chance to bring visitors back to our towns, a chance to prove to retailers they should once again be in our town centres occupying empty shops, that this great, beautiful isle is worthy of praise and not patronising comments and sneers."

Turner Contemporary is beautiful

The handover for the Turner Contemporary took place yesterday. What an amazing addition to the town this gallery will be. The views are stunning, the light, the finish. I'd like to wish a hearty congratulations to everyone who has made this building happen. Applause very well deserved. Can't wait for the opening. April 16th 2011! Sorry not to write more tonight. Am very tired!

We're back! And lots happening!

I know, I've been a really bad blogger. I've neglected to update Margate Architecture for ages. And what makes it worse is that loads of exciting stuff is going on in town. There is a perceptible buzz in the town for many reasons. A few of which I will endeavour to mention in the coming days. But for today, the big news on the Margate horizon (that has of course been covered very well elsewhere), is that Turner announced their actual opening date and details of their first exhibition.

It's the 16th of April, people! Spring will be well and truly sprung and a sunny summer season will lie ahead. Allow this thought to warm your cockles during the winter. Imagine next winter when you're being rained upon in November. You'll be able to take shelter, take in some art and if that isn't your thing, there is also the amazing view of our amazing sea scape through the huge plate glass windows. Can't wait.

I couldn't as a self respecting Margate blogger miss this turning point. So here's the statement from Victoria Pomery herself:

Turner Contemporary Opens on Saturday 16 April 2011

Today we are delighted to announce the opening date for the new Turner Contemporary gallery.

The doors will open to the public on 16 April 2011 and we will be celebrating with a series of activities and events around the gallery over the opening weekend, details of which will be released nearer the time.

The opening exhibition, Revealed: Turner Contemporary Opens Saturday 16 April - Sunday 4 September 2011 explores the themes of imagination, discovery, wonder and the creative spirit.

Centred on JMW Turner-s extraordinary but little-known painting The Eruption of the Souffrier Mountains, in the Island of St Vincent, at Midnight, on the 30th of April, 1812, from a Sketch Taken at the Time by Hugh P. Keane, Esqre, 1815 depicting a dramatic volcanic eruption that Turner himself never witnessed, the exhibition will feature new commissions by Daniel Buren, Russell Crotty, Ellen Harvey and Conrad Shawcross, alongside selected works by Teresita Fernandez and Douglas Gordon.

The opening show will be followed by:

Nothing in the World but Youth
17 September 2011 - 8 January 2012

An exhibition exploring how youth experience has been reflected in art, culture and the media from the late nineteenth century to the present day.

Hamish Fulton
14 January - 13 May 2012

His first one-person show in the UK since 2002, will include new work made as the result of group walks in Kent commissioned by Turner Contemporary.

Turner and the Elements
28 January - 13 May 2012

Our first major show of works by JMW Turner explores the important role that the depiction of the elements played in Turner's landscapes, watercolours and late paintings.


For more information about our opening programme, please visit www.turnercontemporary.org
( http://turnercontemporary.pmailuk.com/bnmailweb/ct?d=A6oSZQAWAAEAAAgrAABMhw ) .


We look forward with anticipation to welcoming you on Saturday 16 April when the doors of Turner Contemporary open.

Best wishes

Victoria Pomery, Director and John Kampfner, Chair of Turner Contemporary Trust
http://www.turnercontemporary.org/

Turner Contemporary pressure TDC to sort out stinking seaweed problem

Reported in This is Kent, Turner Contemporary have urged TDC to sort out the stinking seaweed problem.

http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/thanet/Stinky-seaweed-right-tourists-noses/article-2265494-detail/article.html

Would be nice if we had the working harbour, some fishing boats and no smell.

Why can't this be sorted out?

Film about Turner and the origins of the Turner Centre in Margate

Funny and odd choice of imagery in this film about the artist Turner and the origins of what was then called The Turner Centre. The 'elegant seaside town' has opening shots of a Tesco's car park and people loading shopping into car boots.

Empty Shops Workshop and Tracey's Lights

The 30th of April will be busy down at the Margate Harbour Arm. It's the day of the Empty Shops workshop and seminar with Dan Thompson from the national Empty Shops and Spaces Initiative. In the evening it is the switching on of Tracey Emin's neon on the Droit House. Nice innovative uses for our historic buildings in Margate.

The workshop runs from 12 noon until 5.30pm.

More info:
http://www.margateharbourarm.co.uk/
http://wemakemargate.blogspot.com/
http://www.turnercontemporary.org/whatson/?p=192
http://www.emininternational.com/

Press: Trust boss vows Turner centre in Margate is value

THE Turner Contemporary will receive at least £1 million in public money a year once it opens.

