This petition is to voice our concern and demand protection for an important community asset in our town.
We petition Thanet District Council to make public their plans for protecting the building and the staff of the remaining tenants in Pierremont Hall during this uncertain time. We particularly petition that the building should remain sufficiently occupied and protected, while its future is uncertain and that it must not be boarded up.
If the windows were to be boarded, the building would instantly become a visual blight in our beautiful park and become likely to be vandalised. As a crucial part of our town’s heritage and a key amenity in the heart of the town there is no question that the future of the building can be bright but it is highly vulnerable at this time and must therefore be carefully protected, otherwise those responsible will be held to account.
Broadstairs have seen the varying fortunes of our sister towns Margate and Ramsgate over recent years and we salute the regeneration of both of them. We are quite determined that our town which is often called the “jewel of Thanet”, is not allowed to become neglected or to decay in the way that has been permitted in the past elsewhere. We call on TDC to take its responsibility here seriously and to involve the public in discussing how the building can be protected now and for the future.
Why is this important?
Thanet District Council (TDC) say they can’t afford to continue to maintain Pierremont Hall, in Pierremont Park, in Broadstairs and have now asked most tenants to vacate by 3rd January, prior to a decision being made whether or not to sell the building. The Hall is 18th Century, Grade II Listed and the young Princess Victoria is known to have stayed here before she became Queen. More to the point perhaps, the community in Broadstairs is accustomed to Pierremont Hall functioning as our Town Hall, sitting as it does in the very heart of the town, with many key events in the Broadstairs calendar played out with the Hall as the backdrop. The Hall was designated as a Community Asset this year which means that the community have the right to bid and purchase the building, there is a strong case to be made that it must remain in community ownership as that was always the intention of the original owners.
The Hall and park are just a short stroll from Broadstairs station, at the heart of this charming town, perched at the top of the high street, with the upper floors enjoying stunning sea views. At present, while the building is not in a good state of repair overall it is an attractive and important amenity within the park and to the town as a whole.
The building and public park it sits in was gifted to the people of Broadstairs around 1929, and seemingly designated for community use at that time. The exact terms of any covenants which exist are not known as TDC have so far not released this information.
The town’s war memorial sits at the entrance to the park, facing towards the Hall and each year several key community events take place in the park, around the centrepiece of the hall. There is an Easter Food Fair, Folk Week parade and concerts, the Remembrance Day service and Christmas Fayre.
We discovered this week (18th December), that several tenants, including local businesses and charities, have been told to leave by 3rd January, some have already gone, others are packing. Two key tenants are not leaving: the Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council occupy offices on the ground floor with an eleven year lease so they are very much sitting tenants. They also have use of the council chamber and mayor’s parlour and have functioned as de facto caretakers for the building. Broadstairs Folk Week, approaching their 50th anniversary, also occupy offices and intend remaining, as a move at this time could have a devastating effect on the Festival in 2015. Internationally renowned, Broadstairs Folk Week brings thousands of visitors to the town from all over the world.
It is glaringly obvious that should the building become empty it becomes painfully vulnerable and is highly likely to become a target for vandals and worse. Existing tenants have spoken of frequently having to take action to deal with unwanted elements targeting the building even when it is occupied.
How it will be delivered
Once we have gauged response and got a good number of signatures we will decide the best way to deliver this petition to TDC.
On Monday 22nd December at 12:30, the Gazette are coming to photograph supporters of this petition outside Pierremont Hall - please come along if you can, all welcome!
