The Marina Esplanade was once an area of interesting Victorian buildings that complimented those above on the cliff most especially The Granville. From the Victorian railway (later to become Pleasurama) to the to the Marina Theatre and Electric Picture Palace (later to become Nero’s) the whole area had a special charm.
I returned to Ramsgate 20 years ago to open the bookshop and for some time I hade no dispute with the council or developers over the preservation of our heritage, until the day they decided to demolish the Marina Theatre. I found that my protests at loosing a significant Victorian building (significant both to the town the history of theatre and cinema) fell on deaf ears. I wonder if there are any plans to rebuild it, I am afraid the council performed this act of vandalism, so there won’t be any developer to force to pay for it.
The Victorian station that burnt down belonged to the council, was it insured? If so where did the insurance money go?
This area had then three major Victorian buildings of historical and architectural importance the station, theatre and restaurant, to lose one building may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness but to lose all three.
Click here for more historical detail and some pictures of the area.
I returned to Ramsgate 20 years ago to open the bookshop and for some time I hade no dispute with the council or developers over the preservation of our heritage, until the day they decided to demolish the Marina Theatre. I found that my protests at loosing a significant Victorian building (significant both to the town the history of theatre and cinema) fell on deaf ears. I wonder if there are any plans to rebuild it, I am afraid the council performed this act of vandalism, so there won’t be any developer to force to pay for it.
The Victorian station that burnt down belonged to the council, was it insured? If so where did the insurance money go?
This area had then three major Victorian buildings of historical and architectural importance the station, theatre and restaurant, to lose one building may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness but to lose all three.
Click here for more historical detail and some pictures of the area.
Interesting snippet from the planning department at TDC,
ReplyDeleteVAT does not apply to the cost of alterations to listed buildings, although it does apply to repairs and ordinary maintenance.
So knocking it down and rebuilding would save the developer thousands of pounds in VAT,is there any word from the council yet or is their position still the same as at the weekend?
Took a drive down there this evening and realised how dramatic the 'repair' was. Unfortunately I would almost put money on it not being replaced....
ReplyDelete