A trust is due to take over the running of the gallery from Kent County Council (KCC) on April 1, but it will receive a grant of more than £1 million a year to help cover the gallery’s estimated £2.6 million annual running costs.

The grant is in addition to the money already paid by KCC, the Arts Council and the South East Economic Development Agency (Seeda) to build the £17.5 million gallery by Margate’s harbour arm.

The grant will continue until KCC leaders judge the gallery can support itself.

Speaking to the Isle of Thanet Gazette, trust chairman John Kampfner said the funding was agreed before the trust was appointed, but he was confident the project would provide value for money.

He said: “We’re not complacent. Everybody will always have their opinions and they are free to air them.

“We want to show people by our actions that this is a great thing for the town, not by what we say.

“The views I hear now are more of frustrated impatience at waiting for the gallery to open, rather than about the project itself.”

Former New Statesman editor Mr Kampfner now heads the Index on Censorship, which promotinges freedom of speech.

He said the trust was in close contact with other projects in the town, such as the planned redevelopment of Dreamland.

Mr Kampfner said 2010 would be the year when “it all comes together”, and welcomed Margate artist Tracey Emin’s installation planned for Droit House, which will be unveiled around the time the trust assumes control of the gallery.

KCC said the cost of Emin’s project, which will see a pink neon sign reading “I never stopped loving you”, installed over the entrance to the Droit House, has not yet been finalised.

John Kampfner looking forward

Nice piece in The Guardian from Turner Chair, John Kampfner. The Turner is on budget and on schedule. He also likes the new vintage shop openings in Margate Old Town. Nice to see he's taking an interest and spending some leisure time here too.

Glimpse Margate

There's a photographic exhibition coming to the Margate Harbour Arm on April 3rd.
Glimpse seeks to celebrate the Margate UK Flickr group's website postings from the first two years, up until January 2009, and how the members of this online community came together through their photographs of Margate. The exhibition is as much about the people and the collection as the individual images themselves. Some people have never exhibited before, some are artists, some are native to Margate, some were just visiting.

What counts is that they came to Margate, were inspired to take a picture and motivated to share it. Glimpse will run until Sunday 19 April. The opening night event is on Friday 3 April, from 5pm-9pm, with delicious food to try from The Indian Princess restaurant. For more information go to the Glimpse blog at: http://glimpsemargate.blogspot.com/

And that's not the only thing on in town that night. The same Friday has the Turner Contemporary Project Space opening of their new show: The Sound of Music, which explores the links between art, sound and music. Featuring 30 works in a variety of media from artists including John Cage, Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller, Turner Prize nominee Angela Bulloch and Pierre Huyghe, all selected from the collection of the FRAC Nord-Pas de Calais in Dunkirk. Alongside Sound of Music, Turner Contemporary presents Crossroads, a new video installation by David Blandy. Crossroads investigates the mythology surrounding the legendary Robert Johnson, a bluesman with three gravestones, 29 recorded songs and only two known photographs, who reputedly sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads. The Sound of Music and Crossroads will run until Sunday 14 June.

Also, for one night only local artists will transform the interior of the Substation Project Space into a fantasy stage-set which will encompass both the audience and the evening’s musical performers. Headline act, French-Swiss two piece Vialka, proclaim themselves to be a “Turbo-folk mini-orchestra”, and promise to thrill the audience with their cabaret-influenced punk rock. Support comes from Margate’s Neverest Songs, Faversham’s Tikoloshe, and Canterbury/Brighton act Savlon. In addition, the local Roadkill Fanzine will be holding a stall at the venue, selling ‘zines, T-shirts and drawings. Tickets for this event are £4.50 payable on the door.on the night.

David Chipperfield Wins RIBA Stirling Prize

So, David Chipperfield, the architect charged with designing Margate's Turner Contemporary, has won the RIBA Stirling Prize for his design of a museum in Germany. Let's hope he can do the same for Margate! More info here he was the only entrant to have two buildings in the short list.

Dates for the diary

There are a couple of dates for the Margate calendar this month. Always looking for a thing to do of an evening.

The Theatre Royal itself will re-open after the summer's enforced closure and subsequent management changes with one night relaunch gala, on Saturday 29th of September. So far there's no information on the theatre's website, I read about the gala in the Thanet Gazette.

The next stage of designs for the Turner Contemporary will be unveiled by architect, David Chipperfield, at the soon to be re-opened Theatre Royal in Margate. The event will take place at 6.30pm on Tuesday 16 October 2007. To reserve a place email:
rfurlong@turnercontemporary.org or telephone 01843 294363