Margate the ideal spring break

Margate is in the news as a recommended seaside get away.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/feb/26/spring-break-hotel-margate-devon

Escape to the seaside

When the Turner Contemporary gallery (turnercontemporary.org) opens in Margate on 16 April, it's set to do almost as much for the down-at-heel seaside resort as Tracey Emin has. After checking out the exhibitions, take a wind-blown stroll along the pier for a beer at the cafe at the end, then delve into the town's idiosyncratic attractions, such as the Shell Grotto (shellgrotto.co.uk) and the Mad Hatter's Tea Rooms(01843 232626). Book a night in one of the area's fabulous new boutique B&Bs, such as The Reading Rooms (01843 225 166,thereadingroomsmargate.co.uk, doubles from £135) with elegant white rooms in a Georgian townhouse, or stay along the coast in Whitstable at the gorgeous little Front Rooms (01227 282132, thefrontrooms.co.uk, with doubles from £99).

Camera Obscura events come to Margate - Candlelit tours of the Shell Grotto

How exciting. A lovely series of events to come to Margate. As part of the international Obscura Day on the 9th of April, two Margate venues will be holding special events. Billed as:

"A day of expeditions, backroom tours, and hidden treasures in your hometown"

There will be events on at Substation:

"

On Obscura Day Limbo Arts will be opening its project space, housed in one of the first electrical substations to provide domestic power, for a one-day exhibition of photographs documenting locations in which extra-terrestrial and unexplained activity has been said to occur. This exhibition will be a pre-curser to Limbo’s upcoming program, "Art Lands On Alien Landscape".

The project space at the Substation appears to be in transition – gallery lighting and whitened walls with the imposing industrial structure of the room contrast with the transformers, rectifiers, and switchgear once stood. Taking our cue from this sense of transition we wish to use the space to explore liminality."

And The Shell Grotto:

Explore the mysterious Shell Grotto of Margate by candlelight.

The Shell Grotto is one of the world’s most mysterious places: a series of underground rooms and passageways covered by 2000sqft of exquisite shell mosaic. Discovered in 1835, nobody yet knows who created it, although there are many theories surrounding its origins. Is it a pagan temple? A meeting place for some secret cult? Since its accidental discovery visitors from all over the world have been intrigued by the beautiful mosaic and the unsolved mystery.

On Obscura Day come and explore the grottos mysteries by candlelight on four small group tours

More info:

http://atlasobscura.com/obscura-day

http://www.shellgrotto.co.uk/

http://www.limboarts.co.uk/

Do we want a 5 meter high Buoy on Margate Seafront?

**DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS IS TODAY!**

**25th April**

This letter was sent to "Your Views Page" [Isle of Thanet Gazette | Thanet Times | Thanet Adscene]



New camp for the old buoy?



I've attended all the consultations possible on what should happen to regenerate the Margate seafront, in the run-up to the Turner opening. I don't remember anyone suggesting the need for a 5 meter high buoy on the roundabout, blocking the view of the sea as you come out of the station. So I can't understand how placing the buoy here could have got on the top 10 environmental improvements.



The Gazette (11.02.2011) reports Councillor Martin Wise saying: "there are two camps of people in Margate -the art people and those that see it as a seaside town".

Perhaps the situation is a bit more complex.

For simplicity, I'll put myself in the camp of the seaside town believers. Resources should be dedicated to making the seaside more usable to the town. For example, the harbour needs to be dredged, getting rid of the stench of rotting seaweed. The bathing pools need to work, so people can swim in them safely. The mess on the seafront between Margate and Cliftonville needs to be cleared up. Facilities need to be installed so that swimmers can lock up their belongings while swimming, and shower afterwards.

The plan to place a useless buoy on the Tesco's roundabout proves there is a camp in Margate that is neither "seaside" nor "arty".



