Standing Up for Sandgate High Street Shops

Cllr Kurt Stephens represented Sandgate Parish Council on Tuesday night at Shepway District Coiuncil's Development Control Committee, speaking against application Y16/0584/SH to convert the shop at 44 Sandgate High Street to residential accommodation.

Despite around a 40 minute discussion on the application, in the end the Development Control Committee decided overrule Sandgate's objection and to allow the application by a majority of 8-2.

At the meeting, Cllr Stephens said:

"Firstly, I would like to thank you for allowing me to come along tonight and to speak briefly regarding the change of usage on 44 Sandgate High Street from retail to residential.

"Sandgate's business community is incredibly diverse with a range of shops from the traditional antique shops through to fast food takeaways. In the last year alone, we have had many new businesses set up in Sandgate including a beach side kiosk, a gift and homeware shop, a traditional Italian pizzeria, a web design and development company, a counselling clinic, a micro pub and a Spanish deli cafe. There are also several businesses soon to open including an osteopath, a tea rooms, a craft café and a seamstress and tailoring company.

"So, as you can see, Sandgate is a diverse and thriving business community.

"Very few empty business premises are available and those that are, when marketed appropriately, are snapped up by businesses wishing to move into Sandgate Village.

"If I may, I would like to quote Shepway District Councils "Shepway Core Strategy 2013" policy document where it recognises Sandgate Village as a "local centre" and goes on to say….. "these centres offer vital local facilities for day to day life…. Contribute to their sense of place and minimise the need to travel".

"I would also like to quote your current consultation document "SDC Places and Policies" where under Policy UA3 you state that… "Sandgate High Street has been identified as a Local Centre to reflect it's importance to the local community. Retail units here have been under threat through the conversion to residential use which is starting to undermine the character and economy of the centre. The "Town Centre Study" has suggested that the focus should be on supporting existing local-scale shopping facilities."

"The document goes on to state that any change of usage from retail to residential would only be granted if, and I quote, "they would not create a continuous frontage of two or more non A1 uses" If this change of use were allowed to go ahead it would create 3 continuous residential frontages.

Therefore, we, Sandgate Parish Council, object to this change of usage on these grounds."