Latest news with #GraveshamBoroughCouncil
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Owners of fire-ravaged pub told to improve site
The owners of a listed pub wrecked by fire have been ordered to improve and secure the site. The former New Inn pub, on the corner of Milton Road and King Street, in Gravesend, Kent, was destroyed by a blaze on 27 May, 2022. Gravesham Borough Council said attempts to work with the owners had been unsuccessful. In June, the authority served notice on them, requiring an historic building professional to be appointed to supervise work. It demands salvaged material be stored securely and that hoardings be improved. Gravesham council's cabinet member for planning, Shane Mochrie-Cox, said: "I understand and share the frustration and anger of local residents and businesses that this key site in the town centre has been in a state of ruin for three years now. "The reality is, it is a privately-owned site, and local councils actually have very limited legal powers to compel the owners to take action in situations such as these." The council, Mr Mochrie-Cox said, understood the challenges and expense owning a listed site brought for owners. He said: "Despite initial reassurances that work would start, the site remains a blight on the town centre. "Enough is enough, and the serving of the Section 215 notice is considered a last resort after those offers of help and support have been ignored. "The owners have until October to comply." Failure to do so would be a criminal offence, Mr Mochrie-Cox added. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Theatre praised despite heavy financial losses Hospital helipad reopens after £170k donation Upcoming airshow postponed until next summer Related internet links Gravesham Borough Council
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Owners of Gravesend pub wrecked by fire told to improve site
The owners of a listed pub wrecked by fire have been ordered to improve and secure the site. The former New Inn pub, on the corner of Milton Road and King Street, in Gravesend, Kent, was destroyed by a blaze on 27 May, 2022. Gravesham Borough Council said attempts to work with the owners had been unsuccessful. In June, the authority served notice on them, requiring an historic building professional to be appointed to supervise work. It demands salvaged material be stored securely and that hoardings be council's cabinet member for planning, Shane Mochrie-Cox, said: "I understand and share the frustration and anger of local residents and businesses that this key site in the town centre has been in a state of ruin for three years now. "The reality is, it is a privately-owned site, and local councils actually have very limited legal powers to compel the owners to take action in situations such as these."The council, Mr Mochrie-Cox said, understood the challenges and expense owning a listed site brought for said: "Despite initial reassurances that work would start, the site remains a blight on the town centre."Enough is enough, and the serving of the Section 215 notice is considered a last resort after those offers of help and support have been ignored."The owners have until October to comply." Failure to do so would be a criminal offence, Mr Mochrie-Cox added.
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Council's washing line balcony ban sparks outrage among flat residents
Gravesham Borough Council has said it took action after concerns were raised about "combustible" materials on the outside of some of the properties Residents living in council-owned flats are not happy about new rules that limit what they can put on their balconies, including a ban on washing lines. Gravesham Borough Council (GBC) says it made these changes after receiving complaints about "flammable" items on the exteriors of some properties in Northfleet, Kent. Locals argue that the council is going too far and point out that having a balcony is pointless if they can't use it freely. Tracy, who prefers to keep her last name private, has been in her flat for 20 years and mentions that this is the first time she's been told what she can or cannot have on her balcony, reports Kent Live. The 45-year-old said: "They talk about fire safety, but all of the doors are made of wood. Yet, they're saying we can't have anything on our balconies: we have to take everything off. There are people with three kids over the road who have to dry their clothes, but they now have to take their washing lines down. It's just unreasonable. Even our fire exit is made of wood. "At the end of the day, they are saying plastic chairs can combust. Have you ever seen a plastic chair combust? I have a chair and table on my balcony, and I've already had to take my wooden fence down because [the council] said they would take it down and charge me if I didn't. "They haven't asked me to move my chair and table, but, apparently, it is coming. We've been here 20 years, and this is the first time anyone has said anything. Apparently, everyone in Gravesend is being told the same. They are not telling us what we can have, just what we can't have. They only say we can have Grade A galvanised steel or aluminium. I'm paying for a balcony I can't use." Her neighbour, Steve Reely, aged 61, also expressed his disapproval of the council's new regulations ."It's been going on for the last few months," Mr Reely, who runs a security company, said. "The housing officer came and told us that, for some reason, we have to take everything off our balconies. "[The council] leave lots of rubbish all over town, but we have to keep our balconies clean. In some respects, it's petty. It's like someone is trying to justify their job. There are greater fire risks than our personal balconies. It's ridiculous: 15 years we have lived here and this is the first time we've been told this." GBC stated that "more emphasis is being placed on the risk of external fire spread" in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy of 2017. However, Mr Reely retorted: "How long ago was Grenfell? What's the point in having a balcony if you can't even use it?" Another neighbour voiced his frustration after being informed that he must remove his son's water and sand pits from the balcony, a space where he prefers his child to play rather than at the local park frequented by drinkers. Some residents have reportedly been sent a council letter, which labels items like "screening around metal fencing, belongings made of wood, plastic, textiles and any other materials" as a "fire risk" and directs tenants to "please remove them immediately." An elderly couple is challenging the fairness of the situation, pondering whether those with plastic furniture on the ground level outside the block will be permitted to retain their possessions. The woman expressed her discontent, saying: "We find it unfair," while her husband is concerned about having to part with his plants, saying: "I won't be happy if