It is with great sadness that we have to report that after a glorious English summer on the Kent coast, a huge shadow of uncertainty is being been cast over the future of Whitstable Harbour Village by Canterbury City Council.
Our vibrant community of thirty-three artists, artisans and local independent retailers have been told that the Harbour Village will not be part of the longer term plans for the harbour. The Council insist that any new lease offered to the Village must include the right for them to evict all the traders and the huts given 12 month's notice at the end of any season (a "break clause") to make way for their so called "master-plan".
In short, those hard working local businesses, many of whom depend on the Village for their family's livelihood will be tolerated by the Council until a more lucrative offer comes along. Having helped improve the harbour, boost the local economy and create a popular visitor destination over more than six years, the Villagers can just doff their caps and shuffle off. Many of our talented artisans would be forced onto state benefits.
If that doesn't sound very fair or sensible, it gets even worse....
This break clause (or "kick out" clause) also means that it is impossible for us to progress a funding opportunity with the Coastal Communities Fund to create a young entrepreneurs hub in the harbour village. We have already achieved Stage 1 approval for an �86,000 grant to create 10 new businesses for local youngsters with a business adviser to help them but the Council won't back it or offer the minimum five year lease required by the rules.
And if that sounds plain daft what about this?
There are now more than 20 new local independent businesses renting premises and employing people across Kent who started or developed their business at the Harbour Village. In tough economic times, the Village produces tangible economic development (i.e. jobs).
You would think that the Council might be bending over backwards to encourage and embrace this local success story.
Instead, we estimate that by not offering basic security to these local businesses and squandering the opportunity to create 10 new businesses for local youngsters, Canterbury City Council are jeopardising more than 50 full and part time jobs in Whitstable in the midst of a difficult recession. That has to be a perverse policy for encouraging economic development.
Can you please help us?
Please help us to persuade Canterbury City Council and Whitstable Harbour Board to see sense and commit to making the Harbour Village central to the future plans for the harbour- not just tolerated like a bad smell until some better offer turns up. Please email or contact your local Councillor or MP with your thoughts, sign our petition in the harbour or just visit our Facebook page and Like us. If you can, please attend the next Harbour Board meeting on Friday 20th September at 3pm at Whitstable Castle and make your views known. It may be our last chance to make those in charge see reason and secure our future at the heart of Whitstable's wonderful working Harbour.