SEA FOR YOURSELF
Our seaside town is being ruined by a complete eyesore – we hate it and want it gone now
RESIDENTS in a beautiful seaside town are furious with an eyesore that is ruining their home.
Locals have long taken issue with the unsightly Neptune’s Amusements arcade in Herne Bay, Kent.
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The "eyesore" arcade is finally being demolished.
It comes more than a year after plans to bulldoze the derelict property were given the green light.
The arcade has already sat empty for years and has often been subject to lengthy discussions over its future.
Now, demolition works are underway and set to finish within two weeks.
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Hassan Hassan, who owns the nearby Captain Jack’s cocktail bar and Makcari’s cafe, slammed the "eyesore".
He said of the rundown arcade: “It’s one of the first things you look at when you come onto the seafront and it’s not a good look for the town at all.
“It’s attracted trouble too; kids have broken in and caused havoc, set fire to things, so it really is a good thing for everyone the building is halfway through being demolished.
“When it’s fully clear we’ll look after it as a temporary garden-type set up, similar to what exists at A La Turka."
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The site is earmarked for an ambitious five-storey development, featuring ground-floor shops and high-end flats, led by the Mile Property Group.
But for now, the plot will be levelled and used as an outdoor seating area for neighbouring businesses.
Mr Hassan added: “When the Stodmarsh backlog clears, the developers will take it back over, but there’s no timeframe on that because we really don’t know how long it could take.
“It’s just important to us all that we do something with the area that can be of use to the town and will be an improvement from what is currently there.”
Speaking in 2020 when the plans were first unveiled, Mile Property Group director Michael Keckes said: “We will demolish the arcade and start from scratch. The flats will be high-spec with a nice, modern design and more of a premium price tag.
“We haven’t fully decided on the use of the commercial space, but we’re looking to have upmarket tenants in there, perhaps Costa Coffee or something similar.”
It comes as a seafront attraction has been branded “pig ugly” by residents who urged the owners to give it new look.
And in another village, locals complained they're being forced out of their seaside town by loud party-goers.
Meanwhile, those living in a stunning seaside town with one of the UK's best beaches revealed even celebs love it.
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