I have to remove my plants." "It seems a bit naff to me. Where are people going to dry their washing? There's no point in having a balcony - you might as well just shut it off. What's the harm in a few chairs and a washing line?" Mother-of-one Lidia Barc revealed she was unaware of the new regulations until neighbours mentioned them, despite not receiving any correspondence from the council. The 56 year old expressed her desire to enjoy the summer with some chairs on her balcony, insisting: "It's summer, so I would like to have some chairs to take in the sun," the 56-year-old said. "I have nothing dangerous on my balcony, no fuel or anything. I don't understand why you can't have a few plants." Another resident, Karen Noakes, expressed her frustration over new rules that may prevent her from drying her washing on her balcony, where her grandchildren often play. The 57 year old grandmother is so aggrieved by the changes that she's contemplating launching a petition against them. "All I've got on my balcony is a kid's bike and scooter and two washing lines," the grandmother-of-four said. What's the problem with that? They're not a fire hazard. If the council are going to pay for me to use my dryer, then by all means. But why should I use it when it's nice in the summer? I've been here nine years and have never had this sort of trouble." According to the updates made to the Fire Safety Act 2021, assessments are now required to cover balconies and the outer walls of buildings, and the local authority is obligated to address any concerns that come up. The Act clarifies that where a building contains two or more sets of domestic premises, the Fire Safety Order applies to: the building's structure and external walls (including windows, balconies, cladding, insulation and fixings) and any common parts. What does Gravesham Borough Council say? A spokesperson for GBC said: "Our first and major responsibility to our tenants is to ensure they live in safe homes. Our tenants and leaseholders have recently been contacted by us regarding fire safety issues, particularly around balconies. "This coincided with Building Safety Week, during which we were giving advice to residents on fire and general building safety. Under updates to the Fire Safety Act 2021, fire risk assessments must now include balconies and the external walls of buildings. "Following recent fire risk assessments carried out by independent accredited fire risk assessors, we are obliged to resolve any issues raised in relation to fire safety. During fire risk assessments carried out at Shepherd Street, our assessors found numerous balconies with combustible screening fitted, which could allow flames to spread vertically up the building and advised the screening should be removed. "Since the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, much more emphasis is being placed on the risk of external fire spread. This is because a fire on the outside of the building has an unlimited supply of oxygen and can be spread upwards by air currents created by the heat, sideways by wind or downwards by burning material falling onto balconies below. "The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) strongly advises against using barbecues, fire pits, patio heaters, or chimineas on balconies, and recommends keeping balconies free from clutter, combustible materials, and flammable items. We have recently updated our building safety advice for tenants, which includes advice on balcony fire safety and a comprehensive but not exhaustive list of items that have the potential to cause or help the spread of fire, and which are therefore not permitted on balconies. "In May, there was a major fire in a housing association property in Gravesham, caused by someone smoking on their balcony and not extinguishing a cigarette properly. Despite seven fire appliances attending the scene, the damage was so extensive that 12 families had to be re-housed. "We do not want our tenants to go through a similar, devastating experience and our requests to them to keep their balconies clear of flammable material and clutter is solely to minimise the risk of that happening."
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Decision upheld to stop land near Gravesham being used for HGVs
A government planning inspector has upheld the decision of a Kent council which demanded that a former nursery stop being used for commercial Borough Council issued an enforcement notice last December, ordering a drainage company to cease using the site on Walnut Hill Road, Istead Rise, as a company was asked to remove all HGV tanker lorries from the land, which is a green belt site. An appeal against the notice was unsuccessful and the planning inspector refused to grant planning permission for a change of its use. The council issued the enforcement notice following the change of use of Walnut Hill Nursery from agricultural to mixed commercial, business and services without planning Shane Mochrie-Cox, cabinet member for planning and business development, said the use of green belt site as a base for HGVs was causing "serious concerns for local residents".He added: "To us, the detrimental impact of the unapproved change of use was not something the council could accept and which we could not let go unchallenged."
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Housebuilder considering land for 470 new homes
Initial plans for 470 new homes near a large Kent village are due to be considered ahead of a full application. Housebuilding firm Richborough is eyeing up land near Meopham for a proposal to build the homes across two sites close to each other in the village. Documents submitted to Gravesham Borough Council on Tuesday by consultants Wardell Armstrong, on Richborough's behalf, set out the future proposals. Half of the homes across the two sites, totalling 52 acres, are set to be marketed as affordable and sold or rented below the market rate. Some 350 homes are proposed for agricultural fields east of Wrotham Road, near a parade of shops, and a further 120 on another parcel of land south of Longfield Road, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. According to the documents, the proposed development on the smaller site "has potential to provide a new school car park and drop off area". The documents are part of an Environmental Impact Assessment scoping report, with a planning application for the homes not yet submitted. The consultants said "significant effects are not likely as a result of either scheme in isolation, or both in combination". Under planning rules, the council's planning department must respond with a decision within the next three weeks. Richborough has been asked when it will submit a full planning application. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Nine arrests made during organised crime crackdown Live equestrian theatre show hopes to inspire Local Democracy Reporting Service Gravesham Borough Council
