Community Survey, Depot sale 'on hold' and Community Festival 16/5
Hi there,
Keeping you updated regarding the ongoing risk of the Pierremont Park Depot/old nursery site being sold by TDC - thanks for your continued interest in this matter. Also wanting to remind you of the Community Festival in Pierremont Park this Saturday 16/5 - hoping to see you there! And inviting you to fill out a new Community Survey which we have launched this week and is already getting lots of interest.
Depot latest news
Interestingly, the minutes of the Town Council meeting this week had this to say about the Depot:
The above image is a copy of the minutes from Broadstairs and St Peter's Town Council meeting on 11/5/26: the extract states: "TDC Asset Disposals: It is understood there is a technical problem with the sale of Pierremont Depot and that Clarke and Crittenden are no longer the agent. There is no update on the status of the Town Council's bid although further information had been requested and supplied by the Town Clerk. "
We had previously noticed that the advertisement for the land is no longer on Clarke and Crittenden's website and we asked the agent if he could advise. He was able to tell us that C&C are no longer involved, but referred us to the council with any questions.
We are exhibiting at the Broadstairs Community Festival tomorrow so anticipate we may have the opportunity to talk to some TDC councillors there. Councillor Helen Elizabeth Whitehead has already refuted on a post in our Facebook group that the problems could be because TDC have come to appreciate that the Covenant and Statutory Trust protecting the land which we have flagged up may be legally binding, so there may be some other reason that is yet to become clear.
It all remains deeply concerning - and while the depot remains disused and locked up, other parts of the park are having to be used as storage for maintenance related items which it would make much more sense to have kept in there, hence somewhat dimishing the park environment. So we continue to hope that the Town Council will be able to take it on soon and that it can be part of an overall improved management and maintenance plan for the park. We're told some Pride in Place money is going to be used to make some meaningful improvements to the park as a whole, such as restoring the fountain and improving accessibility - clearly it will be important to also have plans in place for ongoing management and maintenance too and we are glad that our Town Council are in discussion with TDC about how this can be achieved.
Community Festival and Community Survey
At the Community Festival we will be inviting your views about the park as a whole as well as the Depot site and we are looking forward to having lots of good conversations. If you can't attend you can complete our new Community Survey here.
At 1:30pm Cheryl-lya Broadfoot will be giving a Friends of Pierremont Park talk in Pierremont Hall.
The event, which is all about strengthening our community, will include many other groups exhibiting and giving talks, as well as a lovely Spring Market and musical entertainment by original artists, presented by Sunshine Ocean Records. Full details are on the Town Council's website here.
It will be wonderful to see you there if you can come along and say hello.
Separately, please continue to write to TDC if you can summon the energy to do so. Ask them what's happening with the Depot sale and tell them your views. We do need to keep reminding them of how strongly the community feels on this matter. The results of the community survey will help us to do this too so if you just do one thing - please do that! And share it far and wide.
Many thanks and all best wishes
Friends of Pierremont Park