Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
What is happening with Westmount buiding? WHo is the owner? Can this be brought back to life with taxpayers money?
I love this Building, even now be left to rot it still standing out.
Any Ideas what can be done to it? This Place got potential and dearly hope something can be done :)
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I was told that KCC own it, every so often we hear that it is going to be converted into flats but nothing happens.
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,386
From Folkestone Road it looks beyond repair. Certainly worse condition than the recently demolished cinema.
Looking at google's aerial view, there's a lot of land there plus the ambulance station. In another town it would be prime house building land, close to the town centre, railway station, etc. Far better for the town than extending Whitfield.
I would also move have the Customs moved out to Whitfield or Connaught Barracks.
http://goo.gl/maps/AHlH8Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
Info is out there if you know where to look for it -
Dover District Land Allocations Pre-Submission Local Plan, December 2012 -
"Urban location that lends itself to higher density development reflecting the neighbouring residential built form. 100 dwellings. Open space. Long distance views from Western Heights. Retention of existing building."
Policy LA9, LCF037, page 45Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
building houses over houses over houses .... why not refurbish the ones already exists??? I hope they dont do flats it would ruin the character of the building plus the land around it will be concrete for carparking spaces ... nothing green left ... in folkestone rd....
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
there is always a chance to rebuild it... exactly the same way...
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Alec Sheldon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,036
What a shame, it was a beautiful old building. I went to several night school classes there years ago.
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
even if it is too far gone... it can be rebuilt as the original ;) just saying could be a goodwill of our DDC :) and if the funds are short for it ... build up a charity fund just for that project and the church which suffered the same faith in london road...
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
The development of the Westmount site is in the hands of the owners/developers, not DDC.
After the fire a few years ago, the building has deteriorated a lot since and it is very doubtful if the new owners would want to refurbish it. It is not listed, so is not of any great architectural merit or value.
The old planning permission in no longer valid and a new one is being worked on, but not presented to DDC yet.
I'm sure it will be a mixture of houses and flats; my big concern would be who they put in there, but that may well depend on what type of houses/units they build.
Roger
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
very sad to build flats and houses there to an huge extend... This is such a lovely place with all the land surround it. I can see flats and parking slots and no green ... Very sad to see this happening if it does.
Even if it is not listed...that building got character and charm ... even in the state it is in...
While we at it Roger ... what happend with the church in London road, which burnt down round about the same time??
Just curious thats all.
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 635
It would be great if this site could be developed with a range of properties for private sale including decent sized family homes. The Folkestone Rd area could be a desirable residential location again. It has many attractions including easy access to the station, rural walks etc. Pity there is no play area close by....
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I'm sure it's the land surrounding the house that is making it desirable to a developer Heike.
I probably don't know any more than you do about the Church in the High Street, at the bottom of Priory Hill. I heard that it was an accident, but as no work continued afterwards, I am thinking that maybe the builder/developer didn't have (adequate) insurance and couldn't afford to complete it - I believe it was nearly finished, so a huge disappointment (an understatement I'm sure) to the guy who owned it.
I'm sure there will be a range of properties built there Judith, Planning Policy requires it.
I live on the Folkestone Road, so hope it does, once again, become a desirable residential location - I try very hard to make it so, but with the ever-transient population there, it makes it very difficult.
I'm (still) working on a play area.
Roger
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,657
It was a builder putting some finishing touches to the church that started the fire, unfortunately the fire was on the day before an open viewing day.
I was told this by a relation of a builder who had been working there and I think some of the flats had been sold or were under offer.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks Jan.
Roger
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 635
If the Westmount area is developed with a good range of family houses then I am sure you will be pressing for a play area within the development too Roger. I know you are working hard to improve the Folkestone Rd area. I think it would be easier to move things along if there were lots of aspirational people living in the area also pushing for change.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Absolutely Judith.
Roger
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
I couldd not resist it .... look at this pic... andd I am not an professional photographer ... but its awesome building ... forgotten in the wood
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
still standing with pride...
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
If you zoom in someone sprayed keep me on it ...
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