howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Bit of a rumpus in neighbouring Deal over this. A short history is that like many others it closed in 1963 and turned into a bingo hall which folded in 2007 mainly over the smoking ban. Two businessmen purchased it in 2007 with the proviso that it was converted back to a cinema. They submitted plans in 2010 to make it into a cinema and cafe. Kent Highways objected due to access for delivery vehicles. we now have a stalemate as the building is now classified as an asset of community value so the developers can't really do anything to it.
The building has seating for nearly a thousand and as we know niche cinemas with around 100 seats and multiplexes are what people want.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,482
And for those interested, these matters will be discussed by Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee who will be 'on tour' on 13th September and rather than appearing at the Fantasy Factory, Whitfield will be performing, for one night only, at that Palace of Varieties, Deal Town Hall!
'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Just to correct my previous post it was purchased in 2010 and planning permission applied for in 2014. The building is what it is, a total eyesore so development to flats whilst keeping the facade is not on unlike when some churches get developed.
Well meaning people were out in Deal today getting stout yeoman to sign a petition to bring the building back into use as a cinema. I really don't see DDC buying back with Council Tax money just to see it fail again.
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
Another DDC disaster. They sold it of cheap to a couple of chancers that have very little business acumen and threw in a covenant to keep it as a cinema. The mumblings are that once Cineworld signed up to DTIZ it was in the interest of DDC to sweep this failure under the carpet.
Jack of Hearts
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,482
Where's the disaster/failure Jack? Should have sold at higher price without restrictive covenant (which I don't think the luvvies of Deal, who apparently 'need' a cinema, would have liked one jot) or what? Hold on to a deteriorating 'asset'?
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'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
The disaster and failure is from DDC rushing through the sale at a low price to unsuitable buyers and then failing to enforce it's very own covenant on a building which is now a rotting office for a dodgy heating company. If a council and MP are going to promise something and then not follow it through, of course the locals become restless.
Jack of Hearts
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,482
'Enforce covenant'? I don't understand. Site has not been developed for other than in 'covenant' has it?
It is now PRIVATE property owned by someone who paid the highest price offered at the time.
I don't recollect either Council or MP promising anything because it is not within their remit to promise what owners might do.
'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
It is now an "asset of community value" which must limit what the owners can do.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,482
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:It is now an "asset of community value" which must limit what the owners can do.
Correct Howard.
http://www.dover.gov.uk/Community/Assets-of-Community-Value/Assets-Community-Value-Dover-District.aspx
This has become quite a popular move when the council wishes to appease the plebs by 'appearing to do something'!
Unfortunately the mere listing does not guarantee success. Here's some case studies:-
https://www.ft.com/content/a981b408-6485-11e6-8310-ecf0bddad227'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Unfortunately the FT link is behind a paywall but getting back to the Regent it seems like the current owners are in limbo and the residents have 4 years left to come up with a plan.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,482
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'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
Captain Haddock wrote:'Enforce covenant'? I don't understand. Site has not been developed for other than in 'covenant' has it?
It is now PRIVATE property owned by someone who paid the highest price offered at the time.
I don't recollect either Council or MP promising anything because it is not within their remit to promise what owners might do.
My mistake, I thought the covenant was for what the building could be used for. I wonder if they have ever paid their business rates...
Jack of Hearts
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I can tell you what it will not be. it will not be pulled down and a lot of one bedroom flats put there.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Also it would make great ice skating hall in the winter weeks and rolling skating in the summer ones also other all year round Activities.
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Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,482
For those of you who like live theatre the 'Regent Cinema - something
must be done' is one of the offerings at next week's Scruitiny Meeting where the 'usual suspects' will be appearing live, and for one night only, at Deal Town Hall.
The evening's entertainment is a double-bill with support from 'Parking in Dover District', a much loved and long running farce which has kept locals amused ever since the introduction of the horseless carriage (Quote 'I can't see these new fangled so called motor cars ever catching on' Vic Matcham commenting on Motor Car Act 1903 - See Dover Express archives)
Bring sandwiches. It might be a long one!
http://moderngov.dover.gov.uk/documents/g2396/Public%20reports%20pack%2013th-Sep-2016%2018.00%20Scrutiny%20Policy%20and%20Performance%20Committee.pdf?T=10howard mcsweeney1 likes this
'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
You will have to print out what I said and when.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I can't see the point in this petition, The cinema/bingo hall was sold off on the cheap but the owners would want to see a healthy profit on their investment even though the building is decaying. Why would DDC shell out taxpayer's money on something that would bring little or no return?
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:I can't see the point in this petition, The cinema/bingo hall was sold off on the cheap but the owners would want to see a healthy profit on their investment even though the building is decaying. Why would DDC shell out taxpayer's money on something that would bring little or no return?
How do you know it would bring no return? DDC originally supported returning the Regent into a cinema in 2010 and so did the MP in waiting. Similar to the DTIZ petition, when DDC become unaccountable then petitions and the media are one of the few options to the electorate to try and get some answers.
Jack of Hearts
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Prior to being elected in 2010 Charlie went around the district telling people what they wanted to hear and in 2010 DDC would have supported the idea as there was no knowledge of a multipex coming to Dover.
What benefits came from the DTIZ petition?
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
Howard, that is one question already which is worthy of scrutiny. Did DDC drop their support of the Regent when Cineworld signed up to DTIZ. The benefits of the DTIZ petition gained assurances from DDC when it would be completed. Summer 2016 if I recall correctly!
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Jack of Hearts