Ramsgate cliff repairs
A 40 METRE section of cliff by the Pleasurama development in Ramsgate is to be repaired.
Thanet council said its investigations into the condition of one of the smaller blockwork facing panels revealed it needs to be rebuilt.
The repair work will mean demolishing the blockwork facing panel, which dates back to the 1930s, and rebuilding with blockwork containing an infill of reinforced concrete.
The void behind the new blockwork panel will be filled to further protect the chalk cliff face. Drains will be put in to stop any ground water being trapped behind the new panel.
Under the plans for a hotel, flats and shops at the site, a four metre gap has been left at the back of the site to allow access to carry out repair work, should any be needed in the future.
Localised repair
Cllr John Kirby said: “I’d like to reassure people that there is nothing to indicate that there is any imminent danger and we have no reason to believe this is anything more significant than a localised repair.
“I am aware that concerns have been voiced about the state of the cliff facade in this area and that’s why the council carried out these extra checks on top of our usual programme of inspection.
“However, with the discovery we’ve made, there’s no cause for concern.
“It’s not an indication of a more serious problem and we will deal with it, exactly as we did in the late 1990s when new cliff facing panels were required after the demolition of the old Pleasurama building.”
The repair work is due to begin in the new year.
Comments
by Neale Crutchley, Ramsgate
Wednesday, December 23 2009, 9:50PM
“I got an E-mail fron a Doug Brown of Thanet D.C. not long ago which referred to groundworks and drainage being done in the New Year, but the impression there was that this work was to be done by the developer, whereas this article seems to be saying that the work is to be carried out by the council. I wonder if this point can be clarified.
Mr. Brown also talked about steelwork being erected towards the end of next year, but he was unable to be more definite.
The Pleasurama site has been an eyesore for many years, and people seem to have been promised homes and businesses that have never materialised. It's a pity local people haven't been better served in this regard.”