First images of proposed Herne Bay Golf Club development as developer vows to win over sceptical residents
An artist's impression of
the Tesco at the Herne Bay Golf Club development
by Chris Price
The man behind plans for a £23m development on the former
golf club site has dubbed it the “single biggest community
investment in Herne Bay ever”.
Mark Quinn – managing director of Quinn Estates – hopes to build
a Tesco and 500 houses off the Old Thanet Way.
The “once-in-a-liftime opportunity” would also include four
sports pitches, six tennis courts, a pub and a health club.
The plans were universally opposed by villagers in Herne at a
public meeting last week, but Mr Quinn is quick to point out the
benefits it would bring to the town.
He said: “We want our scheme to help regenerate Herne Bay
economically and socially.
"This is not pie in the sky. We are going to make this happen.
We want to work with people who are sceptical and make them
understand it. They will struggle to object.”
A CGI of what the sport
hub at Herne Bay Golf Club would look like
Mr Quinn insisted his development was not reliant on a Tesco
superstore being opened, but that having one would create jobs for
local people and give them more shopping choice.
He also addressed concerns over flooding, outlining that “the
site as a whole will result in a net reduction in flood risk”.
The plan for the first phase is to give the pitches to four
sports clubs in the town, one of which will be Herne Bay Hockey
Club which shares with Herne Bay High because it hasn’t got the
money to refurbish its 20-year-old astroturf pitch.
Chairman Clive Cripps said: “Mark knew how desperately we needed
facilities.
"Olympic or iconic funding is all that is available. There is
not much about for mid-range projects.
“We are in an awkward position as a club. It was like a manna
from heaven when Mark approached us a year ago.
"We are not only being offered facilities but it would match
what other clubs around here have.
"As chairman I have spent the last three or four years looking
to find a way to take the club forward in this competitive
environment.
"This is the one real opportunity.”
Developer Mark Quinn,
left, with hockey club chairman Clive Cripps
Flooding, inadequate roads and a loss of green space were
outlined as concerns by more than 350 people who were at a public
meeting about developments at Herne Bay Golf Course and Strode Farm
last week.
Mark Quinn was keen to address any fears about his development
and distanced it from the Strode Farm plans, which include 1,000
homes on farmland.
Should people be worried about flooding?
"There are many concerns about flooding in the area of
Eddington, where this development will be built. The site as a
whole will result in a net reduction in flood risk. Our drainage
and flood mitigation will cause a net improvement in flood
reduction. We do this because the water will flood on our
land."
Is the development reliant on a Tesco?
No it is not, but at the same time it is a good place to put a
food store. At the moment you have got people buying food outside
Herne Bay who live in the town. That means jobs are being created
in other areas which do not necessarily need it. This will create
jobs in the area for local people and people will have a choice of
supermarket.
The people of Herne successfully campaigned against a
Tesco there. Is that a concern?
This is not Herne. This is Herne Bay. These people need to
realise it is unfair not to give people a choice of where to
shop.
What do you say to the people of Herne who fear losing
their village identity?
The boundary was set when the new Thanet Way was put in. That is
a natural break between Herne and Herne Bay.
Does Herne Bay need this development?
This scheme is aimed at families, who will have jobs and have
kids. They will need a newsagents, dry cleaners, everything. By
increasing the number of economically active people in the area we
will be creating jobs next to high quality housing and sports
facilities.
It was suggested by Herne and Broomfield parish council
chairman Tony Day that this was a done deal? Is that the
case?
I would not be here if it was. I do not know the future. We want
to give Herne Bay something to be proud of but if they want it,
they will have to get behind it and support it. People complain
they have got no facilities and if this does not happen, they will
only have themselves to blame. I do not know many people who would
give away five acres of land in a development. A more conventional
site would have 30% to 40% more housing.
01/03/13
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