A town centre street scene could change forever amid plans to flatten the derelict shell of an amusement arcade.
Slated for redevelopment for years and lain empty even longer, the former Tivoli Amusements on Central Parade, Herne Bay, is now set to be demolished by Spring 2025.
Canterbury City Council (CCC) originally purchased the eyesore building in 2018 for £1.1 million but has not attracted buyers.
While some praise the fact the empty husk will be gone, others remain sceptical as the structure has been earmarked for demolition for years already.
In 2021, a council spokesman told KentOnline it was marketing the property through an agent and there had been interest from hotel operators however, the building has since stood derelict.
But at a full council meeting on October 24 members revealed the building will be levelled imminently.
Cllr Joe Howes (Con) asked: “With Herne Bay in danger of being typecast as a run down 80s seaside resort, can the leader provide an update on the demolition and clearance of the old Tivoli amusements arcade?”
Cllr Chris Cornell (Lab), responded: “Herne Bay isn’t typecast as anything other than a vibrant and engaging part of our future.”
He continued: “Having successfully secured £554,000 from the Brownfield Land release fund to enable the site to be demolished, the first phase of demolition was completed in August this year, leaving only the adjoining residential property and the former Tivoli Arcade frontage.
“Survey work has now also been concluded about the practicalities of demolishing the council-owned half of the double fronted Edwardian property facing onto central parade, and options including demolition and retention of the property are being investigated and are now actively being reviewed and considered by council officers.”
The back end of the building was flattened over the summer, but the front of the former arcade remains in one piece.
“The second phase of physical works will also include the demolition of the former Tivoli Arcade,” Cllr Cornell continued.
“Future proposals for the site once the demolition works have been concluded need to be determined, and options to be considered include disposal, direct development or the potential for a partnership based development model.”
Previously planning permission was granted for the land behind the arcade to be converted into three shops and 31 homes.
However, in 2021 faced with rising construction costs and tightened purse-strings post-pandemic, the authority pushed it back to April 2022 at the earliest, and later revealed it was instead looking for buyers for the site.
At the council meeting, Cllr Howes stressed to Cllr Cornell “Will the work actually take place?
“We’ve been promised that this site’s going to be cleared by Spring for the last 3 years. Will it be spring 2025?”
Cllr Cornell then told the council “it will be spring 2025”.
Local businessman Nejmi Hassan and brother Hassan own much of central parade, running Mackari’s, Captain Jack’s, and Saloon Bar & Grill – directly next to Tivoli arcade.
“Obviously it’s an eyesore, it would be lovely if they did bring it down,” Nejmi Hassan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
“It would create a prime retail location on the seafront, or a nice location for additional housing if that’s what they’re going to do with it, it would be great.”
However, he said he doubts the council’s ability to do what they intend to with the site – as he and his brother put in an offer on it when the authority first marketed it years ago.
“Various offers were made, various teams at the council were contacted, but we never heard back so that’s why I can’t take anything they say seriously,” he said.
Mr Hassan was also concerned about the effect the demolition could have on the neighbouring Saloon Bar.
“When they demolished the building to the back in the summer it was a problem for our restaurant too.
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“We couldn’t use the outdoor seating for weeks because of the dust it caused.”
A CCC spokesman said: “We get approaches from people about all sorts of sites all of the time, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment publicly on these.”
