The council has drawn up a shortlist of candidates to take over the operation of the boatable lake, boathouse and 31-hectare coastal park.
Swale Council officials say they are ready to begin negotiations with applicants to operate Barton’s Point Coastal Park in Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey.
Mandy Shade’s current 10-year contract, which was due to expire in June last year, has been extended until the end of December. Those interested in handing over the business were invited to the park in May to discuss ideas.
Everyone was asked to submit a viable three-year business plan, proposal and vision for the site, plans for the boathouse (types of food to serve, desired length of contract, amount of money they are prepared to invest, etc.). I was. And how much they wanted to pay the council in rent.
They had to submit the water sports they could offer, how the camp area and pitch-and-putt course would operate, submit a marketing plan, and highlight “innovative activities” to increase events and visitor numbers.
For years, the park hosted the annual Sheppie Pirate Children’s Day, with water fights and live music, but more recently, aside from canoe rentals and the annual Santas Circus visit, , almost no activity.
Applicants were also required to include evidence of previous experience.
After reviewing the results, the council decided to offer a lease instead of designating a concession.
Emma Wiggins, head of redevelopment and neighborhoods, told members of the Redevelopment and Property Commission that the search has drawn “considerable interest” from a “wide range” of applicants with “various proposals and qualities.” Told.
She added: “In the process of reviewing the responses and considering advice from real estate and legal executives, the executives believed that the lease of the site, rather than the concession, would not negotiating a capital investment from the stakeholder.” concluded that it would offer greater flexibility in the administration of the site, while reducing the council’s risks and costs of managing the site.”
Under current arrangements, the council is responsible for maintaining buildings, sites and services.
Instead, we want to offer full insurance and repair leases so you don’t have to pay for future repairs.
However, it plans to continue leasing the land to model railroad clubs and aircraft clubs. The changes should also not affect the Sheppey Sea Cadet, which owns its own building and continues to use the “majority” of Boat Lake.
The council has already agreed to spend £148,108 to replace the existing toilet block with new toilets and showers.
It also recently secured £85,000 from the Government’s Parks Upgrading Fund to improve car park entrances, install better signage and heritage plaques, and work to stop erosion and tree planting on the lakeshore. rice field.
Emma Wiggins said: It’s about understanding what is possible. ”
In reporting to members, she added: “Improving the provision and use of leisure time and maintaining buildings and services in the short and medium term cannot be financed through Congressional resources.”
She said the land owned by Congress was surplus to the requirements and a leasehold disposition would be better.
The coastal park runs along the Queenborough Line, a Napoleonic-era defense of Sheerness and a planned ancient monument.
