Great news for Gate

Margate got some great news last night, as their redevelopment proposals for Hartsdown Park were approved by the local authority. They now need to go to the Secretary of State for final sign-off, and it is hoped that this will happen during the next few weeks.

The proposals, just to remind you, are to build a one hundred and twenty bedroom hotel- a Holiday Inn Express- as well as making enormous changes to the rest of the ground. As they explained on their website in June last year, the scheme looks like this:

'The East Block will comprise of a 120-bedroom hotel together with restaurant and bar facilities. The building will also include space for MFC club offices and a club shop together with the stadium control room. The stand will be all-seater and have a capacity of 650.

The North Stand will be a terrace with a capacity of 1,300 and behind this and integrated into it, there will also be space for first team home and away changing facilities, together with ancillary spaces associated with the first team. Further on the ground floor, there will be several studio type spaces for various sports and associated activities. On the first floor, will be a café/bar facility which overlooks the pitch.

The car park will be extended to provide 104 parking spaces and will provide access to all of the East Block offices, shop and hotel. The North End turnstiles will be renewed and relocated into the site to allow access into the ground from the car park.'

Congratulations to all at the club. Here's hoping that the final hurdle will be quickly cleared.