SEA TO BELIEVE
How busy seaside attraction filled with souvenir shops, food stalls & doughnut stands became a graffiti-strewn wasteland
In its prime the arcade had been a 'fantastic' place, one resident says
A ONCE busy seaside attraction that was filled with souvenir shops and food stalls has been abandoned to become a graffiti-strewn wasteland.
Arlington Arcade is situated below a brutalist 1960s tower block situated on the seafront in Margate, Kent.
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In its heyday it was a thriving location packed with an array of colourful shops but now all the stores are empty and the area is deserted.
Shoppers could choose to spend their money in a variety of places, including a joke shop, a burger and doughnut stall and a tattoo parlour – but all have long since gone.
While it is unclear exactly why things went wrong but shutters started to appear on a lot of windows in about 2009.
Sellers were reportedly told by the leaseholder Freshwater to leave one by one, according to , with the cause thought to be asbestos in the buildings.
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Nowadays, the area is an “eyesore”, plagued by fly-tipping and graffiti, and the area has been blocked off to the public with metal fencing.
Local photographer Frank Leppard, who has fond memories of the centre, told the news outlet: “There was the smell of doughnuts wafting out the arcade onto the front and the gun noise from the open tattoo shop.
“Everyone would chuck those snaps on the floor that go pop from the Joke Shop, which was most people’s favourite place.
“It was an amazing community of shops… It always had a good vibe and was 10 seconds from the beach.”
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Frank added that you could buy “everything” there and it was still greatly missed by the locals.
Thanet District Council (TDC) are technically the owners of the complex, along with the block of flats.
Our seaside town is ruined by towering monolith... the brutalist block can be seen from miles away - but living in the flats is amazing
However, the authority’s involvement stops at a ground rent basis, according to reports, and all responsibility lies with Freshwater, which holds a long-term lease on the site.
A council spokesperson said: “Thanet District Council has a freehold interest in the land where the Arlington Arcade was situated.
“It occupies part of the land that is leased to the owners of Arlington House, on a very long lease.
"Arlington House, the arcade and associated car park are owned and managed by the leaseholder.”
Tesco put plans in place to create a store on the site of the car park and dilapidated stores in 2011.
The proposal though was met with strong opposition by neighbours who said it would ruin the shoreline.
Tesco eventually withdrew the scheme putting it down to “changing consumer habits”.
Residents of Arlington House hoped this would mean the run-down shopping centre would be revamped.
As yet, nothing has happened and the site is still derelict.
With Margate generally getting a new lease of life and is seen as a place that is up-and-coming, some feel the derelict arcade brings the rest of the town down.
Debbie Loh and John Darbourne live in Deal but often head to Margate for a day out.
Mrs Loh said that while there are many beautiful buildings to see in the area, the arcade wasn’t one of them and it let the rest of the seafront down.
Mr Darbourne said it was an “eyesore” and it needed updating and modernising.
Mrs Loh added that if it was “brought back to life” it would bring people into the town which would be good for jobs.
Retired ambulance worker Lyndon Brand, 60, who lived in the tower block for 24 years before moving out said the arcade used to be “fantastic” with lovely little shops but now it was all shut down.
Freshwater said it was looking into ideas for the site but added discussions were at an early stage.
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A spokesman said: “We are considering a number of options to bring this important space back into use.
“At this time however all discussions are at an early stage and we are not in a position to comment further.”
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