Eyesore Faces Compulsory Purchase
45 Augusta Gardens, a famous eyesore in one of the otherwise
fastest improving crescents in historic Folkestone, is finally being seriously
considered for compulsory purchase by Shepway District Council, Go Folkestone
was told by Shepway sources this week. Mr Phagura Singh who controls the
building was taken to court last year about its external repair but managed to
do enough at the time to make the property watertight. However the building is
in such a bad state internally that it has been nil-rated for Council Tax,
despite being potentially worth over £500000 if repaired.
Shepway District Council’s current exasperation has been caused by a lack of
response to many attempts it has made to actually provide grants under its Empty
Homes Initiative to the owners on what most would regard as advantageous terms.
The Phaguras owned a property called Ridge House in The Undercliff in Sandgate
which Shepway in 2000 had had to move in and demolish itself due to dangerous
disrepair, putting a charge on the property since the works should have been the
responsibility of the owners.
Finally Shepway has advised the owners to take the money or watch it being used
to purchase the wreck in order to save it and this has had some effect. The
Environment and Building Group has organised a meeting with Jeff Stack to talk
about this as well as the situation with street trees. It is also researching
what Thanet DC has already done to purchase and renovate a similar eyesore in
Cliftonville. We believe things are moving. If nothing has happened by the next
issue a demonstration and/or a petition will probably be announced in our next
issue.
Article from Go Folkestone Newsletter June 2007
