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China Gateway gets go-ahead
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Protestors outside the council building
The first phase of one of the most contentious developments ever proposed for Thanet has been approved by the local authority.

Phase 1 of what has been dubbed China Gateway will now be built at Manston Business Park after last night’s (Thursday) meeting of full council.

Months of debate, rumour and campaigning were brought to a head as the plans finally got the nod in a tense atmosphere at the Thanet District Council chamber in Margate.

However, conditions are to be imposed on the scheme, which will entail some 20 warehouses, a Gateway showroom, a staff restaurant and amenity buildings and cover more than 137,000 sq m of floorspace.

The conditions will be decided by the council’s planning committee after discussions with the applicant, Commercial Group Properties, which claims that more than 1,300 jobs will ultimately be created.

The accepted amendments to the application were raised by Labour councillors Alan Poole and David Green.

However, a change of position for the two largest warehouses, proposed by Tory councillor Chris Wells, was thrown out after it was judged that for such a deviation from the application to be accepted, an outright refusal would be necessary.

Confusion reigned at some points as a monitoring officer and council chief executive Richard Samuel constantly had to interrupt the debate to point proceedings in the right direction and clarify matters.

Foul water and sewage drainage, car-parking, noise and light pollution and landscaping are among the aspects that will have to be addressed. Construction will not be allowed to begin until these conditions have been met.

In front of a packed public gallery, the meeting, scheduled to last an hour, overran by more than 90 minutes before the application was approved at about 9.30pm.

Forty-one voted for the project and 10 against.

Protesters shouted “Shame!” at those adopting a pro-Gateway stance, while there were rounds of applause for councillors and speakers who highlighted concerns about the project.

Many people who turned up to watch the debate were unable even to enter the chamber.

An overflow room, with a CCTV broadcast of the meeting was set up, but even then some were left in the cold as the demand to get in was so great.

Campaigner Jenny Matterface has been against the project from the beginning and dubbed the meeting a “complete shambles”.

She said: “Many councillors seemed unsure of what they were even voting on – even the chairman seemed unsure at some points.“

Barbara Leyton, from Margate, said: “I have been following the story in the press and wanted to come here and see the outcome, but I couldn’t get in. I was told at the front door there was no more room inside.

“I think it’s a disgrace. No wonder people are disillusioned with local politics. With all the technology available, you would have thought that we could watch a debate that could affect our lives so badly.”
POSTED: 10/10/2008 11:08:30

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Added: Tuesday 14/10/2008 11:47:37 UK
The council meeting made me ashamed not to have tried before now to expose lack of democracy in this part of Kent. The council needs to examine carefully what went wrong at this meeting - and try hard to put it right.
Christine Tongue
Producer Thanet Under Threat
CHRISTINE TONGUE, BROADSTAIRS, KENT
Added: Friday 10/10/2008 18:11:51 UK
I think that it is right that the conditions should be decided by the planning committee after discussions with CGP.

Cllr John Worrow BPC, Birchington, Kent
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