Whitstable's former RM sorting office set to be demolished?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Whitstable's former Royal Mail sorting office set to be demolished?

http://www.canterburytimes.co.uk/sortin ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.canterburytimes.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276431/Article/images/25934438/9391624-large.jpgCAMPAIGNERS who tried to save the former Royal Mail sorting office in Cromwell Road for public use fear it may be sold for housing after Canterbury City Council was unable to list the building as an Asset of Community Value.

Transition Town Whitstable (TTW), a community association, took the lead to try to register the building as a community asset under the Community Right to Bid legislation in the new Localism Act at the beginning of January.

This would have frozen any sale for six months, giving Whitstable residents and charities time to raise money to buy the building.

TTW sent proposals to CCC detailing the need to keep the site open for public use rather than private development, but the application has been rejected.

A council spokesman said that it had given the matter careful consideration but land owned by organisations such as Royal Mail – known as statutory undertakers – could not be registered as a community asset under the Town and Country Planning Act.

Becky Richards of TTW said the campaign group was "disappointed" with the council's decision and believed nine houses and six flats would be built on the site, having been told by an estate agent that Royal Mail was now going ahead and selling the site to a private housing developer for a seven-figure amount.

She said: "It's sad that the council has decided not to list the old sorting office as a community asset, but realistically the community would not be able to afford it.

"The building has been used for over 30 years by the people of Whitstable and we wanted to keep it that way, rather than have a small number of people make a huge amount of money out of it – that makes me feel sickened, angry and fed up.

"We love Whitstable being busy, thriving, active, varied, diverse and integrated, but we need facilities to support the growing population. If all we have is housing then it will destroy the very thing that has made Whitstable attractive to live in and develop."

Royal Mail has not confirmed if the property is being sold to a private housing developer.

Spokeswoman Sally Hopkins said: "Royal Mail has been marketing its former Whitstable delivery office site since October 2014. We have had strong interest in the site and we are currently in talks with one particular party."

Despite TTW's disappointment, Mrs Richards said the campaigners felt encouraged by the response and demand for more community space in Whitstable.

She said: "There have been 33 pledges of £1,000 from residents to help secure a building. We will now carry out research and identify other possible sites for a community facility and consult the wider community of residents and organisations."

TTW will hold a residents' consultation meeting on Thursday, March 12, at 7.30pm.