Our picturesque beach has been ruined by bungling council – it reminds me of Belfast during the Troubles
RESIDENTS of a seaside town claim their beautiful beach has been ruined by a bungling council.
Locals in Hythe, Kent, say huge barriers erected around Princes Parade have left the area looking like Belfast during the troubles.
The colossal structures were put up over a year ago - with plans to build up the site with luxury developments.
However, the plans to build 150 homes and a leisure centre were axed by Folkestone and Hythe District Council in May.
But the barriers still remain and residents say they are sick of seeing them.
Cllr Ed Curran told KentOnline: “My wife and I moved here two years ago from Belfast and I was just comparing the monstrosity of the hoardings on such a beautiful coastline as similar to the peace walls that you’ll see if you visit Belfast or the old prison where a lot of terrorist suspects were held.
“It was just to simply try and underline what a terrible monstrosity it is on such a beautiful coastline.
“It might be extreme to people here because they may not have seen the walls in Belfast.
“But it looks to me like a fabricated prison wall and I can’t for the life of me understand how a council could have put that up over such a long stretch of road, right on the seafront, before they’d even laid a single brick.”
Peace walls are a series of separation barriers in Northern Ireland that separate predominantly Catholic neighbourhoods from predominantly Protestant neighbourhoods.
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It’s expected that the council will discuss what will become of the barriers at a cabinet meeting tomorrow.
It’s thought a fund will be allocated to remove the barriers.
Installing the hoarding originally cost more than £300,000 - and it could be £100,000 to remove the fencing.
FHDC leader Jim Martin (Green) said: “Cabinet will be discussing this matter on Wednesday – an important step in assessing the implications, required actions, costs and budget available to remove the hoardings.
“They remain in place to ensure ongoing site security and public safety from the contaminated land.
“I do understand how people could feel that the very imposing hoardings are a barrier to a long-term solution but we are hopeful they will be removed shortly.”