Liam J. Nabb
Hawley Square, Margate"

Placing the 5 metre buoy there will cost public money. We have not been told how much? But we have been told there are no funds for Margate Caves or Margate Museum and perhaps there are projects you know of that are more worthy. Should you wish to find out, you could ask your local Councillor. Should you wish to make YOUR views known, write immediately to planning.services@thanet.gov.uk or go to www.ukplanning.com/thanet and put the reference TH/11/0047 Land on the South Side of Marine Terrace. Remember, you need to add your name and postal address, or your comments are invalid.

Below are the comments submitted by the CAAG – Margate’s Conservation Area Advice Group

"This seems to be an inappropriate setting for modern industrial navigation aid.

Placing a massive buoy in this location will interrupt Margate's characteristic sea view that has greeted travellers since the Grade II Listed station was built.

The view of the listed Buenos Aires Terrace, as seen from all along the marine drive, will also be spoilt. The View of the station will also be interrupted. Including the view from the Turner Contemporary and the Stone Pier.- hardly a good idea in the run-up to the opening of the new gallery. Interrupting views of key listed buildings will have a detrimental effect on the Conservation Area.

The proposal does not preserve or enhance the appearance of the Conservation Area and therefore should be refused."

The old Lyon Tea Rooms and Pizza Hut building proposed to be flats

The building at 40 High Street, used to be a Lyons Tea Room has a planning application to convert the whole building to residential flats. The applicant refers to this seafront side as 'the rear'. The last incarnation as a commercial entity was as the Pizza Hut. It seems a very shortsighted application with a loss of crucial commerical space that would be ideal as a restaurant.

40 High Street is to the left in this picture

The plans can be viewed and commented on at the website:

http://www.ukplanning.com/thanet

Application number: F/TH/11/0085

The applicant's Design Access Statement claims:

"All attempts at marketing the G/F A3 unit since March 2008 have failed...In essence, it is considered by the agents that at 59m2 the unit is too large to be viable. There is, however, a demand for smaller A3 units. In order to maximise the use of the building, it is therefore proposed that the G/F A3 unit be split into two parts: a new 2 bed flat to the rear facing the sea (accessed off the side stair serving the 1/F accommodation) and a new smaller A3 unit directly accessed from the HighStreet, using the existing entrance.

it should be noted that the majority of the properties along Marine Drive in the locality have residential usage at this floor level (i.e. 1/F level off Marine Drive). There is therefore a clear precendent for residential use...

The proposed works will turn a large vacant retail unit for which there is no market into a smaller more marketable retail unit and an attractive large residential unit."

At last a brighter future for 19 Hawley Square and The Theatre Royal

Very good news for the Theatre Royal and for Hawley Square. The bid has moved forward for the Theatre to extend and hopefully acquire and renovate 19 Hawley Square.

Number 19 Hawley Square, was a handsome Grade II listed end of terrace Georgian building sitting on the corner of the square right next door to the wonderful Theatre Royal. Number 19 is owned and managed the housing association Orbit.

19 Hawley Square used to be the London Hotel and served the Theatre. In recent years 19 has, despite its listed status fallen into almost total dereliction in recent years. We understand the sizer of the flats proposed by Orbit fall below their own minimum space standards and makes the process of applying for planning permission a precursor to selling the building on with planning for flats.

Orbit came out with planning applications last winter to convert it to 13 1 bed flats and a bedsit with floor space of 26 square meters, no windows in hallways, kitchens and bathrooms and expecting people to walk refuse down a meandering corridors into the basement.

Plans can be viewed and downloaded from: www.ukplanning.com/thanet and searching for the application references:

11th January 2010 L/TH/09/1040

11th January 2010 F/TH/09/1047

24th June 2010 F/TH/10/0429

The proposal intended knocking down the Victorian addition in the garden, building over the entire garden with a full height mock Georgian extension to squeeze in the remaining flats. Just what Margate needs I hear you cry, more 1 bed flats too small to swing a cat in and in true bad old days tradition, a bedsit no less! Perhaps taking inspiration from Margate's bedsit tradition that the council are working to erradicate!

So let's hope this works out for the Theatre Royal who would really benefit from increased space and it would be a sustainable use for number 19.

http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/Theatre-reveals-application-lottery-money/article-3205130-detail/article.html

Be my valentine, Arlington House

Before we get to the end of valentines day, we're squeezing in some love for one of Margate's most iconic buildings.

Arlington House isn't going to be knocked down. We think it is often misunderstood.

Happy Valentines, Arlington House. Some of us love you and we appreciate your finer points. Teak, brass and marble interiors anyone?

Designed by Russell Diplock Associates and built by Bernard Sunley, Arlington was a high spec building. No doubt some might question building such a thing on the seafront, as they do now regarding Tesco. But one thing is for sure, the specification of Arlington is not something the new Tesco seeks to emulate. You can't get rid of it, so why not enhance it? Do it justice, not try to erase it by covering it in guttering and plastic windows.

Happy valentines, Arlington House, from secret admirers.

Window sills that slope downwards that no water collects or birds can gain a footing. The new proposal will see the windows replaced with plastic, pushed out to the edge and guttering attached. Very little consideration has been spent on the refurbishment, it's first in its entire life.

Current planning permission application is available on UK planning. Search for application number: F/TH/10/1061

Last minute meeting called : Margate Museum's Future

No idea why it was necessary to call such a last minute meeting in the afternoon midweek to discuss something as important as the future of The Margate Museum.

This came through from TDC's Sharon Sebastian on the ever confusing Creative Margate gmail address. That's Creative Margate (TDC, KCC, MRP) not Margate Creatives (the group of Margate based Creatives) btw.

I'm particularly worried by the suggestions to move the archive to Maidstone!

Margate Museum can hopefully get some force behind it like the Margate Caves group and take things forward. After all isn't this supposed to be the era of Big Society? Safeguarding the contents will be the first task.

"From: creativemargate@gmail.com

Dear All,

Further to our most recent conversation, you may be interested to hear that a meeting has been called by museum volunteer Christine Luck tomorrow afternoon at 2.00pm in Margate Museum.

This will provide an opportunity to continue the discussion started on the 24^th January (notes of which are attached). [I've pasted it below to save you opening a Word doc. Ed].

Many Thanks

Sharon Sebastian

--

How can we best utilise Margate Museum? Notes of a Meeting held at Winter Gardens Jan 24th 2011

Conversation initiated by Christine Luck

Notes taken by Sarah Wren

• Museum closed for 2 years due to resources
• Now being opened occasionally by volunteers
• Use the ‘youth cult’ theme? Eg the clothes of youth cults displayed in the museum
• Is the museum the right building – is it DDA compliant? Is it the right place for historic archive – space for research?
• Current building connected to Margate’s past
• Is the current building fit for purpose?
• How do we engage people with the museum eg artist in residence
• Need to look at the museum in a new way – not about stuff in cases
• Paper-based archive is currently poorly stored/taking up too much space
• Picture archive owned by council - remove from museum and store elsewhere or sell them?
• Need to work out which parts of the collection could be interactive or are too precious to handle. Use other techniques - video, new display methods, need a donation box.

• Margate Museum Trust – this the starting point?
• What about resources for insurance, heating, staff etc.? £3 per head not going to cover costs.
• Need a new model of finance / operation – look at current good practice
• One museum for Thanet?
• Archive – move to Maidstone/KCC or to Whitfield? Is this too far to go?
• Annual themes – manageable/achievable
• Estimate £1m to re-build current building. Big commitment.
• HLF bid? Who writes the bids – the new Trust??

• Do guerrilla stuff/events that build support/engagement and underpin the need to raise funds (eg calls for submissions that bring the exhibitions to life).
• Can we put an extension on the current building?
• Need a designer to design the space?
• How do we resolve the current lease issue etc? Being restored in April 2011?
• Real issue with funding. Only income generator is archives.
• How can we utilise Margate museum?

• We all want the Museum open
• Secondary considerations – What is the content? Is the current building appropriate? Where does the archive go?

Next steps: Set up trust

Guerrilla projects to create/generate interest

Fund raise – duty to trust

Turner Contemporary opens on 16^th April 2011 – can we set up Trust by then??"